Strangers with Candy (2005) User Reviews

Zany characters keep it interesting ...

[Vic_max · 6/10 · 17 May 2007]

This was a pretty wacky movie - very unusual and unlike anything I've seen before.

This movie has fairly basic plot: a recently released 40+ year old lady wants to help bring her father out of a coma, so she embarks on the task of bettering herself by going back to high school and excelling. If it doesn't make sense, that's OK - it's nothing compared to the characters.

What makes this movie so unusual are the characters - the lead character (Amy Sedaris), the principal, the parents, etc. They are so strangely conceived and acted that it's really wild to watch. I guess that means that the actors and director did a pretty good job.

I can't say this movie was funny. Rather, it was amusing because of the extreme nature of characters. It was interesting to watch just to see what they were going to say next.

If you're in the mood for something really strange - check this out. You'll know after the first 10 minutes if this is something that's going to interest you.

Amy Sedaris' Borat-Level Transformation Only Goes So Far in a Fitfully Funny Comedy

[EUyeshima · 6/10 · 2 February 2007]

What remains remarkable in the translation from Comedy Central TV show to mainstream feature film is Amy Sedaris' complete lack of vanity in replaying her comic alter-ego, the aptly named Jerri Blank, a 47-year old ex-con who decides to return home after a lengthy prison term and finish high school. The original concept for the three-season cult series was a fun idea full of possibilities, satirizing the high-minded seriousness of the ABC Afternoon Specials in the 1970's by having the hapless Jerri learn some significant life lesson after going through some humiliating situation. Probably a disappointment to dedicated fans of the show, the 2006 movie is really no different except the paper-thin plot feels dragged out to its eighty-minute length (wisely cut from its 97-minute length in theaters). It has the additional burden of feeling repetitive of the series without providing much more in the way of texture or complexity.

Director Paul Dinello (who plays effete art teacher Geoffrey Jellineck), along with co-writers Sedaris and Stephen Colbert (who plays closeted science teacher Chuck Noblet), uses the opportunity to fill in a bit of Jerri's back story in coming back to the family home and dealing with her father's comatose state. According to kindly Dr. Putney, the only cure lies with Jerri's efforts to do her father proud by winning the school science fair. Of course, the easily misdirected Jerri wants to be part of the in-crowd, in particular, getting horizontal with Brason, the school's hunky squat-and-thrust champion. This consequently means turning her back on her science project team, the Fig Neutrons, which includes Tammi, Jerri's best friend and object of Sapphic desire, and Megawatti, the Indonesian geek who has an unexplainable crush on Jerri. Lots of hijinks ensue until the inevitable conclusion, including the insertion of several star cameos - Allison Janney and Philip Seymour Hoffman as bickering school board members, Sarah Jessica Parker as self-absorbed grief counselor Peggy Callas, Ian Holm as Dr. Putney, Dan Hedaya as Jerri's comatose father; and Kristen Johnston as a wheelchair-bound coach. Matthew Broderick actually has a bigger role as Noblet's adversary, the preening Roger Beekman.

Much of the TV series cast is here as well with Colbert the standout as the blustery, uptight Chuck who secretly yearns for Geoffrey, who spurns him to be Roger's idea man. For most of the time, it is fitfully funny if only because the scabrous screenplay takes no prisoners in its approach. Consider this the comic flipside to "Sherrybaby" with plenty of familiar elements from "Carrie" and "Napoleon Dynamite" thrown in for good measure. But most of all, it is a tribute to Sedaris' Borat-like transformative skills as a comic actress. The 2006 DVD has a commentary track by Sedaris, Colbert and Dinello, and although they are obviously having a good time together, much of that rapport surprisingly does not translate well for the viewer. There are eighteen minutes worth of deleted scenes, most understandably excised though interestingly, it looks like Parker's counselor was the chief victim of the cuts. Also included are the theatrical trailer (another case of a promising trailer that's a lot funnier than the movie itself) and a music video for Delano Grove's "Atomic Car".

Great movie

[fardarter · 7/10 · 7 August 2006]

This movie had very funny moments and the whole idea of a life first suspended -- for thirty-two years -- and then resumed exactly where it was left off promises great exhilaration. The plot is simple but cleverly executed with straightforward wit and healthy irony at the expense of much 'high-school' culture examined in a provocative way to repeat what many know (that racism is perniciously persistent in American education) but seldom face. Though far different in scope and much more ambitious, Crash comes to my mind as a term of comparison for the racism issue, but Strangers with Candy is neither as subtle nor as successful as Crash in making the audience confront their own denial about what racism is and how it manifests itself. Strangers with Candy is a truly funny movie with a somewhat serious message that never spoils the fun. I admit that in some moments I felt uncomfortable with the behaviors of some of the characters in relation to race; yet I do recognize that this is just a movie and reality is a lot uglier than any fantasy. But viewers should resist the notion that the movie is merely supposed to be funny. The plot and the purposefully unsubtle dialog inevitably should make one think of race and racism. I hope viewers will recognize that.

great for the fans

[SnoopyStyle · 7/10 · 2 October 2015]

Jerri Blank (Amy Sedaris) is a 46 year old awkward ex-con junkie prostitute. She is let out of prison and returns home to find her father in a coma with a younger wife (Deborah Rush). She decides to go back to school and take a different path so that her father can wake up from his coma. The school is filled with wacky teachers and mean girls led by Monica (Elisabeth Harnois). She's hot for Monica's boyfriend Brason (Chris Pratt). She takes Tammi Littlenut (Maria Thayer) under her chicken wing and befriends loser Megawatti Sucarnaputri. Teacher Chuck Noblet (Stephen Colbert) breaks up with Geoffrey Jellineck (Paul Dinello) and faces a challenge from Roger Beekman (Matthew Broderick) for the science fair.

This is a prequel to the cult TV show 5 years after it went off the air. It's ridiculous, insane and stupid. Amy Sedaris is gloriously ridiculous. The movie does wear thin after awhile. It extends the half-hour format a little too far but it's still a great watch for fans of the TV show.

Strangely Familiar???

[veronica_hernandez · 4/10 · 4 March 2005]

I saw the Strangers With Candy movie yesterday at a free screening. I'm a huge fan of the show (I own all 3 seasons on DVD) and I couldn't believe my luck at having been given a pass. For the most part, t.v. shows don't translate well on the big screen and it pains me to say that Strangers with Candy the movie is no exception to this rule.

Basically, the film is a re-hashing of the same gags and jokes true fans know and love (and will unmistakably remember) from the t.v. show. This lame regurgitation simply didn't work, and it was evident through the acting that the actors themselves felt uncomfortable reciting the same material.

A side note: At the risk of sound like a total obsessive nerd and the equivalent of SWC "trekkie"....why the hell did they change Derrick??? and the Flatpoint campus (not to mention its new location directly across from the Blank residence!) And this Megawatti person is such a lame substitution for Orlando!

This is not to say that the film didn't have it's funny moments--it did have it's fair share. The opening prison montage was especially funny and memorable. Stephen Colbert was hilarious in every scene, and Amy delivered as usual.

Greatest Hits Version Of TV Show, But Not Bad

[loganx-2 · 7/10 · 11 June 2008]

Kind of like a best of album for the show, all the best routines and gags are here. If you can get your hands on the series watch it, unlike Reno 911 were the movie is an extension of (and better than) the series, this is the entire series condensed ...(read more)to an hour and half. Though there's a lot of recycled material there's a fair amount of new jokes as well. In any event its still one of the funniest comedies in recent memory. Amy Sedaris is brilliant, and Stephen Colbert is great to watch here as well. My only real complaint is the dance sequence in the credits is kinda simple(the dance sequences at the end of each episode used to be one of the best parts of the show). Sans that, this was great.

"Hello, I'm Jerri Blank and - and I'm an alcoholic. I'm also addicted to amphetamines as well as main line narcotics. Some people say I have a sex addiction, but I think all those years of prostitution was just a means to feed my ravenous hunger for heroin. It's kinda like the chicken or the nugget. The point is, I'm addicted to gambling. Thank you."

This is the movie if your feeling down

[moviebp · 6 February 2011]

Sweetheart Amy Sedaris plays appropriately named, Jerri Blank in the off the wall comedy about a 46 year old ex-drug addict, prostitute and loser who goes back to high school. She appears almost retarded but she is everything but. The Comedy Central series from 1999-2001 named the same title, was 30 episodes of the same genre. She offers crude, down right shocking remarks that you have to laugh about. She is passive bisexual and lude and lacks all graces of the typical middle aged female. Amy Sedaris is hilarious and her off the chart behavior in this movie should get your mind off any problems. If you are expecting a truly down to earth teen age comedy, you will be disappointed as it is everything but. It violates sensitive politically correct subjects from race to sex preferences to gross references to drug and sex addiction in a very comical way that you just can't find offensive. Stand back and take a different perspective when watching this movie and don't take it so seriously and you will enjoy it greatly. She is truly a talented comedian. Everyone has to love Amy Sedaris. Loves Amy Sedaris.

Strangely Sugar-Free "Candy"

[forgingnewflesh · 1/10 · 31 January 2005]

I cannot believe all the positive comments about this film. This was the absolute WORST film I saw at Sundance this year, Midnight movie or otherwise, and yet was one of the most well-attended and sought after. I LOVED the TV show and own all three seasons on DVD, I even waited three hours in a wait list line to see the movie, so I am no "SWC" hater, mind you. The question "What happened?" instantly came across my mind as the creepy looking maggot-ridden closing credits rolled. This is a terrible waste of potential and talent. The racy and surreal content that the TV show presented so well is delivered ham-fisted and is hackneyed here. Amy Sedris is brilliant and is really the only thing worth watching in this nearly unwatchable mess, even if she has literally no new material to work with. Literally every single joke or visual gag is lifted entirely from the TV show (such as just about every single line of Jerri's dialog and since WHEN does Jerri live across the street from the school?!) and are executed grotesquely, rendering the effect of the film as somewhere between nausea inducing and boring. Story lines are completely altered from the TV show's for no reason (since when is Noblet a SCIENCE teacher...he was a HISTORY teacher in the show, the obnoxiously good-hearted "ethnic" friend is completely altered, etc). I thought this was supposed to be a "prequel," but comes off more like a remake of the whole premise (a la "Evil Dead 2," only as a prequel and without the brilliance). All of the celebrity cameos are unnecessary and completely unfunny (esp. Justin Theroux, Ian Holm and Philip Seymore Hoffman, who are usually wonderful in just about ANYTHING else). One of the TV show's best qualities, the cinematography, is a complete joke here (one of the only actually funny ones), but might be altered later on as it gets ready to be distributed later this year. The direction by Paul Dinello is horrendous and clearly comes from inexperience or just being a pessimist (playing Jellineck is really his only talent, it seems, besides coming off as really creepy both on screen and real life). The actors playing high school students actually are young enough to be high school students, unlike the TV show, but you'll be yearning for actors who can actually ACT within minutes. The effect of seeing actual 14 to 17 year olds against Jerri actually makes the film feel dirty and sad when it should really feel joyously funny and ironically satiric. The fabulous satiric, ironic, almost post-apocalyptic tone if the TV show is rendered to just plain disturbing and unconvincingly blasé here. The whole final product feels old hand and lame. The dingy new school location which looks about 150 years old doesn't help things much either. The movie's storyline is not even worth mentioning...let alone caring about. I remember when the whole premise was all about making fun of after school shows. Sadly, the movie actually looks and feels like an actual one. Thanks to this train wreck of a film, the joke is really on this usually wonderful comic trio. I know Warner Bros will be distributing it this summer, but it's nothing really to look forward to, even if you liked the TV show. Don't believe any positive reviews. You'll thank me later. Stick to your TV show DVDs. This film will only soil your memories of the original show's consistent brilliance. 2/10.

awesome!

[senor_dingdong · 9/10 · 30 January 2005]

This movie was hilarious, probably the funniest movie at Sundance this year. Its a must see for any fan of the show. But you don't have to have seen the show to enjoy it since the plot is basically the same as the show's. In it, Geri heads back to high school in order to save her father who is trapped in a coma. The principal cast from the show is all here and they're all wonderful, especially Principal Blackman, who in my opinion is the best part of the movie. Stephen Colbert is brilliant as always, and Amy Sedaris' portrayal of Geri is always amazing to see (especially if you've ever seen her without the make-up on). All in all, funniest movie I've seen since Shaun of the Dead. See it, seriously.

made for the fans

[nobbytatoes · 7/10 · 6 December 2006]

The show Strangers With Candy was a dark and a comical slice of viewing, where Jerri, a 46 year old ex drug addict, released from prison returns to high school to re start her life. Now with the show finished, Strangers With Candy returns to Jerri's first day of school. Her father currently in a coma, Jerri thinks if she does well at school, joining the science project team, he will awaken from his slumber.

The movie Strangers With Candy is basically made for the fans of the show. Writers and actors of the show; Amy Sedaris, Stephen Colbert and Paul Dinello, retain the same strange and unique style of comedy that made the show such a stand out. Jerri's constant sexual appetite, Chuck and Geoffrey's sexual tension and commitment problems. Strangers With Candy works as well as it does with the main cast members returning into their roles; minus Larc Spies who played Derrick in the show, Joseph Cross taking his place here.

There is a rocky start to the film. Jokes aren't that strong, they're few and apart and lack the bite. Sedaris, Dinello and Colbert seemed to cautious stretching what basically could have been a thirty minute episode to feature length. After a few light steps, once Jerri returns to the school setting, they settle back into their comfort zone, letting the subversive comedy crawl out, and the randomness of the show.

While the original cast return and know their parts exceedingly well, Sedaris mixes disgusting habits and empathy in Jerri. Greg Hollimon self centered Principal Blackman and Deborah Rush disheartening Sara Blank. Paul Dinello as Geofrrey with his child mentality, steals every scene with Stephen Colbert as science teacher Chuck. Colbert is the most impressive of the entire cast. But this also boast one very strong cast of cameos; Philip Seymour Hoffman, Allison Janney, Justin Theroux, Matthew Broderick, Ian Holm, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kristen Johnston are amazing and take their roles head on with a serious attitude. Philip Seymour Hoffman is nicely pathetic as member of the staff board, and Justin Theroux eccentric shot as the driving instructor.

While Stangers With Candy is just a notch short of the show, it is compulsive viewing for any fan.

Intelligently Stupid

[theforgottenone88 · 8/10 · 12 August 2006]

The movie is great, for what it is. I am a loyal fan of the show and the cast and they did a good job of making a movie version of the series. However, it is important to note that this process is very difficult and the movie appears to be more of a long episode of the show. Nevertheless, it is enjoyable, with jokes that are easily accessible to those who have a clue about the world, and makes fun of those who do not. Paul Dinello, Stephen Colbert, Amy Sedaris...all brilliant. Ms. Sedaris, a slight, cute woman in reality is vulgar and wonderfully crude. Stephen Colbert does a great job of being the born again Christian teacher (note the table of elements in the background of his classroom-it's in the shape of a cross!). And Paul Dinello is a reliable, humorous counterpart to Mr. Colbert once again. Parodying society in a parallel universe of a twisted after school special, it is wonderfully enjoyable.

A disappointing but decent movie based off the brilliant TV Series.

[ScottDMenzel · 7/10 · 7 September 2005]

"Strangers with Candy" is basically a prequel to the television series. It tells the story of Jerri Blank (Amy Sedaris) the 46 year-old ex-junkie, ex-con who returns to high school to pick up right where she left off. During this she has to deal with her crazy science teacher Chuck Noblet (Stephen Colbert), the eccentric art teacher Geoffrey Jellineck (Paul Dinello) and Principal Blackman (Greg Holliman). On top of this she tries to fit which is hard to do but makes friends with Megawatti (Carlo Alban) & Tammi (Maria Thayer). Her friends and her enter a science fair and want to win so that Jerri's father (Dan Hedaya) can be proud and maybe awake from his coma.

Amy Sedaris is Jerri Blank. She play's the ex junkie/prostitute very well. I love the character in general because it's such a unique and weird character that hasn't been done before. My all time favorite character in the film and on the TV series is Geoffrey Jellineck played by Paul Dinello who is also the director of the film. The whole gay art teacher thing to me is very highly amusing and I love how upbeat his character is. It's without a doubt my favorite character on the show but isn't used enough in the movie. Also Stephen Colbert plays Chuck Noblet who is my second favorite character. What I like most about this character is that he is basically borderline insane and just yells and gets upset for no real reason. He also hides that he prefers men to woman even though he is married to a woman. Chuck is a very funny and interesting character. Moving on, it was good to see Greg Holliman back as Principal Blackman and Maria Thayer who plays Tammi Littlenut. Both where very essential characters to the original series and it was nice to see they brought them back for the film along with some of the other characters including Jerri's Mother (Deborah Rush), her mother's boyfriend Stew (David Pasquesi) and a few others.

However what I didn't like was the fact that they changed the dad and Orlando from the original series and in fact Orlando was left out completely. Instead we had Megawatti Sukharnabhoutri played by Carlo Alban who was like a cheap rip-off of Orlando. I didn't find this character very affective but it was OK. Also I would have to say they should have stuck with the original dad. I heard he wasn't an actor but Dan Hedaya didn't say really anything in this movie and didn't really act so I think they should have stuck with the original cast and if they couldn't get the original cast then leave the characters out. I would have rather of done without Orlando instead of dealing with some replacement with a different name but was pretty much the same character. Also the movie had a lot of special appearances by various celebrities including Sarah Jessica Parker, Matthew Broderick, Ian Holm, and Philip Seymour Hoffman however each character was a pretty pointless.

The same three people who wrote the script for the television series wrote the script for the film and those are the three main cast members Amy Sedaris, Paul Dinello, and Steven Colbert. What I didn't like about the script was the fact that it was basically a tame version of the television show. This was their chance to make these crazy characters do wacky things that they could never get away with on TV. As far as the TV series vs. the movie itself well the TV series is much more edgy, creative and bold. The script had too much of the original episodes written in and when it came to adding new content most of the new content didn't work like the whole science fair thing. That didn't really work for me. Or Matthew Broderick's character, he was a total waste of time. Don't get me wrong some of the script was good but as since it was a TV series first the writing on the series was a lot better and raw. The movie will most likely get an R rating so why not be bold and do things with the characters that Comedy Central won't allow on the air. Also another big complaint is the fact that script didn't have enough of Mr. Jellineck and Mr. Noblet. I really enjoy those characters but they didn't play that big of role and I think they should have been involved more. Like I said I love the characters in the film for the most part, the original characters are fun and quite enjoyable however most new characters were rather dull and pointless. The movie needed to have more conflict then it did, the plot was based too much on this science fair and that didn't go over well. Also some jokes didn't work which is odd since most jokes on the series always work very well maybe it's because most are rehashed from the TV series.

In Conclusion, I liked the "Strangers with Candy" however I think the television show was better because it had better writing, better jokes, and was bolder and took chances. "Strangers with Candy" the movie was a bit disappointing because I am such a huge fan of the series and it's wasn't bold enough and I thought in general the film held back to much. I really wanted to give this film a 9 out of 10 and I am dead serious that is how high my hopes were for the film. However, the movie isn't that great but the movie is still definitely worth seeing and since it isn't out till fall, I am sure some issues will be corrected. I would recommend it; it's worth the price alone for the wacky characters.

MovieManMenzel's final rating for the "Strangers With Candy" is a 7 out of 10. Not as good as the television series but definitely still worth looking at.

Worst Movie I Ever Saw!

[ScotlandZeif · 1/10 · 12 January 2007]

This movie failed for me on a major level. I love the TV show, and was looking forward to seeing this flick. But it was no good. If you are going to have a crazy character like Gerri, the REST of the characters in the school need to be very normal! The reason why Gerri is funny on the TV show is because she's acting like a lunatic while the rest of society are being mostly normal. The writers and directors made the unfortunate choice of having every single actor ham it up, and instead of having believable scenes, I felt stuck in a burdensome, long SNL skit that refused to end. Comedy is mixing the real with the strange. None of the things that took place in that high school looked remotely like anything anybody has experienced in a school. I'll repeat - for something like that to be funny, the rest has to be played straight. The plot is completely absurd and unfunny - yet the movie spends a maddeningly long amount of time nursing and building it. Everyone associated with this movie should be ashamed of this product.

Not good- Who is giving this thing "10" ratings?

[jmd26_0 · 1/10 · 4 March 2005]

I smell studio hackery here. Anyway, here is my review from March:

I saw a screening of this in Los Angeles (3-3-05), and it was not that good. It is not so much a sequel as it is a re imagining of the series. They seem to have dropped the premise of Strangers with Candy being a parody of after school specials, and made it a just another comedy. The whole cast is back, except the original brother, who is now played by another actor who is trying to imitate the original guy, and Jeri's friend Orlando has been replaced by a similar character.

Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker bring the proceedings to a screeching halt every time they appear on screen. The original members of the cast (Sedaris, Colbert, Rush) are great, but it just doesn't hang together. The spirit of the series is not here. That said, it certainly does have it's funny moments, such as a montage of Jeri's life in prison and on the streets. Other than that, it's just a pale copy of what the TV series was with recycled gags and many jokes that just don't work. I wonder why they even did this movie since the series finale was so great.

They did a focus group afterwords, which suggests that maybe the studio thinks the movie is in trouble.

Jon Monsarrat review: Surprising, better than the show, racism?

[johnnymonsarrat · 6/10 · 22 July 2006]

I saw a little of the TV show and thought it was too much tell and not enough show. You know, they say that a good story doesn't need narration.

The movie was much slicker, though. I real the autobiography of Chuck Jones, the creator of Bugs Bunny, and he defined farce as when the protagonists are strange, surrounded by normals. And comedy is when the protagonist is normal, but encounters strangeness. Strangers with Candy sits somewhere in the middle. Like a farce, its protagonist is strange. But the rest of the cast is strange, too.

Greg Hollimon was my favorite, playing Principal Blackman, who is constantly involved in trouble of his own making, and is constantly scheming. Stephen Colbert was great too, although I found Amy Sedaris' character, the protagonist Jerri Blank, a little too cartoony and annoying. The rest of the cast seems to hit precisely on the border where they are obviously lampooning (not to be taken seriously) but there is enough realism to the characters that you don't fall out of the movie (drop the suspension of disbelief).

So I was pleasantly surprised by this film, which is laugh-out-loud funny throughout. One objection would be the choice of Matthew Broderick to play an evil science genius... he plays it too seriously (just as Jerri Blank is played not serious enough).

My main problem with the film was the use of racial and homophobic humor. The gag here is that the protagonist is racist and homophobic and her actions shock others because they're so inappropriate. So we never really laugh at the racist jokes, but at the resulting social awkwardness. But... this is the protagonist we're talking about here. How can we root for someone who is so clearly messed up? I can root for a bad boy with a heart of gold, but ultimately I felt there was too much bad in Jerri Blank and not enough heart. Is it really OK to tell racist jokes if they say "oh, we're only kidding"? Who should see this film:

-- If you're looking for a light summer comedy, it's a better shot than My Super Ex-Girlfriend or You, Me, and Dupree.

-- But not if you didn't like the off-color humor in Austin Powers about fat people Because of the off-color jokes, the film could have been an 8 but I'll demote it to 6. It was genuinely funny, a compelling parody on high school.

Very Funny but Such a Friggin' Let Down!

[MichaelMargetis · 5/10 · 21 November 2007]

'Strangers with Candy' based off the deliciously neurotic Comedy Central original series by the same name, is filled with such ingeniously funny moments. Too bad that's all they are -- moments. 'Strangers with Candy' had so much potential, but it just isn't consistently funny enough. 'Strangers with Candy' is a mixed bag in many respects.

First off, Amy Sedaris is absolutely hysterical! Just her body language as the 40-year-old reformed drug addict who goes back to high school, is enough to make you roll on the floor laughing. The rest of the cast including the wide array of cameos from Oscar winner Philip Seymour Hoffman to Sex and the City's Sarah Jessica Parker as the school's unsympathetic grief counselor who charges the students in tips, is decent to say the least. The real scene-stealer is Stephen Colbert as the closet-gay creationist science teacher who is just flat-out strange.

The real problem with 'Strangers with Candy' lies in the screenplay. It has some incredibly funny moments like I've previously mentioned, but it has such long stretches of time where nothing funny happens. Calling 'Strangers with Candy' off-beat is like calling the bombing of Hiroshima violent, it's an understatement of gigantic proportions. If you are into that sort of off-beat comedy films, chances are you'll love 'Strangers with Candy.' But for someone like me expecting something with a bit more substance and guffaws, I was pretty damn disappointed. Grade: C+

This movie was flipping fantastic!!!

[MattCieslinski · 10/10 · 25 January 2005]

I just got back from Sundance and i just wanted to say how amazing of a movie Strangers With Candy was! I flew all the way from Detroit to see it and boy was it great. I got to talk to Paul, Steve, and Amy... as well as Jeff Daniels, and they are some funny people. The movie was so funny. I can't think of anything bad to say about it. Go Steve and Paul, you guys are so talented people. Paul and Steve by the way were some incredibly nice guys. I waited in line for this movie for six and a half hours just to get inside. The movie was completely driven by Colbert's Oscar worthy performance and Dinello did a fantastic job putting it all together. I hope this movie gets distributed so everyone can enjoy it.

Wanted to like this...and just barely did

[KUAlum26 · 7/10 · 4 December 2006]

I greatly appreciated the Comedy Central Series(which was cut down somewhat pre-maturely for my money),and so I anticipated this movie for quite a while. I finally got to see this on video the other day and I have to say that I was...well,satisfied. Not overwhelmed but certainly able to like it enough to give it a semi-enthusiastic recommend.

Basically a "pre-quel" or prologue to the t.v.series,Jerri Blank(Amy Sedaris,full-contact hilarious)has spent thirty-two years ruining her life in every way possible and is inspired to go back to high school not long after release from prison. This inspiration is in no small part to the fact that her daddy(Dan Hedaya,saying barely anything and making the most of it)has gone into a stress-induced coma from his daughter's truancy,and has been told by the doctor(Ian Holm,one of a host of what are basically cameos)that the only possible cure for her father's condition is if she "makes something of herself". So she eventually finds herself volunteering,once in high school,to take on a science fair project. Of course,she has little or no interest in science and thus makes the sledding all that much more difficult for her team in the competition.

The host of celebs playing fifth-fiddle in this story is a nice little list:Matthew Broderick(as a competing science teacher),Sarah Jessica Parker(as a bored grief counselor),Philip Seymour Hoffman(as a school board exec),Allison Janney(as his Hoffman's mate,another exec),Kristen Johnston(as the gym coach) and Holm. Other regulars,Greg Hollimon(as the deliriously duplicitous Principal Blackman),Stepehen Colbert(terrific as the achingly closeted science teacher Noblet),Paul DinNello(not only the art teacher Jellyneck but also the director and co-writer),Deborah Rush(as Jerri's way-less-than ingratiating step-mother),Joseph Cross(as Jerri's harsh step-brother)and Maria Thayer(as Jerri's best friend Tammi)make the return and do all the things you expected out of them in the series,for the most part.

Perhaps the movie was made a little TOO late in regards to when the series was closed. That could explain some of the glaring differences(the location of Flatpoint high;Orlando,Jerri's other friend,replaced with a Jakartan science whiz whose name escapes me;the different gym teacher and the lack of the Flatpoint high "bulletin messages"so prevalent in the series),between movie and t.v.show. Since the movie hinges strongly on the series,those gaps tend to hurt much more than enhance. The pacing of the jokes and gags aren't as crisp as the show,and one feels like the science fair competition concept stretched thin by movie's end. But Miss Sedaris never disappoints as the disgusting protagonist,and the movie has JUST enough of the original show in it that it should please most people who frequented the series.

I really wanted to like this!!

[tylerschell · 3/10 · 3 August 2006]

I went out of my way to see this film, dragging my naieve roommate with me. I saw it at our local second run theatre for a more expensive price than usual as it was not a main film there.

I love Amy Sedaris. She is probably the funniest comedian I have ever come across. Strangers with Candy however felt like an comedy skit that was stretched from the humorous 5 minute length to 90 minutes. Granted, there were a lot of people in the theatre laughing out loud, but I found these were people already familiar with the director, other actors and the type of off-beat comedy it was going to be. Being a big fan of Sedaris is not enough to carry you through this movie. It wasn't the worst movie I have ever seen, but it was getting close. I agree with another post on here that says that if your humour is middle of the road, you may not like or get the comedy in this film. I like dry humour, British humour, but am a fan of all of it overall. I didn't get this comedy though, I just didn't find it funny. You can only laugh so hard at slapstick, weird teeth and deranged teachers for so long, in my case about 5 minutes. I was very disappointed and do not recommend this movie for anyone outside that small clique whose personality type can only be described as "sideshow."

A boozer, a user, and no loser

[richardjsnyder · 10/10 · 17 June 2006]

If you are a fan of the series, then you will love this "interim" film.

The film covers the events that lead up to the television series, from Geri's parole, reunion with stepmom and dad, and heading back to high school. All of the regular characters are back (except Orlando, who would have been a good addition and better character than the new token non-white character). There are some great lines ("I'm not pushing you away, I'm just drawing me into myself") and fine interactions between Sedaris, Colbert, and Dinello.

This sold out at the Seattle International Film Festival (with a nice appearance from Dinello), and the audience was rolling the entire time. Great work and a must-see for any Geri Blank/Amy Sedaris fan.

Fans won't be amazed, but anyone expecting formulaic comedy will

[oneloveall · 6/10 · 14 November 2006]

Based upon the morbidly hilarious, staunchly anti-p.c. underground show that achieved minor cult status through comedy central, Strangers with Candy prologues how it's principle character Jerri Blank arrived at the ludicrous starting point that launched the debut many years ago on television. For anyone not familiar with the show and expecting a fairly straight forward comedy, good luck to you. The show and prequel film detail the escapades of this 40+, ex-con, ex-junkie's return to high school with such a unique "after school special on crack" approach that many viewers may not adjust well to the subtly absurd tone, heck they may not even be able to look at our prized lead for long either. No amount of praise for Amy Sedaris in a most unrelenting, unflattering caricature of the female form, should be withheld for her brave defiance, year after year, for completely representing the opposite of what most women strive to be- beautiful, pure, and classy. Not surprisingly however, is the strength of the supporting cast, especially the always engaging Colbert and the whimsically perverted Greg Hollimon (Principal Blackman), who would often carry the comedic weight of shows in the past. Unfortunately, it seems the translation to full length format has neither enhanced or detracted from the overall feel. With the exception of some much needed sexual language censors inactivated, the movie feels like a glorified episode, never really taking advantage of the new freedom and medium which were presented. The script is crackling with intelligence and bristling with social commentary, but it is nothing all too radical from the constant themes that eventually ran out of steam on the networks as well. As a fan of the show, I can say that people who haven't seen it, but are open minded and appreciate off kilter comedy will enjoy this experience the most, as it is a little too derivative and lazy to raise the bar for people already immersed in the Jerri Blank lore. Regardless of what the show leads one to expect in quality, this is still one of the more assured, defiant, dark comedies to hit our shelves in many months.

Candy is Bad for You...

[wkup · 5/10 · 28 June 2006]

While not an atrocious film, "Strangers with Candy" lacks the flair of the series. Perhaps the concept is better in the half-hour format where there's less room for errors. Stretching across 98 minutes, the "funny" was definitely lacking.

The film, categorized as a prequel, picks up with Jerri Blank discovering, upon her release from prison, that her father has remarried and is now in a coma. Urged on by the family doctor, she decides to go back to school in hopes of bringing her father around.

Much like the show, there were moments where the jokes lied flat, but it's more glaring in a film setting. There were moments when the audience could only muster up polite laughter (the screening was followed by a Q&A by Sedaris and Dinello).

"Strangers" curse is that there has been so much anticipation for the film, that the expectations run high. There are great moments with Sedaris, Colbert, Dinello and Holliman, but those moments are few and far between. Although it is worth it just to see Colbert as Noblet once again.

Another weak link were the stunt casting of Sarah Jessica Parker, Matthew Broderick and Phillip Seymour Hoffman. Each one never quite fulfilled the comic promise of their characters.

All in all, it's a nice film for fans, but if you're looking for a wildly uproarious film, this is not it.

deleted scenes should have been included

[gwoodfo · 20 December 2006]

I have been a long-time fan of 'strangers wit candy,' and i just rented the new movie. I guess i was expecting something different the first time i saw it (different guy, derrick, Orlando, etc.) so i didn't find it up to standards. I watched it again and found it to be pretty funny, though still not up to my expectations. After watching the deleted scenes I became a little perturbed because the deleted scenes were hilarious; just what I was expecting, but they were deleted. The movie is funny and I am going to watch it again, but I must say i have a problem with the editing, as the deleted scenes were ones that capture the true essence of 'strangers with candy'.

Guilty, guilty, guilty, guilty pleasure

[vfrickey · 6/10 · 3 May 2008]

I was waiting for Stephen Colbert to produce something funny. I waited, and waited, and waited... but the only joke in the Col-bear Re-por is its name, and that got old after the first repetition. You have to be a hard-wired politics addict to find anything funny in Colbert's show - it's the sort of "satire" the idiot radio-show lieutenant in "Good Morning, Vietnam!" inflicted on people who had to be drafted to hear (aptly summed up as "your show sucks the sweat off a dead man's balls... ").

Imagine my surprise, then - I'd seen a few episodes of the television series version of "Strangers," was unimpressed, but decided to give the movie version a try. I'm glad I did.

The MOVIE version of "Strangers with Candy" is actually pretty funny. Not because it's an extraordinarily well-written story - but the acting talent showed up for work instead of phoning it in, the way big-name stars do so often in B-movies. To paraphrase one of the celebrity GEICO commercials, "Real actors really acting... what a concept!"

This story needed to be adapted for a movie, somehow. What came over as hackneyed and lame in the series is edgy and funny in the movie. The thousand nasty little gags fit the pace of the movie much better.

Even Stephen Colbert manages to be funny in this movie, something I just don't see happening in the "Re-por" (and as much as I really want to laugh at something he does on that show... it doesn't happen).

There's this scarily authentic blend of nerdiness and depravity that just... works somehow. Amy Sedaris kills in a very, very bizarre role - I'm not going to spoil it if you're unfamiliar with the show's main premise, but it's really out there... and yet... it works. Just sit there and let the strangeness wash over your mind in waves.

Perhaps part of the appeal of this film are the flashes of familiarity from real high school... the semi-lethal drivers' ed simulators, the teachers who missed their vocations by being born too late to work in East German reformatories, the nearly edible cafeteria food, unrequited love with unlikely objects of adoration... goofiness overlaid with multiple coats of malignancy.

Watch it. Just don't admit to watching it. And wash your hands afterward.

near miss

[winner55 · 6/10 · 25 June 2008]

Comedy Central's attempt to redefine comedy for the new century nearly makes it. The effort to push "obnoxious" over some edge is understandable and acceptable. It is also amusing that they chose to parody the very comedy that we are expecting: sentimental, nostalgic feel-good high-school comedy that Rodney Dangerfield perfected with "Back to School".

But as I've always said, in comedy, timing is everything - and unfortunately, the film depends on the comic timing of Amy Sedaris, which never quite gets to where it needs to be. Indeed, her pacing is the rhythmic equivalent of a monotone - every bit is delivered with equal momentum, so it's hard to tell where the exposition ends and the comic bit begins; by the time we've figured out we're supposed to laugh, the joke's over.

An undeniably amusing film (in a sick sort of way) but not the New Wave of 21st Century comedy we were expecting.