Re-Election review by Bobby Blakey
Texas native and Richardson High School alum Adam Saunders has been building his acting and directing resume for a few years now. His latest film Re-Election has him taking on multiple duties as writer, director and star alongside an impressive cast including Tony Danza, Bex Taylor-Klaus, Patty Guggenheim, Kym Whitley, Nathalie Kelley, Rizwan Manji, William Ragsdale, Lane Factor, Paola Andino, Hayley Keown, Kaleb Naquin, and Elizabeth Newcomer. Could this film take us back to the election days of high school or will it not be an election worthy running in?
Re-Election follows Jimmy Bauer, still haunted by losing the race for class president during his senior year back in 1995 that caused him to drop out. Now a 40-something underdog stuck working in a memorabilia store owned by his dad, Jimmy decides to go back to school for his missing class credits — and win the election he’s sure will make his life right. But after 30 years, things have changed a bit, and with the help of his new Gen-Alpha friend Noa and former classmate-turned-girlfriend Ama, Jimmy learns that it’s not how we start a journey that matters — it’s how we finish it.
I knew nothing about this movie going in, outside of the connection to my own city and state so I was looking forward to seeing what it had to offer. The story itself is simple and kind of over the top in some ways but manages to deliver a film that is full of heart and teen angst. It’s a familiar trope that we have seen a billion times in other ways but the unique approach to past mistakes and trying to find redemption in this manner makes it something that feels new.
The story is silly as a whole as we all know this wouldn’t be going down like this, but the clashing of the age cultures makes for some funny moments and shines a spotlight on the differences between now and then in all its crazy glory. The cast
is great with Saunders doing a good job in all aspects of the process and bringing the down on your luck everyman to perfect light. Learning his lessons from teens as opposed to most of the adults feeds further into his misguided views of why his life is the way it is.
It's not a movie that is breaking down any new directions in the comedy or drama genres, but it brings enough heart, laughs and fun to make it worth checking out. I will be interested to see what else Saunders puts out in the future with the successful execution of this film.
Decide for yourself and check out Re-Election playing now at the Angelica Film Center in Dallas, Tx.
To find other locations around the country to get tickets head over to the official site at https://reelectionmovie.com/