Sugar & Spice (2001)

28% of critics liked it
(74 reviews)
45% of users liked it
(53,351 ratings)

The directorial debut of Australian filmmaker Francine McDougall, this teen comedy stars Marley Shelton as Diane, captain of the Lincoln High School A-squad cheerleaders, the most popular girls in their school. They include born-again Christian Hannah (Rachel Blanchard), the rebellious Kansas (Mena… More The directorial debut of Australian filmmaker Francine McDougall, this teen comedy stars Marley Shelton as Diane, captain of the Lincoln High School A-squad cheerleaders, the most popular girls in their school. They include born-again Christian Hannah (Rachel Blanchard), the rebellious Kansas (Mena Suvari), late-night talk show fan Cleo (Melissa George), and brainy geek Lucy (Sarah Marsh). When Diane learns that she's pregnant, she and her stud quarterback boyfriend Jack (James Marsden) get hitched and quickly learn that marriage with children is an expensive proposition. With some advice from Kansas' convict mom (Sean Young), the squad embarks on a plan to rob a bank, but their peppy enthusiasm and patented cheerleading moves may give them away to the authorities. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 21 min.
Directed By: Francine McDougall
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: Jan 26, 2001 Wide
On DVD: Jul 17, 2001
Studio: New Line Cinema

Critic Reviews

Rick Groen, Globe and Mail
Of course, an unfunny comedy is hardly news. However, even by Tinseltown's impoverished standards, one so utterly bereft is something of a rarity, and thus perversely interesting.
Jeff Strickler, Minneapolis Star Tribune
The best thing that can be said about the Minnesota- made comedy Sugar & Spice is that there's no reference to the fact that it was made in Minnesota.
Caleb Crain, Village Voice
Struggles with the existential challenge of individuating five (then six, then seven) perky white heterosexual girls wearing identical aquamarine miniskirts and halter tops.
Brendan Kelly, Variety
Quite a smart little film with a surprising satirical edge.
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
Not in the same clever league as Bring It On.
Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly
It's fun in its raunchy unwieldiness.
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
More like snips and snails and puppy dog tails.
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
An interesting idea that when played out elicits only a slightly amused shrug at best.
Tony Macklin, Las Vegas CityLife
Director Francine McDougall thinks of her film Sugar and Spice as "a sophisticated black comedy." Yeah, right. Its as sophisticated as a Twinkie, and as black as a marshmallow.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...silly, inoffensive entertainment...
Paul Salfen, Supercala.com
One of the better recent teen comedies...

Read all 11 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Dead A

A bit enjoyable, yes, but definitely not hilarious. The story is ridiculous.
Tim S

Yuck.
Jennifer X

This feels like more of a half-movie, but the extant half isn't quite that bad. It's kind of risque, kind of bitchy, and kind of stupid, and I kind of just adore Mena Suvari.
Anthony L

So bad, I thought it might be good. To be fair, a film about bank-robbing cheerleaders sounded pretty good to me! How wrong, how wrong..
Coxxie M

oh my god no im still trying to forget this
Dean M

Finally, a teen flick that adults can enjoy! When the head cheerleader gets pregnant, the squad supports her plans to rob a bank. Each girl brings her own special hang-ups to the heist, adding laughs to what might, under less skillful direction, be just another what's… More
Finally, a teen flick that adults can enjoy! When the head cheerleader gets pregnant, the squad supports her plans to rob a bank. Each girl brings her own special hang-ups to the heist, adding laughs to what might, under less skillful direction, be just another what's wrong-with-kids-today handwringer.
Rachel F

One of my favorites. It is completely twisted and so freakin' funny.
Megan S

This movie is hilarious...it's really bad but so bad that it's good.
Jason S

A little weak.
Deb S

This movie was about the head of the cheerleading squad Diane who gets pregnant for her jock boyfriend who surprisingly sticks around and stays with her during the pregnancy. Disowned by their respective parents, they attempt to work through it by getting jobs while living in a… More
This movie was about the head of the cheerleading squad Diane who gets pregnant for her jock boyfriend who surprisingly sticks around and stays with her during the pregnancy. Disowned by their respective parents, they attempt to work through it by getting jobs while living in a ghetto fabulous apartment. Finally losing her upbeat attitude, Diane gets her cheerleader friends in on a plot to rob the bank she works at to give her family a better life. The script is amazingly funny filled with wit and sarcasm. James Marsden (X-Men`s Cyclops) played the role of a brainless high school jock delightfully well. Kansas (Mena Suvari of American Beauty) is another good character with a lot of funny lines.This movie, while not perfect, is still one of the funniest movies I`ve seen.
Joseph E

This isn't no "Point Break" crime movie, but it sure as has alot of brains, and guts to pull it of as nicely as it did.
Yinalí R

Absolutely hilarious. Very intelligent, well planned scam!
Sunil J

It started fun and then coasted and then it just never went anywhere. There was almost no ending whatsoever!
Doctor S

Misunderstood black-ish comedy lampoons teen romances and after-school specials with disarming bubbliness. Funny and knowing script usually hits the target and perpetrated by a quintet of unlikely criminals, a squad of perky cheerleaders brought to life by several… More
Misunderstood black-ish comedy lampoons teen romances and after-school specials with disarming bubbliness. Funny and knowing script usually hits the target and perpetrated by a quintet of unlikely criminals, a squad of perky cheerleaders brought to life by several name-actresses-to-be. James Marsden also scores as a dense, undeterrably optimistic quarterback and father-to-be.
Marcus W

Nope this isn't just another "cheerleaders rob a bank film". This is the best ever film about "cheerleaders robbing a bank". Ignore all the others and just watch this one. Very witty, smartly acted and beautifully written. The quintessential "cheerleaders… More
Nope this isn't just another "cheerleaders rob a bank film". This is the best ever film about "cheerleaders robbing a bank". Ignore all the others and just watch this one. Very witty, smartly acted and beautifully written. The quintessential "cheerleaders rob a bank" movie.
Rose G

another teen flick that brings new meaning to cheerleading!
Leo L

Funny!
Robert F

Funny!