Sugar & Spice (2001)

Coming into Sugar and Spice, I have to admit I wasn't exactly expecting much- if anything. I was guilty of wanting to see it (hey any movie about cheerleaders that go on a crime spree has my vote of wanting to see it), but mostly because it seemed like it would be nevertheless enjoyable. Well, when sitting down to watch it I won't lie in saying that expecting it to JUST be enjoyable wasn't enough for me. I wanted to have the mind to like it (I love dark comedies, and especially ones they aren't afraid to poke fun at themselves), and you know what? I loved this movie.I will say the moment "Sugar and Spice" opened I leaned back in my seat, preparing myself to be disappointed. The movie has a very simple (yet perhaps appropriate) opening, and they immediately were jumping into story. Usually I don't fly with that, and even in this movie case I didn't immediately. Then when they started to crank up the cheer leading routines I thought: "Great, they have this great premise, but they're going to focus more on the cheer leading than the plot." Thankfully- they didn't. What made it start to click for me was the realization that all the characters were going to stay in character. I'm so glad they didn't do the typical cheerleader mean girl, but instead did poke fun at the dim witted head cheerleader (and football star), but keep them on that level where they don't become annoying, too over-the-top, but instead make them likable. This film was hilarious, and you love these girls so much that you want to see them prevail in their life of crime. You feel sympathy for these girls (in particular Marley Shelton's lead character, whom you want to see achieve the all American dream), and they're enjoyable to watch as they are to laugh with.Sure this movie has it's cutesy, almost implausible moments. Plus like I said this movie opened (and perhaps ended) very simple, and for that I wish this movie has been slightly longer. I'll admit that they sort of milked this story as far as it would go without starting to become annoying or TOO over-the-top where it becomes annoying, tiresome, or even embarrassing. The film is very funny, extremely enjoyable, and is a very dark treat.

"Sugar and Spice" strives to be more naughty than nice. Combine "Heathers" (1989) and "Set It Off" (1996) with last year's blockbuster "Bring It On," and you've got a good idea what cinematic heights "Sugar and Spice" aspires to but never scales. This cute but contrived black comedy about gun-toting high school cheerleaders that knock off a supermarket branch bank fares better as an audacious social satire that eviscerates its perpetually sunny pep squad protagonists than an as amoral but amusing crime caper applauding amateurs that beat the system. Essentially, apart from its devilishly gritty girl-gab and occasional insights into angst-ridden teen dilemmas, "Sugar and Spice" pours on too much sugar and not nearly enough spice. Although audiences may guffaw at the felonious antics of these heroines, the conspicuous but incompatible 'crime pays' message repudiates the picture's light-headed lampoonery. The consequences of promiscuous behavior beget criminal conduct, and "Sugar & Spice" surprisingly endorses both as legitimate while it ridicules authority figures.Our amiable heroines are five anorexic airheads who comprise the cheerleading A-team at Lincoln High School. Diane (Marley Shelton) captains this elite squad that consists of Cleo (Melissa George), Kansas (Mena Suvari of "American Beauty"), Hannah (Rachel Blanchard of "The Brady Bunch" movies), and Lucy (Sara Marsh). So tightly knit is this gaggle that they "get their monthly visit from Aunt Rose at the same time." The terminally optimistic Diane literally flips head over heels for hunky new football quarterback Jack Bartlett ("X-Men's" James Marsden) at their first pep rally. Accidentally, she kicks him in the head, and they fall hopelessly in love. Unfortunately, Jack gets Diane pregnant. When the elated couple informs their folks, their stunned parents show them the door and give them the boot. Later, when foul-mouthed Kansas suggests she abort her unborn twins, Diane refuses.Jack and Diane apply for a bank loan but are flatly rejected, so they take jobs during after- school hours. Jack gets fired from a couple of fast-food restaurants before two nerds at Lincoln High who tend register at a local video store hire him if he will share his girl-getting secrets. Meanwhile, Diane works at a grocery store bank. They rent a cruddy apartment and struggle to make ends meet on minimum-hour wages. Sadly, Diane concludes the Beatles lied; people need more than love to survive. The mastermind of the bunch, Diane proposes they rob a bank, so the gals study old heist capers, chiefly "Heat," "Point Break," and "Reservoir Dogs." Eventually, they decide you can learn more about sex than robberies from Hollywood.First-time director Francine McDougall and scenarist Mandy Nelson have more fun skewering their stereotypically ditzy cheerleader protagonists than weaving an engaging, suspenseful yarn about the trials and tribulations of modern-day crime from a teen perspective. Imaginatively, they frame the story around Lisa's confession to the FBI, paying homage to those film noir thrillers from the 1940s and 1950s. "Sugar and Spice" turns incredibly sour during its final quarter-hour with a message as morally bankrupt as its improbable, anti-climactic ending. Pallid plotting and half-baked humor blunt the edge of Nelson's flaky satire. Characters behave not only inconsistently but also unrealistically. Further, the level of toxic sarcasm required to bolster this black comedy is woefully missing. Clocking in at less than 90 minutes, this saucy but superficial satire stimulates interest as an off-beat example of social commentary that rewards its protagonists for illegal acts that Hollywood usually condemns hands down. (Anybody remember the equally subversive "Idle Hands" whee marihuana was used to destroy the demoniac forces of evil?) Had the comedy been as compelling as the commentary, "Sugar & Spice" might have been more naughty than nice.

I loved this movie. It's just so funny. For me it's like Mean Girls, I'll never get tired of watching it. I would recommend this movie to anyone. The Cleo character is so funny. The random things she says about Conan O'Brien are just so great. And I really like how they showed teen pregnancy. They didn't make it completely horrible but they didn't make it all flowers and sunshine either. They made it funny but at the same time you really don't really want to go off and get yourself pregnant. I also really like the girl that plays Fern. And seeing James Marsden play a big partially-brainless jock when he's played Cyclops (the 'second in command') in X-men is so different and funny. I'd actually recommend watching X-men and then Sugar and Spice just for that super-funny contrast. Great movie. Lots of laughs.

When their teammate becomes pregnant and has trouble raising money to support her new family with her football captain husband, a band of high school cheerleaders get together to pull of a bank heist. Except, a cheerleader reject could break their cover.The story may have been a decent idea if this were a cheap 80s movies, (even Troma could do with class), but simply acting as a star vehicle (as evident by the cast which features James Marsden, Marla Sokoloff, and Mena Suvari) , this is movie is short on story and humor, among other things. If you're sick of braindead teen comedies (especially about the stereotypical, upper-middle class W.A.S.P. teen sect) made in the late 90s and later, then skip it. You're not in for anything new.