Not Another Teen Movies serves as an indiscriminate parody for all teenage films of the 1980s and 1990s, mostly capturing the most utilized film crutches from makeover montages, cringe-worthy secret bets, epic prom showdowns, and rockstar cliques. The motion picture’s first-time director, Joel Gallen, didn’t spare any effort to include every feature imaginable in teen movies.
Instead of stressing over the films, Not Another Teen Movies stretches to be both a parody and love note into a chaotic hullabaloo of plots lifted from iconic films like She’s All That, The Breakfast Club, 10 Things I Hate About You, and American Pie, forming into a self aware conflict set in a wild high school that brings focus to all the most notable tropes on display in teen classics.
A fictional John Hughes High School—named after the famous director revered for most teenage dramas—is the setting where the film unfolds, featuring the character of Jake Wyler, a famous football player acted by Chris Evans. Things start changing when cheerleader ex-bet Priscilla dumps Jake and his friend proposes a degrading wager where he must turn the school’s most unpopular girl, Janey Briggs, into a prom queen contest winner.
Janey is the archetypal ‘ugly’ girl in glasses, a dirty overall, and with hair tied in a ponytail. Although conventionally pretty, she is living a satire of the outrageous metamorphoses in movies like She’s All That. When Jake starts his mission, he gradually starts to fall for Janey, which triggers the film’s primary romance subplot.
Alongside that, the movie adds a whole new range of secondary characters, all of them trademarks: the token Black friend, the lecherous foreign exchange student, the hyperactive overachiever, the tough party misfit, the emotionally crushed cheerleader. The plot reaches its climax in a prom episode where secrets are unveiled and hearts shattered, leading Jake to redeem himself in the most ludicrous way possible, publicly and overtly.
Characters and Cast
Chris Evans as Jake Wyler: Evans embodies the classic jock who appears to have a heart of gold. His blend of sincere charm and comedic cluelessness gives the film’s parody a surprising tone.
Chyler Leigh as Janey Briggs: Ligh plays the failing artist and selfie-obsessed prom contender janey brigs who mocks the ugly duck character and transforms into sher locking gown under the prom lights. Her performance perfectly captures the absurdess of the film.
Jaime Pressly as Priscilla: As Jake’s ex, Priscilla is a blatant amalgam of every mean girl character–level-headed yet ruthless, and captivatingly popular.
Eric Christian Olsen as Austin: Olsen takes up the role of the archetypal arrogant antagonist, the betraying best friend who incites the wager.
Mia Kirshner as Catherine: As Jake’s stepsister, Catherine’s crude attempts at seduction parody the sexual tension of Cruel Intentions beyond the bounds of acceptability.
Ron Lester as Reggie Ray: A parody of the injured football hero from Varsity Blues, Lester’s character has endured so many concussions that he’s permanently lost numerous basic life facts.
“Token Black Guy” and “The Pretty Best Friend” archetypes are also impersonated by Deon Richmond and Samaire Armstrong, who complete the ensemble but sadly highlight the absence of character diversity within the satire.
Not Another Teen Movie takes aim at more than just one or two films. It is a compilation of over two decades worth of teenage cinema. Here are some of the movie references and inspirations:
She’s All That: Hot jock turns a nerdy pretty girl into the belle of the ball. This story line was directly picked from the 1999 blockbuster.
The Breakfast Club: A detention scene inspires an entire class of students. Visual references were used alongside the direct imitation of emulation to the classic John Hughes film.
For anyone knowledgeable about the genre, the film alludes to Pretty in Pink, Sixteen Candles, Cruel Intentions, Clueless, Bring It On, and countless others, forming a dense satire rich with references.
The showing of Janey’s poetry reading in 10 Things I Hate About You also highlights the interplay between the roles of rebel and outcast that we see in Janey.
Additionally, Reggie Ray’s medical concerns as well as the football culture are exaggerated to absurd levels in Varsity Blues.
As for sexual escapades, American Pie highlights an over-the-top display of awkward encounters and exaggerated hormone-driven antics.
Humor and Tone
Without a doubt, crude jokes, sexual allusions, gross-out gags, and everything in between can be found in Not Another Teen Movie. This movie highlights the whipped cream bikini phenomenon alongside locker room antics and incest jokes, making it impossible to call any subject taboo. And while it’s filled with shocking humor, it also celebrates the deep referential nature of the film that constantly nods to its audience with fake meta jokes and deliberate exaggeration.
Not all viewers may be acquainted with the films being parodied and thus may find the humor juvenile or strange. But as a celebration for hardcore fans of teen cinema, the film sheds light on the truly unique, if formulaic, construct of loved movies, giving the highly predictable nature of popular teen films a sharper critique.
Reception and Box Office Performance
Reception for Not Another Teen Movie was anything but positive. Some praised the film for its satire and heartless humor while others scorned its lack of originality and wit.
Critically misunderstood, the film did moderately well commercially. It earned just over 66 million USD in box office sales despite the production budget being approximately 15 million USD. While the earnings were modest, Not Another Teen Movie was and continues to be financially successful with its cult-like status.
This film marked the first major role for Chris Evans who later starred in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Captain America. With his astounding popularity, many of his fans began to wonder about his role in a relatively lesser known film. Now, his performances in this film speaks volumes for his capabilities as an actor.
Legacy
Over two decades have passed and Not Another Teen Movie remains one of the most talked about parody movies from 2000. The film is well known for its mocking nature and appreciation for ingenuity which contrasts with numerous other movies from the same era.
It is still relevant in today’s context with its critique on the artificial nature of teen films and its comical defiance of such exaggeration, tastefulness aside, still remains bold.
Final Thoughts
Not Another Teen Movie is a cringe-worthy masterpiece that dances between brilliance and insanity in the high school film genre. Viewers who know the movies it satirizes would undoubtedly appreciate a defiant take on a genre marked by monotony. While it isn’t likely to appeal to all audiences and some of its humor has not stood the test of time, the film most impressively demonstrates the extent to which loved—and often critiqued—teen movies are, in their own unique way, structured.
Whether you’re a fan of 90s rom coms or are just keen to see Chris Evans in whipped cream, Not Another Teen Movie serves up a delectable, if chaotic nostalgia.
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