There is a clear distinction between comedy films meant to be appreciated at the time of their release and those which tend to achieve their greatest success in the years that follow, usually when discovered by new generations of viewers.  Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion is an obvious example of the latter – it tells the story of two friends who have a lifelong commitment to supporting each other, which is called into question when they are invited to their high school’s ten-year reunion, which they believe is an opportunity to reconnect with old classmates, not realising that they are standing on the precipice of potentially ending their friendship as a result of dormant issues that neither of them have been able to vocalize until being placed in the stressful situation of trying to conjure up a successful life for themselves to avoid disappointing their already incredulous school colleagues. When it was first released over a quarter of a century ago, the responses to the film were positive but not entirely enthusiastic in the way that other similarly-themed films like Clueless and Wayne’s World were at the time. However, over the years, it has developed a cult status as new viewers have come across it, and has somehow come to be seen as one of the defining comedies of its era. Based on characters created by Robin Schiff and Lisa Kudrow as part of a stage show during their early comedic careers, and which went through different phases of production (including a failed television series), the film has developed a reputation for its unique humour, off-the-wall style of storytelling and a generally endearing sense of commitment to a premise that would be absurd if it wasn’t so entirely earnest. More than earning its place in the culture, and being driven by a genuine sense of wanting to be both funny and heartfelt, Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion is a delightful and irreverent film that many may dismiss as inconsequential based on a cursory glance, but in reality proves itself to be far more charming and unexpectedly layered in practice.

One of the most important elements of a film like Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion is the casting – the entire premise is based around two characters and their friendship, so the right actors needed to be chosen to bring the parts to life, not only in terms of their performances, but also in terms of how they work with one another. Schiff had previously originated the role of Romy on stage, across from Kudrow as Michele – the latter reprises the part here, whereas it is Mira Sorvino who takes on the other role, both of them proving to be incredible in their respective parts. Kudrow was right at the peak of her success as the scene-stealing Phoebe Buffay in Friends, which had just started to pick up momentum when this film went into production, whereas Sorvino was newly minted as an Academy Award-winner and was widely coveted by most of the industry due to her impeccable talents. In any other context, neither of these two actors take on these roles considering they were arguably at the top of their careers, but yet they still not only agree to participate in this absurd and quaint little comedy, but commit wholeheartedly to the parts, delivering spellbinding performances that are earnest, compelling and genuinely very moving. Kudrow is hilarious and proves that she has some of the most remarkable comedic timing, whereas Sorvino manages to keep up; the two prove to have exceptional chemistry that anchors the film, allowing it to flourish into a far more effective comedy than we would expect based on a cursory glance at the premise. They’re supported by a terrific ensemble, which includes the always wonderful Alan Cumming and Janeane Garofalo, both of whom may have only minor roles, but leave a considerable impression.

Considering the presence of its two leads, who are remarkably gifted performers, Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion needed to approach its subject in a way that would not only make good use of its two leads but also do so in a manner that is decidedly less conventional. It helps that the film was helmed by David Mirkin, who has worked in a range of notable comedic projects, including decades on The Simpsons, which alone makes him a perfect candidate to bring these characters to life, which are almost entirely adherent to the wacky, offbeat humour with which he was used to working. This film sacrifices realism for the sake of humour – it takes place in a recognisable version of reality, rather than striving for authenticity. In the Los Angeles of this film, nothing works in the way it should – the people are more eccentric, and everything seems to be covered in a thin layer of surrealism. To achieve such a distinctly unconventional tone, the filmmakers spent quite a bit of time developing the humour to be impactful without crossing that boundary that would usually result in a film like this being labelled as shrill and over-the-top, usually being reserved for those works that don’t quite know how to balance humour with heart. The structure of the film is nothing remarkable – anyone who has seen any film that exists within this general sub-genre of the broad, slightly unhinged 1990s comedy will be able to predict just about every plot development. Yet, it’s foolish to expect anything different, especially since we have seen solid proof that it makes very little difference when the material surrounding it is strong enough and has the right intentions. Mirkin approaches the screenplay like he was filming a live-action version of one of the animated shows on which he worked – there was an emphasis on bright colours and very clear visual elements that stand out and create these peculiar but very endearing details that define the film and make it such a thoroughly engaging and delightful work.

While very few would expect a film like Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion to have a message, it was important to give some kind of structure to the story – the film is incredibly funny and the portions where we are just meandering around with these eccentric characters are certainly very effective, but the reason the film works so well is mainly because there is a lot of heart beneath the surface. Having wall-to-wall absurdist humour would be entertaining, but not leave as much of an impression as the final product, since there is something much deeper below the surface that Schiff makes sure to include in her screenplay, and which both the performers and the director pick up on, and ensure is well-represented on screen. This film is best described as being about the aftermath of traditional coming-of-age stories, looking at the lives of the people after they’ve reached adulthood and had time to settle into what is expected to be their specific niche in life. The reason so many have felt such a strong connection to Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion is that it isn’t difficult to relate to these characters – most of us feel insignificant at times, and it is sometimes a challenge to feel confident when you haven’t reached your goals, especially when being surrounded by those who have and are living the life of their dreams. High school reunions are very awkward for many for this reason, and that sense of insecurity and anxiety is prominently featured throughout this film, which is perhaps far more engaging than it ought to have been when it comes to these themes. It is also a wonderful testament to the power of friendship and how it is more valuable to have one true companion that will brave the unknown wilderness of the future with you, than having dozens who are insincere and are only interested in popularity. It’s not the most complex depiction of any of these themes, but it is nonetheless wickedly entertaining and profoundly captivating in all the ways that matter.

No one steps into a film like Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion to be challenged or provoked. Instead, it is a matter of how much we are willing to tolerate what is an extremely broad, offbeat comedy that relies on a lot of very obvious humour, often going for the low-hanging fruit, and which is quite predictable, to the point where the eagle-eyed viewer may even be able to anticipate specific musical cues that punctuate certain scenes, including the climactic ones in which everything comes together. Yet, all of these are merely negligible comments that bear very little relevant to the entire film, which is driven less by a sense of logic and more by the desire to be an off-the-wall, wickedly entertaining romp that feels as silly and enjoyable as those classic screwballs that were an inspiration, including how it ultimately revolves around a very complex depiction of the limitations of human connections. It doesn’t take itself seriously for even a moment, and tends to follow quite a simple trajectory in terms of its narrative, relying mostly on the sheer charisma of its two leads to sell what is essentially a very simple story of self-realisation and friendship. Charming, effortlessly funny and heartfelt, Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion has more than earned its place within the canon of great comedies, particularly through its simplicity and thorough commitment to a very simple premise that only benefits from the hard work put in by everyone involved, all of them united under the shared commitment to making audiences laugh, an admirable pursuit that this film does very well.