Not another Teen Movie
Not Another Teen Movie * ( R )
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Reviewed By George O. Singleton
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It aimed low and close and hit the bulls eye
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Janey Briggs: Chyler Leigh
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Priscilla: Jaime Pressly
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Jake: Chris Evans
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Malik: Deon Richmond
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Austin: Eric Christian Olsen
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Director: Joel Gallen
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30 Second Bottom Line: A parody of generic teen movies in the manner that Scary Movie did for teen horror films.
Story Line: Sports jock Jake (Chris Evans) makes a bet that he can turn an "other side of the tracks" girl, Janey (Chyler Leigh), from a nerd into the prom queen. Of course he falls for her while along the way spoofs are made of a number of teen movies you've seen in the past three or so years. We have funny things that happen at football games, house parties, in the classroom, in the girls' bathroom with guys peering down through the HVAC system ducts…the usual. In the end (and no surprise to anyone) the boy gets the girl that he thought he did not want but is now so glad he did. The trailer trash girl now has the king of the prom fall in love with her and all ends on a happy note.
Tell Me More About It: Not Another Teen Movie is better than Scary Movie 2 and might be as good as Scary Movie. The problem is that some things lose their luster after only one showing, and each of these three movies is about the same. Their humor is based upon knowing the nuances of other movies, which tend to be mediocre or worse.
Much of the humor is based upon "new" versions of jokes we've seen repeatedly that focus on farting and peeing, bare breasts, dumb jocks, the token black guy, and a bitchy cheerleader who wants to be the prom queen. Throw in the tease of incest and hint of lesbian action first with a peer and later with someone old enough to be her grandmother, and you have the proper quotient of crude humor.
Humor, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. My laughs could be counted on one hand with a few fingers amputated. To me the movie is more dumb than funny because the characters do ignorant rather than silly or stupid things. It's not the worse movie of the year because it tried to do so little that it's hard to be disappointed. If you are having a "low IQ" day and have an urge to head to the local multiplex, this just might be the best movie to see. The one person that might really like this movie is a true aficionado of teen movies because they will get all the little subtle jokes. Each movie is four stars in someone's eyes.
Rated R for nudity, sexual situations, language and drug content
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George O. Singleton © 2001
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Mini Filmography
Chyler Leigh: Savings Graces- TV
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Jaime Pressly: Joe Dirt
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Chris Evans: The Fugitive- TV
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Deon Richmond: Scream 3
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Eric Christian Olsen: Pearl Harbor
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Joel Gallen: Zoolander
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