Strangers with Candy

Jerri Blank (Amy Sedaris) is a 46 year old awkward ex-con junkie prostitute. She is let out of prison and returns home to find her father in a coma with a younger wife (Deborah Rush). She decides to go back to school and take a different path so that her father can wake up from his coma. The school is filled with wacky teachers and mean girls led by Monica (Elisabeth Harnois). She's hot for Monica's boyfriend Brason (Chris Pratt). She takes Tammi Littlenut (Maria Thayer) under her chicken wing and befriends loser Megawatti Sucarnaputri. Teacher Chuck Noblet (Stephen Colbert) breaks up with Geoffrey Jellineck (Paul Dinello) and faces a challenge from Roger Beekman (Matthew Broderick) for the science fair.

This is a prequel to the cult TV show 5 years after it went off the air. It's ridiculous, insane and stupid. Amy Sedaris is gloriously ridiculous. The movie does wear thin after awhile. It extends the half-hour format a little too far but it's still a great watch for fans of the TV show.

This movie was hilarious, probably the funniest movie at Sundance this year. Its a must see for any fan of the show. But you don't have to have seen the show to enjoy it since the plot is basically the same as the show's. In it, Geri heads back to high school in order to save her father who is trapped in a coma. The principal cast from the show is all here and they're all wonderful, especially Principal Blackman, who in my opinion is the best part of the movie. Stephen Colbert is brilliant as always, and Amy Sedaris' portrayal of Geri is always amazing to see (especially if you've ever seen her without the make-up on). All in all, funniest movie I've seen since Shaun of the Dead. See it, seriously.

The show Strangers With Candy was a dark and a comical slice of viewing, where Jerri, a 46 year old ex drug addict, released from prison returns to high school to re start her life. Now with the show finished, Strangers With Candy returns to Jerri's first day of school. Her father currently in a coma, Jerri thinks if she does well at school, joining the science project team, he will awaken from his slumber.

The movie Strangers With Candy is basically made for the fans of the show. Writers and actors of the show; Amy Sedaris, Stephen Colbert and Paul Dinello, retain the same strange and unique style of comedy that made the show such a stand out. Jerri's constant sexual appetite, Chuck and Geoffrey's sexual tension and commitment problems. Strangers With Candy works as well as it does with the main cast members returning into their roles; minus Larc Spies who played Derrick in the show, Joseph Cross taking his place here.

There is a rocky start to the film. Jokes aren't that strong, they're few and apart and lack the bite. Sedaris, Dinello and Colbert seemed to cautious stretching what basically could have been a thirty minute episode to feature length. After a few light steps, once Jerri returns to the school setting, they settle back into their comfort zone, letting the subversive comedy crawl out, and the randomness of the show.

While the original cast return and know their parts exceedingly well, Sedaris mixes disgusting habits and empathy in Jerri. Greg Hollimon self centered Principal Blackman and Deborah Rush disheartening Sara Blank. Paul Dinello as Geofrrey with his child mentality, steals every scene with Stephen Colbert as science teacher Chuck. Colbert is the most impressive of the entire cast. But this also boast one very strong cast of cameos; Philip Seymour Hoffman, Allison Janney, Justin Theroux, Matthew Broderick, Ian Holm, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kristen Johnston are amazing and take their roles head on with a serious attitude. Philip Seymour Hoffman is nicely pathetic as member of the staff board, and Justin Theroux eccentric shot as the driving instructor.

While Stangers With Candy is just a notch short of the show, it is compulsive viewing for any fan.

This movie had very funny moments and the whole idea of a life first suspended -- for thirty-two years -- and then resumed exactly where it was left off promises great exhilaration. The plot is simple but cleverly executed with straightforward wit and healthy irony at the expense of much 'high-school' culture examined in a provocative way to repeat what many know (that racism is perniciously persistent in American education) but seldom face. Though far different in scope and much more ambitious, Crash comes to my mind as a term of comparison for the racism issue, but Strangers with Candy is neither as subtle nor as successful as Crash in making the audience confront their own denial about what racism is and how it manifests itself. Strangers with Candy is a truly funny movie with a somewhat serious message that never spoils the fun. I admit that in some moments I felt uncomfortable with the behaviors of some of the characters in relation to race; yet I do recognize that this is just a movie and reality is a lot uglier than any fantasy. But viewers should resist the notion that the movie is merely supposed to be funny. The plot and the purposefully unsubtle dialog inevitably should make one think of race and racism. I hope viewers will recognize that.

This was a pretty wacky movie - very unusual and unlike anything I've seen before.

This movie has fairly basic plot: a recently released 40+ year old lady wants to help bring her father out of a coma, so she embarks on the task of bettering herself by going back to high school and excelling. If it doesn't make sense, that's OK - it's nothing compared to the characters.

What makes this movie so unusual are the characters - the lead character (Amy Sedaris), the principal, the parents, etc. They are so strangely conceived and acted that it's really wild to watch. I guess that means that the actors and director did a pretty good job.

I can't say this movie was funny. Rather, it was amusing because of the extreme nature of characters. It was interesting to watch just to see what they were going to say next.

If you're in the mood for something really strange - check this out. You'll know after the first 10 minutes if this is something that's going to interest you.