83
Metascore
33 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 100Washington PostDesson ThomsonWashington PostDesson ThomsonThe satire of the season, a hilarious, razor-sharp indictment of the American Dream.
- 100Boston GlobeJay CarrBoston GlobeJay CarrAn invigoratingly mordant comedy that proves that Alexander Payne's rambunctious debut, "Citizen Ruth," was no fluke.
- 100SlateDavid EdelsteinSlateDavid EdelsteinAmerican satire rarely comes more winning than Election, an exuberantly caustic comedy that shows the symbiotic relationship between political go-get-'em-ism and moral backsliding.
- 88USA TodaySusan WloszczynaUSA TodaySusan WloszczynaWhen it comes to eloquently telling it like it is, Election puts the nation's political pundits to shame.
- 88ReelViewsJames BerardinelliReelViewsJames BerardinelliElection has the sharpest satire of any teen movie made in years. Like the best lampoons, it attacks by exaggerating reality ever-so-slightly and targeting a broad range of subjects.
- 88New York PostJonathan ForemanNew York PostJonathan ForemanA terrific work of political and social satire set in a Nebraska high school that has the intelligence of (the less coherent) "Rushmore," while painting a much darker picture of politics and human relationships.
- Election is a deft dark comedy with a resemblance to "Rushmore." It's smart no matter what.
- 78Austin ChronicleMarc SavlovAustin ChronicleMarc SavlovA fine, near-seamless film that finally suffers slightly from an inability to wrap up its tale.
- 75San Francisco ChronicleMick LaSalleSan Francisco ChronicleMick LaSalleThe screenplay by Payne and Jim Taylor, based on the novel by Tom Perrotta, sees the lives of these suburban students and teachers through a prism of absurdity that refracts more truth than any straightforward telling.
- 70Dallas ObserverBill GalloDallas ObserverBill GalloHappily, this irreverent, sharply observant comedy sweeps us into the maelstrom too. Amid the glut of teen movies rolling out of the studios every week, Election deserves special attention.