Satirical Suicides (Heathers (DVD))

Member Name: Lemonlurver

Product:	Heathers (DVD)
Date:	01/03/04 (310 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great cast, witty and humorous

Disadvantages: Rubbish DVD features

This is one of my all time favourite films. The comedy, the irony and the gorgeous Winona Ryder and Christian Slater, what more does a film need?

The plot seems very simple. We?re at Westbridge High School, 1988. Winona?s character, Veronica, is slightly quiet and reserved but has made it into the clique of ?popular girls? at school all bizarrely called Heather. As one is president of the student council and one a cheerleader they rule the school. Veronica isn?t so sure she fits into this elite circle but doesn?t have the courage to leave.

Until the gorgeous, sexy and rebellious JD (Christian Slater) comes to town. He looks amazing, and very surprisingly (by Westbridge standards) has a brain. He also has an overly successful idiot of a father, and a mother who died mysteriously. The chemistry between Veronica and JD is instant and electric.

At a drunken frat party with the most powerful Heather, Veronica embarrasses both of them by puking everywhere and setting fire to a skip. We?ve all done something like it at one point in our lives, but Heather takes great offence to this normal teen behaviour. She threatens to ruin Veronica?s reputation, life and any hope of getting into a single party again.

Naturally, Veronica doesn?t take to kindly to this and she and JD plan to humiliate Heather. Things don?t quite go to plan, and in one of the funniest scenes of Black Comedy ever, our beloved Heather dies. Aaaaaw, what shame, and we liked the b*tch so much too!

Obviously, our dastardly duo have to get out of this, so they hit on a brilliant idea. Make it look like a suicide! A great plan. Of course, nobody in Westbridge would ever suspect as they?re all so stupid.

Unfortunately for Veronica, JD seems to take a liking to the life of crime and things accelerate out of control. As his initially willing but increasingly horrified girlfriend finally begins to twig her date is perhaps not the charming chap she first supposed
things take a turn for the bizarre. The ending is very funny and not one you would have predicted, but lets just say, there are ways to light a cigarette and there are ways to light a cigarette.

The acting in this movie is great. All the characters work well together and the contrast of personalities between the Heathers and the ?others? is a true reflection of highschool life. The real life romance between Slater and Ryder translates very well into onscreen chemistry. A special mention has to go to Shannon Doherty. The change in personality from modest and downtrodden to super bitch is fabulous. Some of the actors in this do look much older than the 17/18 they are supposed to be, but that seems to be a general rule with teen movies (Grease in particular)

The plot and dialogue work very well. There are some classic one liners and looking back at the fashion of the 1980?s will always bring a laugh. Although the film looks a bit dated the dialogue and plot have stood up well to the test of time. It is the teen classic of my generation.

You can watch this movie as either a straight black comedy, which it is very good at, or you can look deeper and see the satire and parody of American life. If you?ve seen this film, just compare the ?pate? scenes. They are funny, but also show the directors view of the shallowness and frivolity of Middle America. (Michael Lehmann of 40 Days and 40 Nights fame. Also, the hysterical but not classic Airheads). The social commentary is some of the best you will ever see. Each killing is justified by our Bonnie and Clyde as good for society, a real hint of Lehmanns view of our disposable society.

The DVD is however a disappointment. All you get is the film, no extra scenes, no commentary, no interviews with anyone. I may as well have bought the video, but for the quality of picture. Mine is region 2 (not that that means ANYTHING to me) and cost the bargain price of £6.99 from Woolworths. It?s an 18, due
to the sexual content and scenes of violence, although I?m sure if this film had been released at the cinemas today it would be a 15. It says on my copy it 102 minutes long, but on amazon.co.uk it says 98 minutes. Now I?m not going to time it, so take your best guess as to which is right. The cover of the DVD is just the standard poster picture, with both actors smirking moronically at the camera. Interestingly, Winona gets top billing. The actress getting top billing, that doesn?t happen very often.

This is one film that I annoy people with. I used to play it endlessly and recite the script. I know, it?s so completely sad. The film has gained huge cult status and the people involved with it still get asked questions about it. They must get annoyed at the constant referrals to ?such and such from Heathers?, but Christian Slater particularly was made famous by this film. His Jack Nicholson-esque portrayal of JD will always be one of the high points of his career. JD and Veronica are the people I wanted to be in Highschool, just maybe not so psychotic.

Some of the highlights of this movie are these lines. ?Scuse any bad language.

?Did you have a brain tumour for breakfast?? a line great for annoying younger siblings.

?Well, f*ck me gently with a chainsaw? A line guaranteed to get you attention.

In response to the question why are you such a b*tch; ?Because I can be.? One of my favourites, and a line I?ve used many times. hehe

I would recommend this film to anyone with a sense of humour and who likes seeing American culture having the mickey taken out of it. Not recommended to people with a passionate hate for ?teen speak?.

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