"Jawbreaker" review

Jawbreaker (1999)

Directed by Darren Stein
Writing credits Darren Stein

Rose McGowan.... Courtney Alice Shayne
Rebecca Gayheart.... Julie Freeman
Julie Benz.... Marcie Fox
Judy Greer.... Fern Mayo/Vylette

There are two reasons to see this movie. One is Rebecca Gayheart. The other is Rose McGowan. Both are lovely in their own way. Gayheart is the nice supermodel of the school. McGowan is the high school sex bomb. My favorite scene was at the beginning where the girls strut down the hall to "Yoo Hoo" by Imperial Teen. I've been mulling it over and I can't choose between them. They're both gorgeous.

So as an excuse to watch hot women in high school, "Jawbreaker" is a success. As far as it being a black comedy, the results are decidedly mixed. I suppose it was trying to make the point that high school is war and its kill or be killed for popularity. It wasn't really a humorous point though.

The movie starts off with a kidnapping of the most popular girl. They stick a gigantic Jawbreaker in her mouth to shut her up and toss her in the trunk of their car. When they open the trunk to get the girl out, you get to see the girl's corpse with the Jawbreaker lodged in her throat. This may not have been the best jumping off point for a comedy. You can call it a black comedy but it was still pretty grisly. More to the point, I didn't laugh once during "Jawbreaker".

Beautiful women. So-so movie.

SCORE: 2.5 out of 4 strutting teens - "She said YOO-HOO..."