During the height of the late '90s/early aughts teen movie wave, the 2001 movie Sugar and Spice showed that cheerleaders could be criminals — like blonde-mask wearing bank robbers. It was a unique and quirky comedy starring some notable actors of its time, including Marley Shelton, Melissa George, James Marsden, Mena Suvari, Rachel Blanchard and more. But as the 15th anniversary of the film is this year, there are some things you didn't know about Sugar and Spice — and it's time to make sure they're known now.
To refresh your memory, Sugar and Spice told the story of Jack (Marsden) and Diane (Shelton), who were two teens in love, got pregnant, and decided to raise the baby themselves. Unfortunately, that proved to be pretty hard — trying to juggle high school, a baby, and jobs to help pay for the baby is a hard act to sustain. So instead, Diane's cheerleading squad comes up with a plan: rob a bank in a supermarket. It seems like it'll be the perfect crime — but will it be? I won't spoil it for you, but the result is a hilarious romp filled with creepy Betty Doll blonde girl masks, Conan O'Brien stalking (more on that below), and cheerleading, of course.
Here are some of the things you may not have known (or remembered) about Sugar and Spice.
1. The Names Jack & Diane Come From A Song
A John Mellancamp song, to be exact, named — you guessed it — "Jack & Diane" (above).
2. Sugar & Spice Is Only 73 Minutes Long
Usually movies are around 90 to 120 minutes, but this comedy clocks in at a little over an hour — plus two minutes of a "Where are they now?" segment and six minutes of credits, according to IMDB.
3. Lona Williams Actually Wrote The Movie
Williams had her name removed from the movie after producers tamed the darker parts of the movie due to the Columbine shootings, according to BuzzFeed. The name pseudonym they picked was Mandy Nelson, who is credited instead.
4. Williams Also Wrote Drop-Dead Gorgeous
She was credited as the writer on that 1999 movie. More recently, she co-wrote the 2015 horror comedy movie Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse.
5. Williams Based The Conan O'Brien Stalker On Herself
In Sugar and Spice, Cleo (George) has a quirky crush on O'Brien and relishes in stalking him. According to IMDB, Williams had the same admiration for O'Brien while she worked with him on The Simpsons as a producers assistant.
6. O'Brien & Others Make Cameos As Themselves
O'Brien does appear in the film as himself toward the end (no spoilers!). Other celebs who make cameos are MTV's Kurt Loder (remember him?) and Jerry Springer.
7. The Original Title Was Sugar & Spice & Semiautomatics
That's according to IMDB. Yikes — that title would not have done well in 2001 or now.
8. Gia From Full House Is In It!
Actress Marla Sokoloff played Stephanie Tanner's friend on Full House, but in Sugar and Spice, she played goody-goddy B-squad cheerleader Lisa, who gets a Richard Nixon mask.
9. It Was Released Nine Months Before 9/11
Sugar and Spice was released on January 26, 2001, which was nine months before the War on Terror would begin.
10. Sugar & Spice Was Critically Panned
The movie only has a 28 percent "Rotten" rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
11. It Was Also A Box Office Flop
Sugar and Spice only made $13 million at the box office, which was not considered good for the movie. Yikes.
Images: Giphy (3); emmagoodalls (5)/Tumblr
