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Tell Others About This Page By Using This Button "COACH CARTER" (2005) (Samuel L. Jackson, Rob Brown) (PG-13) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Heavy Mild Heavy Mild Heavy Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Moderate None Mild Mild *Heavy Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Heavy Mild Mild Heavy Heavy QUICK TAKE: Drama: A new basketball coach causes an uproar when he benches his undefeated high school basketball team for not abiding by an academic contract that they all signed. PLOT: It's 1994 and businessman Ken Carter (SAMUEL L. JACKSON) has agreed to take on the position of coaching the boy's basketball team at Richmond High, his alma matter where he still holds various records on the court. While he wants his team to win, Coach Carter is more concerned with the boys' futures and thus makes them sign a contract where they agree to attend class, sit in the front row and wear respectable attire on game day. Most importantly, they must maintain a decent G.P.A. that might give them a chance to graduate and attend college. While some of the players hit the street, others such as Worm (ANTWON TANNER), Junior Battle (NANA GBEWONYO), Jason Lyle (CHANNING TATUM), Maddux (TEXAS BATTLE), Timo Cruz (RICK CONZALEZ) and Kenyan (ROB BROWN) -- whose girlfriend Kyra (ASHANTI) is pregnant -- agree. With the aid of Carter's son, Damien (ROBERT RI'CHARD), who decides to transfer from his good school to the less than desirable Richmond so that he can play under his dad, the team goes on an undefeated winning streak. Yet, when Coach Carter learns that various team members are not abiding by the stipulations in their contracts, he locks the gym, cancels the games and refuses to allow the team to play or even practice until they get their act together. Facing vehement criticism from the school's principal, Ms. Garrison (DENISE DOWSE), the school board and some of the players' parents who see basketball as their kids' only way out of poverty and a dismal future, the coach stands his ground in the hope and belief that he's doing the right thing for them. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? If they're into basketball dramas or are fans of anyone in the cast, they just might. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13 For violence, sexual content, language, teen partying and some drug material. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: SAMUEL L. JACKSON plays a high school basketball coach who draws all sorts of criticism when he benches his team for not holding up their end of a contract he made all of them sign (and does so because he's concerned about their academics as well as futures beyond high school and basketball). ROBERT RI'CHARD plays his son who transfers from a good school to a lesser one so that he can play for his dad. ROB BROWN plays a gifted player who's torn between his promising career and the fact that his girlfriend is pregnant and his desire to support her. He uses some profanity. ASHANTI plays his pregnant girlfriend who wonders about their future and ends up having an abortion. RICK CONZALEZ plays one of the basketball players who initially clashes with Coach Carter and is torn between playing and being a drug dealer for his cousin. NANA GBEWONYO plays a talented player who's upset when Coach Carter benches him for not abiding by his contract. He uses some profanity. ANTWON TANNER plays a smart-mouthed player on the team who uses some profanity. CHANNING TATUM and TEXAS BATTLE play additional players on the team. 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 drama that's been rated PG-13. Profanity consists of 2 possible "f" words, while plenty of other expletives and colorful phrases are uttered. Some sexually related dialogue is present, a teenage girl is noted as being pregnant (and briefly fools around with her boyfriend, but they're interrupted before having sex) and some high students participate in some suggestive and/or sexualized dancing. Other making out occurs at a party, while some male teenagers are seen in the locker room shower (from the lower waist up and then in low-riding towels), another is seen in his boxers and some girls are seen in their small undergarments. Violence includes a drug dealer being shot to death (with a little blood), and various instances of fighting, pushing or other such scuffling (including a high school student trying to hit his coach with a sucker punch). Other bad attitudes are present, including (for those opposed to the act) a teenage girl who admits to having an abortion. Some students drink (some to the point of inebriation) and/or smoke, while one gets involved with dealing drugs (although no drug use is present). Other forms of potentially imitative behavior are also present. If you're still concerned about the film and its appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home who may be interested in seeing it, we suggest that you take a closer look at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE We see a liquor store on the street. We see some brief drug dealing on the street. We see that Timo is now dealing drugs for his cousin. Some teenagers drink. Various teens drink at an unauthorized party, with some appearing intoxicated. We see that Timo is dealing drugs again. BLOOD/GORE Timo's drug dealer cousin is fatally shot several times (we later see a little blood on his face and clothes). DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE The players have bad attitudes toward Coach Carter upon first meeting him, particularly Timo who mocks him and then tries to throw a sucker punch at him. A girl mocks Worm by saying "Special Ed" (meaning education) when he mentions something being special. Coach Carter admits stealing from a church in his youth (to go along with the wild girl he liked). Worm initially doesn't like Damien (for being the coach's son who transferred from a better school). Timo's cousin gets him into dealing drugs. Some of the players showboat and grandstand during a game (while there's also taunting and some trash talk). Some of the players don't abide by their contract with Coach Carter by not keeping their GPA at the required level and skipping class. There's brief talk about abortion between Kyra (who's pregnant) and Kenyan (the father), with her thinking that's what he wants. The team secretly sneaks out from their motel to attend a party. Some girls throw an unauthorized party at their parents' house. Various parents and school officials have bad attitudes toward Coach Carter for shutting down the basketball team. A person in a passing vehicle throws something that breaks Coach Carter's storefront window (meant as intimidation). A guy spits on Coach Carter's window, prompting him to grab the guy by the shirt. For those opposed to abortion, Kyra tells Kenyan that she had one. A person shoots and kills Timo's drug-dealer cousin. FRIGHTENING SCENES Some guys rush two of the players, push them and then show their handguns (but it turns out to be Timo just joking around with them, although they thought it was real). There's a volatile confrontation on the street, with some struggling and fighting until Timo shows up, brandishing a firearm that causes the attackers to run away. Timo's drug dealer cousin is fatally shot several times (we later see a little blood on his face and clothes). GUNS/WEAPONS Handguns: Carried, displayed and/or used to threaten or kill others. See "Violence" for details. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "You didn't do sh*t," "This is bullsh*t," "I don't want to hear that sh*t," "That ain't sh*t," "I did all that sh*t," "We got sh*t to do," "What the hell you doing, ya'll?" "Stay out of my watch, bitch" (said to a guy), "Shut up," "Dawg," "Little ass," "Dumb ass," "Big black ass," "My bitch" (said for a guy), "Country ass nigger" (said by a black guy), "I would lay your ass out," "Damn sure," "Pipe up your ass," "What the hell are you doing?" "That's my big nigger...You'd be my bigga nigga," "Hell if I know," "All by my damn self," "Get your ass out of that pool," "She is fine as hell," "Drunk ass," "Maybe you should kiss my ass," "You selfish son of a bitch," "Oh hell no," "Punk," "Bitch ass" and "Shut your bitch ass up." Various young people have various tattoos, including Worm. Some young women wear midriff-revealing tops. A girl mocks Worm by saying "Special Ed" (meaning education) when he mentions something being special. Jason gives "the finger" to Timo. The players ask Coach Carter about a former girlfriend of his and wonder if she was "hot." The comment is then made that she was steaming hot (while licking a finger and then making a sizzle sound after touching something). Some of the players showboat and grandstand during a game (while there's also taunting and some trash talk). Some couples do some suggestive/sexualized dancing. We see a miscellaneous young woman with a pierced tongue. We see graffiti on walls (we don't see the act, just the result). JUMP SCENES None. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) A mild amount of suspenseful music plays in the film. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) Some songs had lyrics that we couldn't hear/understand, thus offering the possibility of them containing potentially objectionable material. Doing a rap, one of the guys sings something about one thinking he may be wrong, "but she's got a dong." A song has a line (said to a woman) about stopping and then ordering her to wiggle. PROFANITY At least 2 possible "f" words, 30 "s" words, 2 slang terms for sex ("freak" and "getting down"), 1 slang term for male genitals ("dong"), 21 damns, 20 asses, 9 hells, 1 S.O.B., and 2 uses each of "G-damn," "God" and "Oh my God." SEX/NUDITY We see some of the high school players in the shower (shot from the lower waist up) and others wearing just low-riding towels (but nothing explicit is seen). Kenyan jokes about hanging out on the beach with Kyra and her bikini. Worm jokes that he can't have just one girl in his life. He then jokes about a two-for-one special, saying two girls and one of him is special. We hear that Kyra is pregnant by Kenyan. She then shows him some tiny lingerie that she bought (for her to wear for his pleasure). He calls it a shoelace and she playfully asks if he'd like to see her in a shoelace. Doing a rap, one of the guys sings something about one thinking he may be wrong, "but she's got a dong." The players ask Coach Carter about a former girlfriend of his and wonder if she was "hot." The comment is then made that she was steaming hot (while licking a finger and then making a sizzle sound after touching something). Kenyan and Kyra do some passionate kissing and her shirt comes off (she's in a tank-top). He then carries her to bed with her legs wrapped around him (with notice given that her mom won't be home for an hour), but a crying baby interrupts them and nothing else happens. We see some more players wearing towels slung low along their waists (but nothing explicit is seen). Some couples do some suggestive/sexualized dancing where some of the young women show cleavage and/or wear midriff-revealing tops. One girl dances with Kenyan, moving her clothed butt at his clothed crotch, prompting a jealous Kyra to do some of her own suggestive and rhythmic dancing with a guy. The two then argue about that, with Kyra commenting on him finding a girl "to freak with" and then adding that he loved it "when we were getting down" (meaning sexual). A teen hands Worm an invite to come to her parents' place for an unauthorized party. The team later arrives and some teenage girls want some of the players to go swimming with them. The guys say they don't have any bathing suits, prompting the girls to say they don't either. Two of them then strip down to their small bras and panties, while one of the guys strips down to his boxers. Moments later, we see Damien doing some passionate kissing in the pool with one girl, while there's close contact among other such couples. Later, Coach Carter reprimands the team for that, stating that he found his point guard "on top of daddy's little princess" (with the player correcting him by saying she was on top) and a comment is made about "humping the honey," with Coach Carter adding that he'll show the team what humping is (meaning nonsexual exertion). The camera briefly focuses on several female cheerleaders' bodies as they dance through a routine. SMOKING Some brief miscellaneous smoking (once with a cigar) occurs in a handful of scenes, including one featuring a party. TENSE FAMILY SCENES Damien is upset with his dad for taking the job at Richmond High and his dad is mad at him for transferring to his school without asking him. Jason states that his father is in jail. Junior's mother tells Coach Carter that one of her son's was killed two years ago. TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT The historical accuracy of the story and/or any artistic liberties taken with it. We hear that Kyra is pregnant by Kenyan. Kenyan is then worried how he'll be able to play college ball and raise a baby. The comment that part of growing up is making decisions and then facing the possible consequences of them. We see that Timo is now dealing drugs for his cousin. The fact that the team volunteers to do part of Timo's massive physical regimen (so that he can get back on the team). Some of the players don't abide by their contract with Coach Carter by not keeping their GPA at the required level and skipping class. In turn, Coach Carter locks out his team and refuses to allow them to practice or play until they abide by their contract with him. Coach Carter gets on his black players for using the term "nigger" among themselves. The fact that Coach Carter always shows respect to his players (including calling them "sir"). There's brief talk about abortion between Kyra (who's pregnant) and Kenyan (the father), with her thinking that's what he wants. She later admits to having one. The comment that thirty-three percent of young black males in their area will get arrested and eighty percent are more likely to go to prison than college. The concept of the student-athlete. A mother's comment that basketball is all her son and other boys have (in terms of something constructive as well as referring to the future). The notion that it's not whether you win or lose, but how you play the game. VIOLENCE Some players brief push, throw some punches at and otherwise scuffle with others. There's a brief scuffle in the locker room between some players. Timo tries to throw a sucker punch at Coach Carter who blocks it, bends the kid's arm behind him and forcibly drives him up against a wall. Some guys rush two of the players, push them and then show their handguns (but it turns out to be Timo just joking around with them, although they thought it was real). Angry at his team for not abiding by their contract, Coach Carter kicks something in his office. A person in a passing vehicle throws something that breaks Coach Carter's storefront window (meant as intimidation). A guy spits on Coach Carter's window, prompting him to grab the guy by the shirt. There's a volatile confrontation on the street, with some struggling and fighting until Timo shows up, brandishing a firearm that causes the attackers to run away. Timo's drug dealer cousin is fatally shot several times (we later see a little blood on his face and clothes). There's some brief pushing in a game after a chest bump incident. Reviewed December 21, 2004 / Posted January 14, 2005