Jawbreaker (film)

Infobox Film
name = Jawbreaker


caption =
director = Darren Stein
producer = Adam Silverman
writer = Darren Stein
starring = Rose McGowan
Rebecca Gayheart
Julie Benz
Judy Greer
Ethan Erickson
music = Stephen Endelman
cinematography = Amy Vincent
editing = Troy T. Takaki
distributor = TriStar Pictures
released = January 30, 1999 (Sundance)
February 19, 1999
runtime = 87 min.
country = United States
language = English
budget = $3.5 million
gross = $3,117,085
imdb_id = 0155776

Jawbreaker is a 1999 comedy-drama directed by Darren Stein. It was released February 19, 1999. The film stars Rose McGowan, Rebecca Gayheart, Julie Benz, and Judy Greer as girls in a clique that is at the top of the feeding order in their local high school. * Connie Francis filed a lawsuit after viewing her song "Lollipop Lips" in a scene she found objectionable.

Plot

There's a wicked clique in Reagan High School, Los Angeles. Cursed with beauty, dark wit and cold charisma, the girls in the pack are making their way up the social ladder, leaving casualties in their path. That is, until a mindless birthday prank leaves Liz Purr choked to death with a jawbreaker, still in her bra and panties, in the trunk of a car. The girls responsible for the grisly (yet accidental) murder are Courtney (Rose McGowan), the cold hearted leader; Marcie (Julie Benz), the adoring best friend; and Julie (Rebecca Gayheart), the sensible and kind one. Unlike Courtney and Marcie, Liz was actually a very kind and friendly person. Courtney insists on covering up the murder, making it look as if Liz had died at the hands of a rapist. Stumbling upon the dark plot is school outcast Fern (Judy Greer) who was enamored of Liz and secretly longed to be just like her. To buy Fern's silence, Courtney accepts Fern into the clique, transforming her into beautiful exchange student "Vylette." Disgusted and horrified with her friends' actions, Julie, the only one with remorse, leaves the group, only to be targeted by her former friends. Julie watches in mute horror as Courtney spins a web of lies, betrayal and manipulation to cover up the murder and to ensure her popularity, including stealing Liz's boyfriend Dane (Ethan Erickson) for herself.

Fern's new popularity makes Courtney angry because Fern is now more popular than she is. Courtney eventually turns on her and reveals that Vylette is actually Fern, and Fern is once again an outcast at school, but Julie takes pity on her and forgives her for falling under Courtney's influence. Later, Julie finds the recording card she was fiddling with when Courtney was faking Liz's death (containing the message. "I killed Liz. I killed the teen dream. Deal with it") among a bag of Liz's possessions she was given. Fern, Julie, and her boyfriend, Zach (Chad Christ) broadcast this card at the school Prom when Courtney is making her Prom Queen speech, and this brings the demise of her popularity as the students of the school pelt her with flowers and call her a murderer. Completely and utterly destroyed, Courtney staggers offstage through the crowd of enraged and disgusted students towards the end of the gym where Julie is waiting with a instant camera. As Courtney whimpers Julie's name in defeat, Julie tells her to smile pretty and takes a series of pictures, immortalizing her former friend's downfall.

Cast

* Rose McGowan as Courtney Alice Shayne
* Rebecca Gayheart as Julie Freeman
* Julie Benz as Marcie Fox
* Judy Greer as Fern Mayo / Vylette
* Ethan Erickson as Dane Sanders
* Charlotte Roldan as Elizabeth "Liz" Purr
* Chad Christ as Zack Tartak
* Tatyana Ali as Brenda Chad
* PJ Soles as Mrs. Purr
* William Katt as Mr. Purr
* Jeff Conaway as Mr. Fox
* Marilyn Manson as The Stranger
* Carol Kane as Ms. Sherwood
* Pam Grier as Det. Vera Cruz

External links

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