"SUGAR & SPICE" (2001) (Marley Shelton, James Marsden) (PG-13) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Minor Mild Extreme Minor Moderate Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Moderate None None Mild Heavy Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Heavy Mild Minor Moderate Moderate QUICK TAKE: Comedy: When the captain of a high school cheerleading squad discovers that she's pregnant by the quarterback of the football team, she and her squad-mates decide to make some quick money by robbing a bank. PLOT: At Lincoln High School, Diane Weston (MARLEY SHELTON) is the captain of the cheerleading squad that's comprised of Kansas Hill (MENA SUVARI), a rebel whose mother (SEAN YOUNG) is in prison; Hannah Wold (RACHEL BLANCHARD), the religious virgin; Lucy Whitman (SARA MARSH), the smart girl; and Cleo Miller (MELISSA GEORGE), who's obsessed with talk show host Conan O'Brien. The five have formed their own little clique, much to the chagrin of Lisa Janusch (MARLA SOKOLOFF), a cheerleader on the school's "B" squad. Things change, however, when Diane meets and ends up pregnant by the school's new quarterback, Jack Bartlett (JAMES MARSDEN), who gets a place with Diane and promises to marry her after their baby is born. Unfortunately, without any credit or support from their parents, times become tight for the two would-be parents and Diane takes a job at a grocery store-based bank while Jack works in the local video store. As time passes and their financial situation doesn't get any better, Diane decides that she and her squad should rob the bank since she believes that money is the only way to achieve one's dreams. As such, the girls begin plotting their strategy by watching old robbery flicks and buying guns from a local exterminator (W. EARL BROWN) in exchange for putting his daughter, Fern Rogers (ALEXANDRA HOLDEN), on their squad. From that point on, the girls must pull off the heist and then deal with the repercussions that may follow. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? The teen/cheerleader angle may draw some, while fans of anyone in the cast may also want to see it. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13 For language, sex-related humor and some thematic elements. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: MARLEY SHELTON plays the head of the cheerleading squad who becomes pregnant from her boyfriend and moves in with him. She's the one who decides to rob the bank where she works and uses some profanity, while stating various long-winded "Brady Bunch" type optimistic sayings. JAMES MARSDEN plays her boyfriend who wants to marry her after getting her pregnant. The football captain, he gets a job at a video store to support them after they move in together. MENA SUVARI plays one of the cheerleaders who has a chronic surly attitude, uses strong profanity, and participates in the robbery. MARLA SOKOLOFF plays a member of the "B" cheerleading squad who doesn't like any of the girls, but cuts them a break (and lies to the police) in order for her to move up in rank. She also uses profanity. RACHEL BLANCHARD plays a religious cheerleader who thinks she's no longer a virgin since she became aroused one time while riding a horse. Despite her religious convictions, she decides to participate in the robbery as well. SARA MARSH plays the smart cheerleader who can't make up her mind whether to participate in the robbery (she ultimately does). MELISSA GEORGE plays another cheerleader who also partakes in the robbery and is obsessed with talk show host Conan O'Brien. ALEXANDRA HOLDEN plays a young woman who joins the squad and participates in the robbery. W. EARL BROWN plays her father, an insect exterminator who sells the girls illegal weaponry. SEAN YOUNG plays Kansas' convict mother who uses some profanity, smokes, and is in jail for murdering her husband for cheating on her while she was in labor. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: Here's a brief summary of the content found in this PG-13 rated comedy. Profanity is listed as heavy due to at least 1 use of the "f" word, while various other expletives and plenty of colorful phrases are also used. A great deal of sexually related talk is present, and a high school student becomes pregnant (and decides to keep the baby and move in with her boyfriend - although none of that, or most any other part of the movie, is played or portrayed realistically). Various views of cleavage are present, as are some sights of the cheerleaders in their bras and panties, while a gynecological poster shows a drawing of a woman's genitals (seen in the background of a shot). Various characters have varying degrees of bad attitudes, including the cheerleading squad that decides to rob a bank at gunpoint to help out their pregnant partner. Since they get away with that robbery and make it look relatively easy and fun while doing so, some kids may think about imitating that, or other behavior that occurs in the film. Several characters smoke, one drinks a beer and various instances of scatological-based material are present (vomiting, flatulence and menstruation related bits). Finally, some instances of violence are present, including the robbery at gunpoint (that's also seen in various videos the girls watch on TV). If you're still concerned about the film and its appropriateness for yourself or anyone in your home who wishes to see it, you may want to take a closer look at our detailed content listings for more specific examples of what occurs in the film. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE A man opens a beer and drinks it in a grocery store after he's nearly shot. BLOOD/GORE Although we don't see their actual use, we see the various cheerleaders passing a box of tampons from under one bathroom stall to the next, and we hear that they all get "their visit from Aunt Rose" at the same time. Later, Lisa states that Jack was like a bar of chocolate with everyone at school being "on the rag." A teacher or administrator at a pep rally tells the students that if anything burns when they urinate or has seepage, they should tell someone. We see Jack and his football buddies standing at urinals and hear them urinating, but don't see anything. We hear Diane vomiting on several occasions from being pregnant. Jack and Diane watch a TV show that graphically shows a deer being born while its mother walks around. We hear a farting sound from Diane, and then do so again at the end of the film. DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE Lisa calls a male student a "fag" and seems to have a bad attitude about everything and everyone. She also says that the five cheerleaders are closer than Carolina cousins and mentions that some think they're "lesbos." We hear that Kansas' mom is in prison for shooting her dad after catching him in bed with a nurse while the mother was in labor. Some viewers might not like seeing the girls using a Ouija board, while others might not like one of the cheerleaders stating that pictures of Jesus, bare-chested and sweating on the cross, make her hot. Someone throws something that strikes a student in the head and knocks him to the floor as he gives a speech about how the student body should vote for brains over brawn for homecoming king. Some viewers might not like Kansas asking how much money Diane will need for an abortion (but Diane doesn't want to do that). The landlord/manager of Jack and Diane's apartment appears to be involved in some sort of criminal behavior and tells them not to ask about packages he has (or gives them to stash in their place) that are apparently stolen. Diane throws something out of a car (littering). The girls decide to rob a bank to get them quick access to lots of money. They then distract the lunch lady at school and rob her moneybox as practice, and then rob a bank at gunpoint and get away with it (with the help of another girl who lies to the police to get the others off the hook). Kansas has a surly/bad attitude toward nearly everyone throughout the movie. A bug exterminator sells the girls some illegal guns. An eyewitness to the bank robbery states that she thinks the masked robbers were Asians since they were tiny and acrobatic (and we then see the police arresting an Asian business owner). FRIGHTENING SCENES It's possible some viewers could find scenes listed under "Violence" as a little tense, but they're not intentionally played that way. GUNS/WEAPONS Various weapons: Seen in videos of robbery-based movies the girls watch, and used in person by the girls to rob a bank (with one accidentally shooting hers and nearly hitting a man who came at the girls with a knife). Various weapons: Aimed by police at the girls as they arrest them. We see a cover photo of Fern in a bikini holding various weapons. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "Right about here is when the sh*t started to hit the fan," "Holy sh*t," "Sh*tload," "Well, sh*t-fire," "Pile of sh*t," "(You) piece of sh*t," "Bullsh*t," "Sh*t storm," "Ape sh*t," "Dip sh*ts," "Fag," "Lesbos," "Freak," "That really burned my toast," "On the rag" (menstruating), "Shut up," "What the hell...?" "Whore," "Bastards," "Jeez," "Horny" (sexual), "B.F.D" (big f-ing deal), "Freaking," "Sure as hell," "Fat ass," "How in the hell can I help you?" "Dyke," "Bitch" (as in being a subordinate to another prisoner), "Busting my balls," "Shut the hell up," "Retard," "Christ on a cracker," "Idiot," "Queers," "Freak me up" and "No one ever got ahead by sitting on their behind." Since the girls get away with robbing the bank and make it look relatively easy and fun while doing so, it's possible some kids could get the idea to do the same. The cheerleaders occasionally state, "Cheerleaders kick..." and instead of saying the last word, they all simultaneously touch their own behinds. Diane throws something out of a car (littering). The girls feign one of them choking to distract the lunch lady at school so that the others can steal the money from her moneybox. JUMP SCENES None. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) A minor bit of suspenseful music plays during the film. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) A song during the closing credits had lyrics about "let's rob a bank," and "we can get anything we want." PROFANITY At least 1 "f" word, 21 "s" words, 1 slang term for sex ("nailed"), 1 slang term for male genitals ("Johnson"), 2 slang terms for breasts ("t*t"), 9 hells, 5 asses (1 used with "hole"), 1 crap, 1 S.O.B., 8 uses of "Oh my God," 4 of "G-damn," 3 of "God," 2 of "Oh God" and 1 use each of "Christ," "For Christ's sakes," "For God's sakes," "Jesus Christ" and "My God" as exclamations. In addition, various expletives and phrases are partially heard as they're bleeped out on a TV broadcast (such as "ass" and "G-damn"). SEX/NUDITY At various moments during the film, the various cheerleaders and others show varying amounts of cleavage in various outfits. We also see a few shots where the camera focuses on their sashaying bodies in their cheerleading outfits during their routines. In the opening credits, Hanna is noted as being the virgin. We hear that Cleo isn't a "real C-cup" and briefly see her putting some padding under her shirt/bra (but don't see any nudity). We do, however, later briefly see in her underwear, and we hear her fantasy about being naked and all oiled up in talk show host Conan O'Brien's all-leather apartment. After one of the girls states that they need Hanna to operate a Ouija board since it needs a Christian virgin at the helm, she states that she doesn't think she's a virgin anymore. She then says that at Christian summer camp she thought she had an orgasm. Another chimes in that anything starting with Christian summer camp can't lead to the "big O," but Hanna then goes on to explain that she became aroused from the repetitious bouncing in a saddle while horseback riding. One of the girls then states that pictures of Jesus, bare-chested and sweating on the cross, make her hot. A person states that something gave the Internet geeks something to talk about other than agent Scully and their most recent wet dream. We see several quick instances of Jack and Diane making out (always clothed), once with her legs wrapped around him as he stands, and another where they fall to the floor. We then learn that they evidently had sex as she announces that she's pregnant. When the other cheerleaders learn of this (when Diane refuses to accept a tampon in their line passing since she doesn't need one), Kansas states that she's not the first (to get pregnant - meaning she thought she'd be the first). Later, Kansas' mom says the same thing about her. When Jack's buddies learn of that, one proudly states, "You nailed Diane Weston" and then adds, "I'd never wash my Johnson again." We see Diane in her bra (as well as several progressive shots of her bare, pregnant belly). One of Jack's geeky coworkers tells Jack that he knows that he slept with Diane. He then wonders, however, that since Jack can't sleep with her anymore (since she's pregnant one assumes), whether he gets "super horny," and if so, how horny. Jack then states (while checking out Lisa's sexually charged videotapes) that he's going to be a dad, and that dad's don't get horny. One of the cheerleaders asks Diane if she had another sex dream. When she nods that she did, the other asks if it was about Wayne Gretzky and a hat trick (as in hockey). When contemplating what they could do with stolen money, Hanna dreamily states that she could buy a horse (in relation to the above entry regarding her orgasm while riding one). Later, during the closing credits, we see that she bought or runs a horse farm or school. We hear Conan O'Brien starting to tell a joke about sex during a standup comedy bit, but all we hear is him state that it won't be about him. Diane states that one can learn about sex from the movies (but the same doesn't hold true for bank robbery). We briefly see some standard gynecological posters (drawings) on the wall that show cross-sections of the female reproductive system as well as a somewhat graphic, but slightly out of focus view of a woman's genitals. An older woman is obviously aroused by the sight of the cheerleaders in their outfits, commenting on their skirts, etc. A prisoner compares robbery to doing tricks (prostitution), stating that the girls need to be in control, know how far they'll go to get the dough, and should "always put the rubber on yourself." Kansas tells a gun dealer that they're not going to trade sex for guns, but then rethinks that in regards to Cleo. We see some of the girls in their bras and panties. We see some men dressed up like pregnant women on a clip from the Jerry Springer show. We see a cover photo of Fern in a bikini holding various weapons. SMOKING Kansas' mom smokes, as does another prisoner, an exterminator and some people in a movie playing on video. We see that Kansas is giving her mom several cartons of cigarettes as her Christmas gift. TENSE FAMILY SCENES Evidently, Jack and Diane's announcement to their parents that they're going to have a baby doesn't sit well with the latter group, although we only briefly hear about that. Kansas' mom is in prison for killing her dad right before she was born, but none of that's played out realistically/seriously. TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT The tactics the girls use (namely becoming gun-toting robbers) while trying to help their friend, and Diane's comment that money is what makes your dreams come true. Diane getting pregnant and deciding to have the baby and Jack wanting to marry her and raise their child. The fact that girls got away with her crime in the end and even prospered and led happy lives (according to the "whatever happened to" credits at the end). VIOLENCE Most of what's listed below is played for goofy laughs rather than the standard, intense or graphic violence. Lisa pushes a guy backwards. Diane accidentally kicks Jack during a pep rally while doing various flips, etc. (and knocks him silly, although we don't see the actual contact). Someone throws something that strikes a student in the head and knocks him to the floor as he gives a speech about how the student body should vote for brains over brawn for homecoming king. A woman smacks Jack's face after he picks up her child. We see various clips from previous robbery-based movies where people use guns to threaten others during such robberies. Kansas punches Hannah who then grabs Kansas by the neck. Kansas then grabs Hannah's ponytails, but Diane knocks both down when she stands up. The girls rob a bank (located in a grocery store) at gunpoint. A crazed man then approaches them with a knife, but one of the girls accidentally fires her weapon (that she thought was empty), shooting holes in some groceries and the man's hat (but no one is harmed). Kansas repeatedly tries to attack Lisa inside her truck. Reviewed January 26, 2001 / Posted January 26, 2001

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