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(About Our Ads) "MEAN CREEK" (2004) (Rory Culkin, Scott Mechlowicz) (R) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Heavy Moderate Extreme Moderate Moderate Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Moderate None Mild *None Extreme Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Heavy Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate QUICK TAKE: Drama: Two brothers and their friends hope to put the school bully in his place by inviting him along on a river trip meant to humiliate him, but they don't anticipate the unexpected consequences that occur. PLOT: In a small Oregon high school, George (JOSHUA PECK) is the feared bully. When he beats up Sam (RORY CULKIN) for touching his video camera, Sam's older brother Rocky (TREVOR MORGAN) decides they should teach the school thug a lesson. With the help of friends Clyde (RYAN KELLEY) and Marty (SCOTT MECHLOWICZ), the group plots to invite George to a fake river-canoeing birthday party for Sam. Once out in the wilderness, they plan to make the boy strip and then be humiliated by having to walk home naked. As they set out with Millie (CARLY SCHROEDER), a young girl Sam's age who's his potential girlfriend and knows nothing of the plan, they soon learn that George is a misunderstood and troubled kid. Sam hopes to call off the plan, but Marty - who has issues of his own, like the rest of the group members - won't let it go. While proceeding down the river, they have no idea what's just around the bend - literally and figuratively - as the plot is slowly set into motion. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? Younger kids probably won't, but those who are fans of someone in the cast or dramatic thrillers starring teens may just want to see it. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: R For language, sexual references, teen drug and alcohol use. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: RORY CULKIN plays a young school boy who gets beat up by George. Smitten with Millie, he agrees to go along with his brother's retaliatory plan until he gets to know and then wants to call it off. He uses strong profanity and drinks some. TREVOR MORGAN plays his older brother who comes up with the plan but also wants to call it off once they realize that George is a troubled kid. He uses strong profanity, drinks and uses some drugs. JOSHUA PECK plays the misunderstood school bully who turns out to have a learning disability. He beats up or makes fun of others and uses strong profanity. RYAN KELLEY plays one of Rocky's friends who goes along on the humiliation-based trip, but also has second thoughts. He drinks, uses strong profanity and is sensitive about having two gay fathers. SCOTT MECHLOWICZ plays Rocky's troubled friend who becomes the ringleader of the plan and won't call it off when others want to do just that. He uses strong profanity, drinks and uses drugs. CARLY SCHROEDER plays the young girl who's smitten with Sam and is then upset when she learns of the guys' plan toward George. She uses strong profanity under duress. 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 R-rated drama. Profanity consists of at least 41 "f" words, while other expletives and colorful phrases are also uttered. Sexually related dialogue (some if it explicit) is present (including about a teen having two gay fathers), some sexual gestures are made, and a teen's bare butt is seen as he shows his privates to others in a game of truth or dare. Other instances of imitative behavior occur, and various characters have varying degrees of bad attitudes. That includes some kids trying to cover up a deadly accident (a drowning) that stems from some struggling. A bit more hitting and other physical contact is present. Some of that has bloody results and such material (particularly the drowning scene) may be disturbing to viewers. Teenage characters smoke and/or drink, and a few smoke marijuana. Some tense family material regarding deaths in families is also present. Should you still be concerned about the film's appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home, you may want to look more closely at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. For those prone to visually induced motion sickness, there is some shaky, handheld camera work here. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE Marty and Rocky share a joint (while they and Clyde also drink, with Marty driving) and Marty makes fun of Clyde not smoking any pot. Marty says that the only thing his mom needs is Valium. Marty makes the male masturbation gesture with a beer bottle that's sitting between his clothed legs. Marty drinks and drives (and George calls him on that). Marty, Sam and another friend have beer. Marty offers some pot to Sam who declines the offer, but George says that he's been stoned before and that he smoked a whole blunt once, but can't anymore. One of the guys playfully opens a can of beer in Sam's face so that it sprays all over him. Marty's older brother and friend drink in a bar where others also drink. Clyde's fathers have wine with dinner. BLOOD/GORE As seen through George's video camera (that's first stationary on the ground and then picked up by Sam), George races over at Sam for picking it up and then pummels him, eventually having him in a stranglehold before letting go. Sam has some bloody cuts and a bruised face. We see a urine stream going into the river. We see blood in the water after a person hits their head. We see Sam vomit from stress. Apparently ready to do a blood oath sort of ritual, some of the group members slice one finger each with a knife (resulting in some blood at the wound). Angry about something else, Millie suddenly stabs a large snail with a knife (with resultant goo coming out of it). DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE George is a bully who beats up kids (we see him beat up Sam and hear that he beat up Clyde in the past). Commenting on George being a fat bully, one of the guys says, "I say we smoke that ham." Since Clyde has two gay fathers, Marty occasionally makes fun (in a friendly way) of Clyde being gay, but that doesn't sit well with Clyde. To get revenge on George for beating up Sam, Rocky invites him to Sam's fake birthday party of boating down a river. He tells him not to tell anyone else and then plots to make the bully completely strip and then have to run home naked. A guy asks another, "Why do you have to be so retarded?" George calls Clyde a "faggot" and there's more related talk. Marty throws an empty can into the river (littering). George makes a sarcastic comment about Marty's dead dad (who committed suicide by shooting himself in the head -- not seen) and then keeps egging him on (in a mean way) about that. Marty ignores the others' requests to call off the plan and then tells George about it to make him worry. George eggs on Clyde (in a mean way) about his gay fathers and their sexual practices (some of it graphic in nature). Some of the group want to make up a story about what happened (regarding a person drowning) and after much debate, they agree to bury the body and not tell anyone about it. Marty makes a sarcastic comment about going to jail and getting raped every night (some viewers might not like that reference). FRIGHTENING SCENES Scenes listed under "Violence" may be unsettling, suspenseful or scary to younger viewers and/or those with low tolerance levels for such material. A person is knocked into the river and flounders about, screaming for help. He then goes under the surface several times, once hitting his head quite hard and we see blood in the water. He then goes under for the last time and isn't seen again until he washes up in the shallow water. Others try to resuscitate him, but to no avail. We see a slug crawling across a dead person's skin (that might gross out some viewers). GUNS/WEAPONS Marty does some impromptu target practice with his older brother's handgun (but misses the target). Angry about something else, Millie suddenly stabs a large snail with a knife (with resultant goo coming out of it). A guy holds up a convenience store with a gun (for cash). IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "You f*cking d*ckhead," "I'm just f*cking with you," "F*ck school," "I think I'm bored as f*ck," "Alright, f*ck face," "You stupid f*ck," "A major f*cking crime," "Hey you little f*cker," "This is so f*cked," "Piece of sh*t," "Oh sh*t," "P*ssy ass," "Everyone is a vagina," "A couple of little wet p*ssies," "Donkey d*ck," "Bitch" (guy), "Screw that guy" (nonsexual), "Shut up," "Hard on" "Fat freak," "(Butt munching) Faggot," "Kiss my ass," "Why do you have to be so retarded?" "Take a piss," "Nuts" and "Boys" (testicles), "Moron," "Shut your trap," "Ladies" (how Marty refers to the other guys in a derogatory fashion), "Douche bag," "Fat ass," "Suckers," "We're all screwed," "Nuts" (crazy), "That's crap," "Screw all of you" and "You suck." Marty playfully punches Rocky quite hard. Sam tears out part of the chewing gum in his mouth and gives it to Rocky who places it in his mouth. To get revenge on George for beating up Sam, Rocky invites him to Sam's fake birthday party of boating down a river. He tells him not to tell anyone else and then plots to make the bully completely strip and then have to run home naked. One of the guys playfully gives "the finger" to another. Marty playfully holds something at his clothed crotch (with his legs spread) and does some mocking thrusting as he says, "I'd love to go" when imitating George's response to being invited to their outing. Marty makes the male masturbation gesture with a beer bottle that's sitting between his clothed legs. Marty drinks and drives (and George calls him on that). A guy asks another, "Why do you have to be so retarded?" Marty's older brother's friend acts like Marty backed into him with a car (on the ground in fake pain). After removing his shoe, George tries to get Millie to smell his foot by placing it near her face. George raps and makes related musical sounds using only his mouth. Marty lets out a loud belch. Marty throws an empty can into the river (littering). One of the guys playfully opens a can of beer in Sam's face so that it sprays all over him. George sprays Rocky with a water gun. The group plays a game of truth or dare. Apparently ready to do a blood oath sort of ritual, some of the group members slice one finger each with a knife (resulting in some blood at the wound). Angry about something else, Millie suddenly stabs a large snail with a knife (with resultant goo coming out of it). A guy holds up a convenience store with a gun (for cash). JUMP SCENES None. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) A mild amount of suspenseful music plays in the film. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) None that we heard, but a song had lyrics that we couldn't hear or completely understand, thus offering the possibility of it potentially containing objectionable lyrics. PROFANITY At least 41 "f" words, 14 "s" words, 10 slang terms using female genitals ("p*ssy" and "c*nt"), 6 using male ones ("d*ck" and "pisser"), 8 asses (2 used with "hole"), 2 craps, 2 S.O.B.'s, 1 hell and 1 use each of "For Christ's sakes," "God" and "My God." SEX/NUDITY When the comment "screw that guy" is made, one of the guys jokingly responds (and meaning sexual), "You really want to." Marty playfully holds something at his clothed crotch (with his legs spread) and does some mocking thrusting as he says, "I'd love to go" when imitating George's response to being invited to their outing. Marty makes the male masturbation gesture with a beer bottle that's sitting between his clothed legs. Marty's older brother's friend says that they're going "p*ssy hunting" and wonders if Marty has ever done that. One of the guys jokes about a time they got poison oak on their hands that then transferred to their genitals when they had to urinate following drinking beer. In a game of truth or dare, Clyde playfully tells Rocky he must say what he was thinking the last time "you beat off." Rocky then briefly comments (non-explicitly) about his fantasy girl. In a game of truth or dare, Sam and Millie are ordered to French kiss for ten seconds. When they reluctantly move toward each other, Marty playfully asks if this is what he's paying for and then holds their heads together, making them kiss. George videotapes all of this, but then focuses the camera on Millie's clothed crotch in her denim skirt (and later makes a comment about Millie now being Sam's fantasy). In a game of truth or dare, Marty is ordered to drop his pants to show his penis to the others. He then tells Millie to shield her eyes and then drops his pants (as someone says, "Bring on the penis"), exposing himself to the others (we see his bare butt). George eggs on Clyde (in a mean way) about his gay fathers and their sexual practices (some of it graphic in nature). SMOKING Marty smokes around 5 times, while Rocky and Marty's older brother each smoke a few times, George smokes once and some minor characters also smoke. To try to look cool, George smokes for the first time and lies about having done so in the past. TENSE FAMILY SCENES George makes a sarcastic comment about Marty's dead dad (who committed suicide by shooting himself in the head -- not seen) and then keeps egging him on (in a mean way) about that. A mother learns that her son is dead and then sees him being unearthed from his makeshift grave. TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT Dealing with bullies. Since Clyde has two gay fathers, Marty occasionally makes fun (in a friendly way) of Clyde being gay, but that doesn't sit well with Clyde. George talks of having a learning disability. To try to look cool, George smokes for the first time and lies about having done so in the past. Trying to cover up wrongdoings or accidents. Homosexuality - Clyde has two gay fathers. VIOLENCE As seen through George's video camera (that's first stationary on the ground and then picked up by Sam), George races over at Sam for picking it up and then pummels him, eventually having him in a stranglehold before letting go. Sam has some bloody cuts and a bruised face. Marty playfully punches Rocky quite hard. Marty's older brother grabs him by the ear, bends him over and causes him some pain (for taking his gun without permission). Marty has to be held back from attacking George, and a scuffle breaks out. A person is knocked into the river and flounders about, screaming for help. He then goes under the surface several times, once hitting his head quite hard and we see blood in the water. He then goes under for the last time and isn't seen again until he washes up in the shallow water. Others try to resuscitate him, but to no avail. Millie hits a body several times in frustration while trying to perform CPR. Marty grabs Clyde, pins him to the ground and pushes Rocky aside when he tries to intervene. Angry about something else, Millie suddenly stabs a large snail with a knife (with resultant goo coming out of it). A guy holds up a convenience store with a gun (for cash). Reviewed August 5, 2004 / Posted August 27, 2004