Superstar
Director: | Bruce McCulloch |
Writer: | Steven Wayne Koren |
Paramount; PG-13; 88 minutes | |
Release: | 10/99 |
Cast: | Molly Shannon, Will Ferrell, Elaine Hendrix |
Superstar is the latest Saturday Night Live spinoff, chronicling the high school years of Molly Shannon's dorky Catholic schoolgirl character seen on the TV weekly. Superstar fleshes out Shannon's skit persona, hiking up her uniform's skirt and having the love-hungry high schooler practice seduction on trees. When the school stages an anti-venereal disease talent show, Mary seizes the opportunity, hoping for Hollywood stardom. Her ultra-popular nemesis Evian (Elaine Hendrix) plans to thwart Mary's ambition, which also extends to smooching Evian's boyfriend.
Intermittently sharp direction includes sly movie references and a nice cafeteria dance scene. Shannon's character is funnier than the TV version, but a movie-long array of skittish caricatures lacks real comic force.