Python Hyena 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

zardoz-13 "Sugar and Spice" strives to be more naughty than nice. Combine "Heathers" (1989) and "Set It Off" (1996) with last year's blockbuster "Bring It On," and you've got a good idea what cinematic heights "Sugar and Spice" aspires to but never scales. This cute but contrived black comedy about gun-toting high school cheerleaders that knock off a supermarket branch bank fares better as an audacious social satire that eviscerates its perpetually sunny pep squad protagonists than an as amoral but amusing crime caper applauding amateurs that beat the system. Essentially, apart from its devilishly gritty girl-gab and occasional insights into angst-ridden teen dilemmas, "Sugar and Spice" pours on too much sugar and not nearly enough spice. Although audiences may guffaw at the felonious antics of these heroines, the conspicuous but incompatible 'crime pays' message repudiates the picture's light-headed lampoonery. The consequences of promiscuous behavior beget criminal conduct, and "Sugar & Spice" surprisingly endorses both as legitimate while it ridicules authority figures.Our amiable heroines are five anorexic airheads who comprise the cheerleading A-team at Lincoln High School. Diane (Marley Shelton) captains this elite squad that consists of Cleo (Melissa George), Kansas (Mena Suvari of "American Beauty"), Hannah (Rachel Blanchard of "The Brady Bunch" movies), and Lucy (Sara Marsh). So tightly knit is this gaggle that they "get their monthly visit from Aunt Rose at the same time." The terminally optimistic Diane literally flips head over heels for hunky new football quarterback Jack Bartlett ("X-Men's" James Marsden) at their first pep rally. Accidentally, she kicks him in the head, and they fall hopelessly in love. Unfortunately, Jack gets Diane pregnant. When the elated couple informs their folks, their stunned parents show them the door and give them the boot. Later, when foul-mouthed Kansas suggests she abort her unborn twins, Diane refuses.Jack and Diane apply for a bank loan but are flatly rejected, so they take jobs during after- school hours. Jack gets fired from a couple of fast-food restaurants before two nerds at Lincoln High who tend register at a local video store hire him if he will share his girl-getting secrets. Meanwhile, Diane works at a grocery store bank. They rent a cruddy apartment and struggle to make ends meet on minimum-hour wages. Sadly, Diane concludes the Beatles lied; people need more than love to survive. The mastermind of the bunch, Diane proposes they rob a bank, so the gals study old heist capers, chiefly "Heat," "Point Break," and "Reservoir Dogs." Eventually, they decide you can learn more about sex than robberies from Hollywood.First-time director Francine McDougall and scenarist Mandy Nelson have more fun skewering their stereotypically ditzy cheerleader protagonists than weaving an engaging, suspenseful yarn about the trials and tribulations of modern-day crime from a teen perspective. Imaginatively, they frame the story around Lisa's confession to the FBI, paying homage to those film noir thrillers from the 1940s and 1950s. "Sugar and Spice" turns incredibly sour during its final quarter-hour with a message as morally bankrupt as its improbable, anti-climactic ending. Pallid plotting and half-baked humor blunt the edge of Nelson's flaky satire. Characters behave not only inconsistently but also unrealistically. Further, the level of toxic sarcasm required to bolster this black comedy is woefully missing. Clocking in at less than 90 minutes, this saucy but superficial satire stimulates interest as an off-beat example of social commentary that rewards its protagonists for illegal acts that Hollywood usually condemns hands down. (Anybody remember the equally subversive "Idle Hands" whee marihuana was used to destroy the demoniac forces of evil?) Had the comedy been as compelling as the commentary, "Sugar & Spice" might have been more naughty than nice.

micaela-galvin Sugar&Spice was a very funny movie.. i don't know what the other people were talking about because it was very fun to watch and was not boring or disappointing. Its about a young cheerleader who get pregnant with the star jock and there parents kick them out. So she and her best friend who are also her cheerleader squad decide to rob a bank for many reasons. I Recommend this movie to anyone because its got action, drama,hot blondes, cheerleaders and many many more people. I Think that this film will make you laugh and even cry. It has a very funny ending as some people that you don't think will get together get together in the end. So I rate this movie 10/10.

Pepper Anne When their teammate becomes pregnant and has trouble raising money to support her new family with her football captain husband, a band of high school cheerleaders get together to pull of a bank heist. Except, a cheerleader reject could break their cover.The story may have been a decent idea if this were a cheap 80s movies, (even Troma could do with class), but simply acting as a star vehicle (as evident by the cast which features James Marsden, Marla Sokoloff, and Mena Suvari) , this is movie is short on story and humor, among other things. If you're sick of braindead teen comedies (especially about the stereotypical, upper-middle class W.A.S.P. teen sect) made in the late 90s and later, then skip it. You're not in for anything new.