Available at Amazon.com
TH!NKFilm & Lionsgate present Strangers With Candy. Written by Stephen Colbert & Paul Dinello, & Amy Sedaris. Running Time: 91 minutes. Rated R for sexual content, language, and some drug material.
Director:
Paul Dinello
Cast:
Amy Sedaris..”¦”¦..Jerri Blank
Stephen Colbert..”¦”¦..Chuck Noblet
Paul Dinello..”¦”¦..Geoffrey Jellineck
Greg Hollimon..”¦”¦..Principal Blackman
Maria Thayer..”¦”¦..Tammi Littlenut
Carlo Alban..”¦”¦..Megawatti Sacarnaputri
Matthew Broderick..”¦”¦”¦Roger Beekman
Deborah Rush..”¦”¦..Sara Blank
Dan Hedaya..”¦”¦..Guy Blank
David Pasquesi..”¦”¦..Stew
Philip Seymour Hoffman..”¦”¦..Henry
Sarah Jessica Parker..”¦”¦..Grief Counselor Peggy Callas
Kristen Johnston..”¦”¦..Coach Divers
Justin Theroux..”¦”¦..Carlo Honklin, Drivers Ed Teacher
Ian Holm..”¦”¦..Dr. Putney
Joseph Cross..”¦”¦..Derrick Blank
The Movie:
It’s hard to talk about this film without discussing the show. In 1999 Strangers With Candy was unleashed on an unsuspecting TV audience. The off kilter story of Jerri Black, a 47 year old ex con who goes back to high school to pick up where she left off is a dark and widely inappropriate one. Jerri is one messed up broad and one would think to balance that they would place her against a bunch of straight people. That’s where this shows genius shines; all the characters are nutters! Strangers ran for three great years, but now Jerri and the gang have found there way from TV Land to the Silver Screen. When the show started Jerri’s new life is already in full swing, but how did it all begin? What was her first day back to school like? This film prequel dispels all the myths, disproves all the accusations and destroys all the continuity.
Seriously, the writers must have used George Lucas’ continuity guy. For starters, Jerri’s “ethnic” friend Orlando in the show is now Megawatti Sacarnaputri played by Carlo Alban (who I think was cast cause he vaguely looks like Orlando). Then there are new actors playing his stepbrother, Derrick (Joseph Cross), and her father (Dan Hedaya). Also, although on the show Chuck Noblet (Stephen Colbert) is a history teacher, now in the movie he’s a science teacher.
At least Jerri’s stepmothe’s boyfriend Stew (David Pasquesi) is back, one of the funnier minor characters on the show. And because this is a movie, all sorts of big names join the regular cast in cameos varying in degrees of size and funny: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Kristen Johnston, Matthew Broderick, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Ian Holm.
What was so great about the TV show was that the humor was as black and inappropriate as it can get (characters deaths often bringing great laughs) on TV. Somehow, when transitioning to the big screen where it should have had free reign with an R rating, Strangers lost much of its inappropriate and black humor.
What was also great about the show was its ability to tackle typical after school special subjects then completely turn them on their head. The movie however, missed this boat entirely. Jerri has just returned home from prison to find her father in a coma and her stepmother seeing the meet man. A doctor tells her that if she does something special then her daddy might wake up, enter the science fair. At the same time Principal Blackman had to prove his students are as smart as he says they are or the school won’t get anymore funding, enter the science fair once again. Throw in a tiff between Noblet and Jellineck (Paul Dinello), a few recycled jokes from the show and you’ve got the Strangers With Candy movie.
STORY: 7
ACTING: 8
LOOK/FEEL: 8
ORIGINALITY: 7
ENTERTAINMENT VALUE: 7
FINAL SCORE: 7.5
Jerri Blank: “The New Kid”
The DVD:
The Video:
The film is presented anamorphic widescreen 16:9. To see this show on glorious 35mm after 3 seasons of being shot in video is nice, and the transfer here looks great. It really is a shame they didn’t do more with the film. There comments make all the scenes funnier.
The Audio:
The film is presented in 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround. The sound here is fine but it doesn’t really use the surround making it kind of unnecessary.
Extras:
Commentary with Amy Sedaris, Stephen Colbert, and Paul Dinello: This might be one case where the commentary improves the film. There’s no denying that these three are hilarious and to here them banter is great, and their insight into the production of the film is funny.
Deleted Scenes: It’s a rare and glorious thing, the deleted scenes that are actually funny. These fall into that coveted category. Funny. Funny. Funny.
“Atomic Car” Music Video: This is pretty much one of the most amazing thing ever! They took a song that was cut from the movie (see the deleted scenes for the original) made a rock song out of it, then made a video for it that consists of nothing but footage of the secretary Iris Puffybush (Dolores Duffy).
Trailer
The Inside Pulse
Don’t get me wrong. This isn’t a bad movie (you will laugh), it’s just not as good as one might hope. It’s like a mediocre episode of the show stretched out to an hour and half. That time could be better spent watch 3 or 4 great episodes of the show. However, there are some really great extras on here that are totally worth your time.
