Strangers with Candy

Too Much Candy
By Kristin McGuire

Strangers with Candy is so focused on taking every possible crack at a cheap joke that the plot lies forgotten with Jerri's sense of style.

Everything our parents told us about staying away from strangers with candy can serve us well in regard to the film of the same title – for the most part.

From the very beginning, the film is hard to follow. Jokes, which are mostly dependent on facial distortions, are fired off in quick succession, leaving little room for essential story details. The plot line of what has happened to Jerri’s family since she last saw them and what she must do to end her father’s coma is unveiled within the first five minutes, leaving the viewer scrambling to catch up in addition to appreciating the jokes which are constantly hurled at them. It’s too much, too quickly.

“Strangers with Candy” greatly reminds me of another, better “back to school” flick, “Billy Madison,” which has only one character for the audience to laugh at (or at least one main character). The supporting cast does not interfere with Billy’s humor, but nicely compliments it. This is a strategy that “Strangers with Candy” sadly does not follow. Each character seems to have their own comedic agenda which gets in the way of the main plotline and Jerri, who should be the main source of laughs. Once again, it’s simply too much.

The film does have its moments, most of which involve the brilliant Stephen Colbert as the born-again Christian, closet gay science teacher who is having an affair with the simple minded art teacher. He effortlessly carries over his unique hilarity from his “fake news” show “The Colbert Report” to the film, perhaps because the characters in each are similarly egotistical and fall apart when their wants are not met. Fans of Colbert will not be disappointed.

An unexpected all-star cast briefly contribute positively to “Strangers with Candy,” including Sarah Jessica Parker as the school’s uncaring and insensitive student counselor, who taps a jar labeled “Tips” after allowing Jerri no more than five minutes of her services. Oscar winner Phillip Seymour Hoffman also makes a brief appearance as a dim witted science fair judge enamored with a fellow judge played by Allison Janey.

These moments of genuine humor carry the rest of the film, which fell flat. The lack of focus on a central comedic character and all too familiar plot make it feel like a rehashing of “Billy Madison” and “Never Been Kissed,” its superior predecessors in the genre.

Save yourself five dollars and just watch “The Colbert Report."

Watch the trailer