In a rare moment of politics here, I will say flat out that this election cycle scares the living shit out of me. Really, our stacked deck of political cards has become ever-so-clear in the Democratic party, and the rampant extremism of the Republican party has created a monster. Really, I can’t bring myself to re-read Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale because it feels a bit too real of a direction that we’re heading. I am fearful for the outcome of all of this on global, domestic, and personal levels. So how does one keep sane during times like this? Through screwball comedy loaded with social commentary, of course. Why not go big and go for 1999’s Election? Here are five reasons to head on over to Netflix and watch it this weekend.

So much inappropriate humor.

The fuck kind of reason is that, Erin? you may think to yourself. Simple: I can’t stand Reese Witherspoon. She’s too perky, and she cares way too much about the persona she projects to the public. I don’t trust her. Which makes her the absolutely perfect actress to play Tracy Flick, the goody-goody, overachieving, obnoxious front runner of the class president race. You love to hate Tracy. An actress that I can’t stand playing her? Genius.

Watching Matthew Broderick’s Jim McAllister plot against a conniving student is funny on its own. Then take a step back and remember Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, wherein Broderick’s Bueller made Mr. Rooney’s life a living hell. The tables are turned here, and we’re left with a metajoke: Ferris has become Ed. Somewhere, Ed Rooney is laughing hysterically and he doesn’t know why. We’re all in on the joke, and to a certain extent, I think Broderick is as well.

Role reversal, your table is ready for you to be seated.

The shit that comes flying out of some of these characters’ mouths, I tell ya. You are not expecting it. I’m oing to warn you right now: take a lesson from your old pal Auntie Erin and don’t drink anything while you’re watching this. You will spit it out, I can promise you that. Between the actual words spoken to other characters and the inner monolouges, your jaw will drop in surprise at least a half a dozen times. It’s like having dinner with an old woman that has zero shits left to give. Equal parts horrifying and awesome.

I’m too lazy to campaign for anything. Some days, even saying, “I’d rather have tacos for dinner” is far too much work for me. So to watch the energy that goes into a student election… I don’t understand why anyone would want to subject themselves to that much extra effort. You’re not getting paid for this, you have no life, and you’re being pushed to the brink of sanity. No thanks. I can, however, appreciate you a bit more. It’s a little too consuming for my blood.

Pick Flick!

It’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt. Then it’s hysterical. If you like watching someone get the crap kicked out of him, this one has some satisfying moments.