It's kind of odd that it took me this long to finally see this film considering how much I love Election. Payne and Nicholson work together beautifully here, and I thought Payne's crafting of a story that was funny but not too funny and sentimental but not too sentimental was perfectly executed. It's interesting to get a sense of how much Payne enjoys showcasing conservative Midwestern culture, in a way mocking it, but in a way honoring it. Payne's steady, conventional camera work here adds to the sense of lifelessness portrayed throughout the film, and Nicholson's performance is top-notch.
