FILM REVIEW :
"Not Another Teen Movie" takes the plotline of the Freddie Prinze Jr. blockbuster "She's All That" (popular jock bets that he can turn ugly duckling into a beautiful prom queen) and mixes in bits and pieces from nearly every teen movie imaginable from the John Hughes classics of the 1980's such as "Pretty In Pink", "The Breakfast Club" and "Sixteen Candles" to some of today's notoriously sexy rude and crude teen films like "Cruel Intentions" and "American Pie". Other films that get the spoof treatment include "10 Things I Hate About You", "Bring It On", "Can't Hardly Wait", "Almost Famous", "Never Been Kissed", "Varsity Blues", "Dude, Where's My Car", "American Beauty" plus many more.
"Not Another Teen Movie" has tried to extract its audience from two generations of moviegoers - the thirty something brat packers that lived through the 1980's teen movie boom and today's gung-ho "American Pie" eating, anything goes teen audience. In "Not Another Teen Movie" there is never a dull moment. The gags are like a series of skits, they come quick and fast, some are rude, some are crude, some are gross-out toilet gags and some are simply good-natured. One thing is for sure the laughs are hit and miss, depending on taste.
Four of the movie's highlights extend from seeing old favourites in key roles. Paul Gleason reprises his "Breakfast Club" role of detention teacher Richard Vernon. "A Team" he-man Mr T almost steals the film as "The Wise Janitor", the Obi-Wan Kenobi of the teen movie. Randy Quaid (Eddie from the Vacation films) is amusing as the unemployed father with a heart of gold. He is the ultimate beer-drinking slob who looks like he needs a good scrub. Last but not least, 1980's teen queen Molly Ringwald has an amusing uncredited cameo in the film's finale as an airline clerk.
The original working title for "Not Another Teen Movie" was "Ten Things I Hate About Clueless Road Trips When I Can't Hardly Wait to Be Kissed" and if the filmmakers had of used it in the film's opening credit sequence as a subtitle I am sure it would of generated another laugh. "Not Another Teen Movie" has already proven to be a big success at the American box office. Made on a budget of $16 million it has already grossed over $37.9 million dollars. If you were a teenager in the 1980's and enjoyed the "Porky's" trilogy and embraced Molly Ringwald as your Teen Queen, or if you are a teenager of today and a lover of teen movies then "Not Another Teen Movie" is your ticket to a good time.