"Election" offers up former teen-movie idol Matthew Broderick and current screen sizzler Reese Witherspoon, both cast very much against type. The effect is a deliciously dark and sly comedy that's well worth a look at on DVD.

Filmed in a real school, there are plenty of eye catching colours in use and the inevitable eye candy too. All are transferred in sharp clarity in a picture that's both warm and grain free.

The 5.1 sound mix is not likely to test your amp much, but it does a good job of reproducing a busy school.

Bizarrely, Paramount have not included a trailer on this disc as they do with the majority of their other releases. But what they take with one hand they give with another, in the form of a feature-length commentary from director Alexander Payne. It's not the most interesting affair in that it lacks good anecdotes, but he does discuss in great detail the careful structure that he put into the movie, and the relationship between form and characterisation. What is refreshing here is that he is quite happy to admit the minor failures, as well as the successes in making his film.

Chapters: 18
Region: 2
Ratio: 2.35:1 (Anamorphic)
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1
Extra Features: Scene selection, audio commentary with director Alexander Payne, multiple languages, subtitles, English for the hearing impaired.