Sugar and Spice (2001): Dir: Francine McDougall / Cast: Marley Shelton, Marla Sokoloff, Mena Suvari, James Marsden, Melissa George: Inventive teen comedy exposing nastiness within the seemingly innocent. It regards a group of cheerleaders who use their skill to rob banks when one of their own becomes pregnant. Marley Shelton plays the pregnant teenager and after their parents kick them out her jock boyfriend gets a job as a video store clerk. She and her fellow cheerleaders plan a bank robbery, which seems to applaud stealing, cheating and lying but the young ladies present such spirit. Francine McDougall directs with a sharp edge right up to the robbery segment where their energetic cheerleading skills come in handy. Shelton is well cast as the pregnant ditz out to secure her future in the most illegal fashion possible. Marla Sokoloff narrates her anger when refused on the cheerleading squad. Mena Suvari plays the foul tempered leader with a sharp tongue. James Marsden is amusing as the football jock who brings many of the biggest laughs through his lousy attempts to maintain employment. Melissa George is also amongst the girls out to score a high heist. There are those that will no doubt be opposed to certain elements of this film but nonetheless it is an interesting social commentary addressing the economy and the consequences for mistakes. Score: 7 / 10
Review of Sugar & Spice
