Strangers with Candy (2005)

A prequel to the critically-acclaimed series featuring Jerri Blank, a 46-year-old ex-junkie ex-con who returns to high school in a bid to restart her life.

Director:

Paul Dinello

Writers:

Stephen Colbert (series Strangers with Candy), Paul Dinello (series Strangers with Candy)

Stars:

Amy Sedaris, Stephen Colbert, Paul Dinello

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Amy Sedaris	...	Jerri Blank
Paul Sedaris	...	Bus Driver
Chandra Wilson	...	Inmate
Kristy Thomas	...	Inmate
Dee Finley	...	Inmate (as Dee Finely)
Deborah Rush	...	Sara Blank
Ian Holm	...	Dr. Putney
Dan Hedaya	...	Guy Blank
Joseph Cross	...	Derrick Blank
Elisabeth Harnois	...	Monica
Alexis Dziena	...	Melissa
Ivette Dumeng	...	Melanie (as Ivette Diaz Dumeng)
Carlo Alban	...	Megawatti
Greg Hollimon	...	Principal Blackman (as Gregory Holliman)
Hechter Ubarry	...	Nico

Storyline

46-year-old Jerri Blank is a socially-unaware ex-con junkie alcoholic prostitute. After being released from her latest stint behind bars, Jerri wants to clean up her life and decides the best way is to return to the home and family she left 32 years earlier to embark on her depraved life. When she gets there, her mother has died and her father has married a much-younger woman and fallen into a stress-induced coma in part because she disappeared. She takes the cleaning-up-her-life one step further when her father's doctor tells her that he might emerge from his coma if life could return to the way it was before she left, only better: she must make her father proud. So Jerri returns to Flatpoint High to get her high school diploma. She quickly decides the best way to be the best student possible is to participate in and win the state science fair. In her quest, she gets caught up in the competing agendas of: Principal Onyx Blackman, who needs a winning science fair team so as not to ...

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Plot Keywords:

black comedy | absurd comedy | parody | satire | hot | 

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Taglines:

High school is difficult... for a 47-year-old ex-con junkie crack whore.

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Genres:

Comedy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexual content, language and some drug material

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to Amy Sedaris, Larc Spies was re-cast with Joseph Cross as Derrick Blank because he had semi-retired from acting and "looks like a longshoreman now."

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Goofs

When Geoffrey leaves Noblet's classroom with the sign up sheet and mug, he is seen next in the hallway with only the sign up sheet for the science fair that he posts on the bulletin board.

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Quotes

Henry: YOU WHORE!

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Crazy Credits

Over credits cast dance in silhouette before breaking through the paper screen.

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Connections

Featured in The Colbert Report: Amy Sedaris (2006)

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Soundtracks

Superconductor Made of Cans
Lyrics written by Paul Dinello and Stephen Colbert
Music written by Paul Shaffer
Arranged and produced by Eran Westwood
Vocals by the BixKids Choir
Master Recording courtesy of Queensize Music
Published by Queensize Music/Postvalda Music

User Reviews

awesome!

This movie was hilarious, probably the funniest movie at Sundance this year. Its a must see for any fan of the show. But you don't have to have seen the show to enjoy it since the plot is basically the same as the show's. In it, Geri heads back to high school in order to save her father who is trapped in a coma. The principal cast from the show is all here and they're all wonderful, especially Principal Blackman, who in my opinion is the best part of the movie. Stephen Colbert is brilliant as always, and Amy Sedaris' portrayal of Geri is always amazing to see (especially if you've ever seen her without the make-up on). All in all, funniest movie I've seen since Shaun of the Dead. See it, seriously.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 July 2006 (USA)

Also Known As:

Strangers with Candy

Filming Locations:

Bayonne High School - Avenue A & 28th Street, Bayonne, New Jersey, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$3,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$43,141, 2 July 2006

Gross USA:

$2,072,645

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,254,124

Company Credits

Production Co:

Comedy Central Films, Roberts/David Films, Worldwide Pants

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1