Jawbreaker
Directed by: Darren Stein
USA, 1999
Heathers
Directed by: Michael Lehmann
USA, 1988
Discussion of Jawbreaker (1999) seems near impossible without some reference to Heathers (1988). The two films sit together along with their peers Carrie (1975), Mean Girls (2004), Clueless (1995) and others, in the film-genre high school lunch room. Jawbreaker holds only a critical 7% and audience 52% on rotten tomatoes to Heathers’ critical 95% and audience 81%. It would seem that, in the words of their lunch-mate Mean Girls “people are saying [Jawbreaker] is a less hot version of [Heathers].” Critics often lambast the ’99 comedy for ripping too directly from its ’88 counterpart, for being less intelligent, less humorous and unoriginal. But what are these types of comparative criticisms of these films appealing to? While the two certainly hold similar subjects there is a clear distinction in style and intention. Where Heathers discusses the structure of society Jawbreaker focuses on the spectacle that hides the sour intentions.
Both Jawbreaker and...
Directed by: Darren Stein
USA, 1999
Heathers
Directed by: Michael Lehmann
USA, 1988
Discussion of Jawbreaker (1999) seems near impossible without some reference to Heathers (1988). The two films sit together along with their peers Carrie (1975), Mean Girls (2004), Clueless (1995) and others, in the film-genre high school lunch room. Jawbreaker holds only a critical 7% and audience 52% on rotten tomatoes to Heathers’ critical 95% and audience 81%. It would seem that, in the words of their lunch-mate Mean Girls “people are saying [Jawbreaker] is a less hot version of [Heathers].” Critics often lambast the ’99 comedy for ripping too directly from its ’88 counterpart, for being less intelligent, less humorous and unoriginal. But what are these types of comparative criticisms of these films appealing to? While the two certainly hold similar subjects there is a clear distinction in style and intention. Where Heathers discusses the structure of society Jawbreaker focuses on the spectacle that hides the sour intentions.
Both Jawbreaker and...
- 4/17/2013
- by Adriene Lilly
- SoundOnSight
Film review: 'Jawbreaker'
Intended as a satire of and homage to the kind of movies he used to watch growing up in the San Fernando Valley, Darren Stein's "Jawbreaker" is sorry proof that imitation is not necessarily the sincerest form of flattery.
This "Clueless"/"Heathers"/"Carrie"/"Grease"/"Rock 'n' Roll High School" wannabe, which played at the Sundance Film Festival, is a lazy cut-and-paste job that squanders a talented cast, not to mention the big screen debut of the Donna's, a quartet of teenage rockers that have rightfully been dubbed the female Ramones.
Attempting to catch the current wave of high school pictures, the Columbia TriStar release still might generate some initial interest from those expecting something else -- like a horror movie -- before washing up on the home video shore.
Courtney Shayne (Rose McGowan), Julie Freeman (Rebecca Gayheart) and Marcie Fox (Julie Benz) are members of a bad girl clique who have a crisis situation on their well-manicured hands when a prank goes horribly wrong, leaving girlfriend Liz Purr (Charlotte Roldan) asphyxiated in the trunk of a car with a jawbreaker lodged prominently in her esophagus.
To make matters worse, their cover-up plans have been overheard by school wallflower Fern Mayo (Judy Greer) who threatens to alert the authorities. That is, until the truly diabolical Courtney makes Fern an offer she can't refuse -- in exchange for her silence, she'll be given a complete bad girl makeover.
But the rechristened "Vylette" turns out to be a very quick study, and soon threatens Courtney's "most popular" status.
Newcomer Stein, whose talent for writing female characters is pretty much limited to having them call each other "bitch" (or worse), has spewed out a crassly uninspired script that is neither as clever nor as funny as it apparently thinks it is.
Limited by their lines, leads McGowan, Gayheart, Benz and, particularly the transformed Greer nevertheless have fun being nasty.
In a nod to his influences, Stein recruited Carol Kane ("When a Stranger Calls"), Jeff Conaway ("Grease"), William Katt ("Carrie") and P.J. Soles ("Rock 'n' Roll High School") to play an assortment of clued-out adults.
His technical skills in the directing department are somewhat better, although the persistent MTV-esque style ultimately comes across more as imitative than fresh. There's some nice energetic work from director of photography Amy Vincent ("Eve's Bayou") and some bright flourishes from costume designer Vikki Brinkkord ("Clueless"); the Donna's provide a spunky presence on the soundtrack as well as in a performance during the picture's pivotal prom night sequence.
Their brand of no-nonsense, nonposturing, straight-ahead rock 'n' roll lends "Jawbreaker" an element of street credibility it really doesn't deserve.
JAWBREAKER
Sony Pictures Releasing
Columbia TriStar
Director-screenwriter: Darren Stein
Producers: Stacy Kramer, Lisa Tornell
Director of photography: Amy Vincent
Production designer: Jerry Fleming
Editor: Troy Takaki
Costume designer: Vikki Brinkkord
Music: Stephen Endelman
Color/stereo
Cast:
Courtney Shayne: Rose McGowan
Julie Freeman: Rebecca Gayheart
Marcie Fox: Julie Benz
Fern Mayo/Vylette: Judy Greer
Zach Tartak: Chad Christ
Liz Purr: Charlotte Roldan
Detective Vera Cruz: Pam Grier
Miss Sherwood: Carol Kane
Running time -- 85 minutes
MPAA rating: R...
This "Clueless"/"Heathers"/"Carrie"/"Grease"/"Rock 'n' Roll High School" wannabe, which played at the Sundance Film Festival, is a lazy cut-and-paste job that squanders a talented cast, not to mention the big screen debut of the Donna's, a quartet of teenage rockers that have rightfully been dubbed the female Ramones.
Attempting to catch the current wave of high school pictures, the Columbia TriStar release still might generate some initial interest from those expecting something else -- like a horror movie -- before washing up on the home video shore.
Courtney Shayne (Rose McGowan), Julie Freeman (Rebecca Gayheart) and Marcie Fox (Julie Benz) are members of a bad girl clique who have a crisis situation on their well-manicured hands when a prank goes horribly wrong, leaving girlfriend Liz Purr (Charlotte Roldan) asphyxiated in the trunk of a car with a jawbreaker lodged prominently in her esophagus.
To make matters worse, their cover-up plans have been overheard by school wallflower Fern Mayo (Judy Greer) who threatens to alert the authorities. That is, until the truly diabolical Courtney makes Fern an offer she can't refuse -- in exchange for her silence, she'll be given a complete bad girl makeover.
But the rechristened "Vylette" turns out to be a very quick study, and soon threatens Courtney's "most popular" status.
Newcomer Stein, whose talent for writing female characters is pretty much limited to having them call each other "bitch" (or worse), has spewed out a crassly uninspired script that is neither as clever nor as funny as it apparently thinks it is.
Limited by their lines, leads McGowan, Gayheart, Benz and, particularly the transformed Greer nevertheless have fun being nasty.
In a nod to his influences, Stein recruited Carol Kane ("When a Stranger Calls"), Jeff Conaway ("Grease"), William Katt ("Carrie") and P.J. Soles ("Rock 'n' Roll High School") to play an assortment of clued-out adults.
His technical skills in the directing department are somewhat better, although the persistent MTV-esque style ultimately comes across more as imitative than fresh. There's some nice energetic work from director of photography Amy Vincent ("Eve's Bayou") and some bright flourishes from costume designer Vikki Brinkkord ("Clueless"); the Donna's provide a spunky presence on the soundtrack as well as in a performance during the picture's pivotal prom night sequence.
Their brand of no-nonsense, nonposturing, straight-ahead rock 'n' roll lends "Jawbreaker" an element of street credibility it really doesn't deserve.
JAWBREAKER
Sony Pictures Releasing
Columbia TriStar
Director-screenwriter: Darren Stein
Producers: Stacy Kramer, Lisa Tornell
Director of photography: Amy Vincent
Production designer: Jerry Fleming
Editor: Troy Takaki
Costume designer: Vikki Brinkkord
Music: Stephen Endelman
Color/stereo
Cast:
Courtney Shayne: Rose McGowan
Julie Freeman: Rebecca Gayheart
Marcie Fox: Julie Benz
Fern Mayo/Vylette: Judy Greer
Zach Tartak: Chad Christ
Liz Purr: Charlotte Roldan
Detective Vera Cruz: Pam Grier
Miss Sherwood: Carol Kane
Running time -- 85 minutes
MPAA rating: R...
- 2/3/1999
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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