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"KIDS IN AMERICA"
(2005) (Gregory Smith, Stephanie Sherrin) (PG-13)

Alcohol/
Drugs
Blood/Gore Disrespectful/
Bad Attitude
Frightening/
Tense Scenes
Guns/
Weapons
Heavy Mild Heavy Minor Mild
Imitative
Behavior
Jump
Scenes
Music
(Scary/Tense)
Music
(Inappropriate)
Profanity
Heavy None None Moderate Heavy
Sex/
Nudity
Smoking Tense Family
Scenes
Topics To
Talk About
Violence
Heavy None Mild Heavy Mild


NOTE:
The following is an unedited version of our final review (which will be posted soon) that may contain spelling, grammatical or factual errors.
QUICK TAKE:
Dramedy: A disparate group of high school students stage a protest against their draconian principal, her curbing of their rights, and her bid to become the next state school superintendent.
PLOT:
At Booker High, draconian Principal Donna Weller (JULIE BOWEN) runs the school with an iron fist, partially because that's just the way she is, but also because she's running for the state's school superintendent position. Most of her instructors, such as theater teacher Chip Stratton (ANDREW SHAIFER) and Ed Mumsford (ADAM ARKIN) kiss up to her or just do their job. But then there's Will Drucker (MALIK YOBA), a former documentary filmmaker and social protestor who tries to instill his passion for justice in his students.

Some of that's evident in the class video projects his students have created, such as Charlotte Pratt (STEPHANIE SHERRIN) speaking out about female genital mutilation in other countries, Walanda Jenkins (CRYSTAL CELESTE GRANT) being adamant about black rights, and Emily Chua (EMY COLIGADO) being fed up with tired Japanese stereotypes.

But it really comes to a head when Holden Donovan (GREGORY SMITH) does a memorable improvisation of Hamlet by going off on Weller's abstinence only policy regarding sex-ed and her punishment of a student for bringing that to light. Holden ends his tirade with a mock suicide that causes Weller to expel him. Not one to give up, Holden then sets out to get the other students - including Chuck McGinn (CHRIS MORRIS) and his frat boy mentality, the flamboyantly gay Lawrence Reitzer (ALEX ANFANGER) and even Katie Carmichael (CAITLIN WACHS) who breaks away from the snobby attitudes exhibited by her fellow cheerleaders such as Kelly Stepford (NICOLE CAMILLE RICHIE) -- to join him in protesting Weller and her policies.

With Will as his role model, Holden then does what he can to undermine Weller and ruin her chance of getting the coveted job, all while falling for Charlotte who's also sweet on him.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?
Considering that it's about kids rebelling against their principal, that might draw some kids, while anyone who's a fan of someone in the cast might also be interested in it.
WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13
For sexual content, mature thematic elements and language.
CAST AS ROLE MODELS:
  • GREGORY SMITH plays an outspoken student who gets expelled for his actions and then sets out to organize the student body in a protest against Weller. He falls for and seemingly has sex with Charlotte.
  • STEPHANIE SHERRIN plays a student concerned about female genital mutilation in other countries before she teams with and then falls for Holden, eventually and apparently having sex with him.
  • CHRIS MORRIS plays a jovial and overweight student who joins the cause and has something of a frat boy mentality.
  • CAITLIN WACHS plays a cheerleader who breaks away from the pack to join the protest, using her sexuality in one moment to help the cause. She also has an alcoholic mom.
  • EMY COLIGADO plays the student in charge of the talent show who makes fun of Lawrence but doesn't want to be seen as a Japanese stereotype.
  • CRYSTAL CELESTE GRANT plays the black student who's into black power and fighting the establishment.
  • ALEX ANFANGER plays the flamboyantly gay student who's into the '80s group Wham and participating in the talent show wearing next to nothing. He's suspended after being caught kissing another guy in the school hallway.
  • JULIE BOWEN plays the school's draconian principal who's cracked down on any sort of free speech or acting up, all while running for the state school superintendent position.
  • MALIK YOBA plays the school's English teacher, a former provocative documentary filmmaker who still tries to stir up longings for social justice and action within his students.
  • ANDREW SHAIFER plays the theater teacher who's full of himself and his minor accomplishments and sucks up to Weller whenever he can.
  • NICOLE CAMILLE RICHIE plays a snobby cheerleader who looks down on others (although she eventually helps in the protest).
  • ROSANNA ARQUETTE plays Charlotte's radical mom, a former protestor who's behind her daughter. She briefly uses strong profanity.
  • ELIZABETH PERKINS plays Katie's alcoholic mom.
  • 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:
    The following is a brief summary of the content found in this dramedy that's been rated PG-13. Profanity consists of at least 1 "f" word, while other expletives and colorful phrases are uttered. Various instances of sexually related dialogue and song lyrics are present, as is all sorts of other sexually related material (talk of sex-ed, condoms, pregnancy, a character being gay, a teenager using her sexuality to convince male teen to do something for her, and more). Off-screen sex is implied, a montage has same sex kissing used as a protest by various "couples," while both males and females of high school age are seen in skimpy attire (which includes a brief and partial bare breast shot).

    A boy fakes slitting his wrist (with resultant fake blood) for the shock effect, while another boy's pants catch on fire during a prank-type protest and a cop briefly manhandles a student. All sorts of other potentially imitative behavior are present, as are varying degrees of bad attitudes. Thematic elements include talk of teen pregnancy, abortion, female genital mutilation and parental deaths and more. Some brief, scatological based dialogue is present, as are several scenes featuring an intoxicated and presumably alcoholic parent.

    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.

    For those prone to visually induced motion sickness, there is some bouncy camerawork from time to time.


    ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE
  • We see that Katie's mom is an alcoholic who drinks at the dinner table and appears intoxicated.
  • Katie's mom is drunk again and wants another drunk from her husband who's also having one.
  • A morality type school play shows two actors posing as other students, with various comments made about various types of drug use (being bad).
  • BLOOD/GORE
  • One girl talks about some guy "blowing chunks" on other girl and refers to it as "facial diarrhea."
  • At the end of a social tirade at a presentation, Holden pulls out a knife and slits his wrist, with blood then on his arm and the floor around him. But he then stands up and shows that it was all just faked.
  • When asked why he and others abruptly left class, Chuck lies and says he had to go "number two."
  • DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE
  • Depending on one's viewpoint, either Principal Weller has a bad attitude for her attempts to suppress the students and keep them in line (she's portrayed as the villain by the film) or the students are the ones with that for rebelling against authority.
  • Catching a student promoting safe sex via a visual display of condoms in wrappers on her shirt, Weller asks her "Are you retarded?" and "Are you a retard?"
  • We see Chuck videotaping the cheerleaders from below them beside the bleachers. We then see his video project that shows the camera focusing on one cheerleader's butt, with him narrating in a lascivious fashion commenting on her panties and wanting her to shake her butt. During this, he also says "Give me an 'A,' give me an 'S," give me another 'S.'"
  • Some viewers might not like the following: Charlotte relates female genital mutilation to the Bush administration and its policy toward women. Other cuts are made at that administration.
  • While intoxicated, Katie's mom says they need a "lawn jockey" (a racist comment for the connotation).
  • At the end of a social tirade at a presentation, Holden pulls out a knife and slits his wrist, with blood then on his arm and the floor around him. But he then stands up and shows that it was all just faked.
  • Weller cracks down on the student's rights of free speech.
  • Weller expels Holden for his actions and speaking his mind.
  • Kelly is a stereotypical cheerleader snob.
  • While intoxicated Katie's mom says she took some clothing with a soy sauce stain on it to a Chinese laundry since they would know how to get out their own sauce.
  • Weller fires Will for him encouraging his students to protest.
  • Weller states that she's instituting her own version of the Patriot Act, adding that freedom is not an unequivocal right.
  • Weller catches Lawrence and another boy kissing in the hallway and suspends him.
  • Charlotte is replaced as editor of a school publication due to her participation in the protests.
  • About an idea Holden has, someone yells out "That's gay."
  • Walanda (who's black) calls a black cop "Uncle Tom."
  • A cop grabs Holden by the shirt while interrogating him.
  • The football coaches berate a player by asking if he has a vagina (and other such related talk).
  • FRIGHTENING SCENES
  • At the end of a social tirade at a presentation, Holden pulls out a knife and slits his wrist, with blood then on his arm and the floor around him. But he then stands up and shows that it was all just faked.
  • We see the students pouring gasoline all around the football field and night and then lighting that. The flame shoots across and around the field, eventually hitting Lawrence and catching his pants on fire with other scrambling to put him out. We then hear that he had second degree burns from that and is then seen in the hospital, but nothing more is made of or seen concerning that (meaning no burns, etc.).
  • GUNS/WEAPONS
  • At the end of a social tirade at a presentation, Holden pulls out a knife and slits his wrist, with blood then on his arm and the floor around him. But he then stands up and shows that it was all just faked.
  • IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR
  • Phrases: "F*ck it," "Eat sh*t, smile about it," "Bull-sh*t," "Your little Hebrew National" (penis), "You want a licky-licky?" "Suck(s)," "Nuts" (testicles), "That was so hot," "Are you retarded?" "Are you a retard?" "Can it," "You tell her sister," "Give me an 'A,' give me an 'S," give me another 'S,'" "Midgets," "I'm a dork," "Can kiss my fat Japanese ass," "You're so gay," "He is such a jerk," "The sucky thing is," "If you need me to drop trou, let me know," "One long skid mark," "Sheila" (what Emily calls Lawrence, who's gay), "What the hell /is he doing/happened/is going on here?" "Nut-job," "Weirdo," "Creepo," "Spot on," "These G-D kids are f-ing me" (said just like that), "God, you're useless," "Chick," "I may have to tell her to kiss my ass," "Kick butt," "Kiss ass," "Brown-noser," "Little Betty B. Good," "Are you joking or are you just a moron?" "Bring it on," "The idiot's guide to kissing ass," "Stink-pots," "That's gay," "How the hell did this happen?" "Uncle Tom," "Smart ass," "Screwed things up," "Sure as hell" and "Shut up."
  • A miscellaneous teen in jail has many tattoos on many parts of her body.
  • Emily complains that trying to find talent in their school is like "trying to find weapons of mass destruction in my anus."
  • Kelly does a cheerleader cheer about kicking a person in the "nuts" and shoving something up their "hole."
  • One girl talks about some guy "blowing chunks" on other girl and refers to it as "facial diarrhea."
  • Lawrence wears just a small thong for a talent show (replaced by boxers hiked up on the sides), later followed by Chuck doing the same thing for a different event.
  • We see Chuck videotaping the cheerleaders from below them beside the bleachers. We then see his video project that shows the camera focusing on one cheerleader's butt, with him narrating in a lascivious fashion commenting on her panties and wanting her to shake her butt. During this, he also says "Give me an 'A,' give me an 'S," give me another 'S.'"
  • Various characters (and his friends) make some playful, gay-related jokes about Lawrence, such as him being so gay that Cher dresses up like him.
  • Various young women (and Charlotte's mom) wear midriff-revealing tops.
  • We see a miscellaneous girl wearing a spiked collar and spiked wristband.
  • Holden wears a fight the power t-shirt.
  • Emily calls Lawrence "Shelia."
  • The film could inspire kids to imitate or come up with their own forms of protest at their schools (such as wearing condoms -- in wrappers -- on clothing as occurs here).
  • We see a girl with blue hair.
  • About an idea Holden has, someone yells out "That's gay."
  • We see the students pouring gasoline all around the football field and night and then lighting that. The flame shoots across and around the field, and we later see it burned in an "anti" circle with a line through it symbol about Weller.
  • A miscellaneous girl has a stud in her nostril.
  • The end credits are shown in the form of graffiti on the bathroom wall.
  • Holden and Charlotte decide to outdo the longest onscreen kiss on record. We then see them passionately making out, including him laying her down on the hood of a car (both are clothed), during the end credits and doing so for what they say is six-plus minutes.
  • JUMP SCENES
  • None.
  • MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE)
  • None.
  • MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE)
  • A song has lyrics about "I want you, I want you so bad."
  • A song has lyrics about "You and me baby ain't nothing but mammals, let's do it like they do it on the Discovery channel.
  • PROFANITY
  • At least 1 "f" word (and another said as "f-ing"), 3 "s" words, 2 slang terms for sex ("schtup" and "do it"), 2 for male genitals ("Hebrew National" and "banana"), 7 hells, 6 asses (with another spelled out letter by letter, and the term "hole" used without the preceding word), 3 craps, 1 damn, 6 uses of "Oh my God," 2 uses of "G-D" (standing in for "G-damn"), 2 uses of "God" and 1 use each of "Jesus" and "Oh God."
  • SEX/NUDITY
  • Emily states that she doesn't want to see Lawrence's "little Hebrew National" bouncing across the stage, referring to him appearing wearing just a small thong (we see the bulge in front) for a talent show. He doesn't go on that way, but does in boxers that have been hiked up on sides, giving him somewhat of a diaper look (that Emily refers to as what sounded like "a homemade banana hammock").
  • We see a female student wearing a button stating "safe sex or no sex" and has many condoms in their wrappers attached to her shirt. Weller gets after her for that, with the student saying she's not condoning premarital sex but is being a realist. Weller confiscates the condoms, commenting on two being latex and then pocketing the natural one as a "keeper" for herself.
  • We see Charlotte's video presentation about female genital mutilation where she mentions that and the term "clitoris" various times (but that body part is never seen, nor is the practice, just talk and writing about it).
  • We see Chuck videotaping the cheerleaders from below them beside the bleachers. We then see his video project that shows the camera focusing on one cheerleader's butt, with him narrating in a lascivious fashion commenting on her panties and wanting her to shake her butt. During this, he also says "Give me an 'A,' give me an 'S," give me another 'S.'"
  • When Holden offers to give Charlotte a ride home, she asks if it's true that he had a 3-way with two other girls she names. She then adds that she doesn't want him to take her home and then hear rumors about them and an orgy with midgets.
  • Chuck's father says that computers are only good for two things -- "Internet porn...and Internet porn."
  • We see the cheerleaders in very short skirts (but nothing explicit is seen).
  • Kelly comments on her boyfriend being caught "sliding" into third base with her.
  • The previous condom girl says she's president of the celibacy organization.
  • A person comments on three girls at the school being pregnant.
  • Charlotte's mom states that she once protested naked and that if the students need her "to drop trou" (her trousers) to let her know.
  • Holden goes on a tirade about girls getting abortions in high school when money earmarked for sex education goes to the new football field.
  • The faculty cheerleader instructor/coach wears a very tight top that accentuates her buxom figure.
  • Holden states that the anatomy teacher lives with his mother and has never seen a naked body, including his.
  • There's additional talk of clitoral mutilation regarding Charlotte's earlier video project.
  • Mentioning that she once used handcuffs during a protest, Charlotte's mom says that they're not bad to use "in the sack" either. When Charlotte acts shocked, her mom jokes that Charlotte thinks she's still a virgin. A student then jokes that the mom is probably fine with Holden trying to "schtup" her daughter.
  • When Holden says he reads Charlotte as sweet and innocent, she suggestively says he has that wrong.
  • We see Charlotte's lower bare back as her shirt rides up while she's standing up.
  • After Holden comments on his favorite movie kiss scene, Charlotte suggestively says she wants him to show her. She then copies the scene he mentions and the two then passionately kiss while clothed and standing outside in the rain. We then see a recreation of such scenes from other movies, where we see them kissing. We also see her coming out of a pool (like Phoebe Cates in "Fast Times at Ridgemont High") in a small bikini. She then walks in slow motion toward him, reaching for the clasp on the front of her bikini top. She then opens it and as she walks up to Holden with it open, we see a very brief view of her bare breasts before they embrace.
  • A song has lyrics about "I want you, I want you so bad."
  • A teacher shows a little cleavage.
  • Charlotte's mom shows some cleavage in her midriff-revealing top.
  • Charlotte's mom knows that Holden is in Charlotte's closet, but is cool with that although she has him leave. Before he does, he and Charlotte do some passionate, clothed kissing.
  • Will's girlfriend/wife says that it's hard to fight the good fight when you're not playing in the game. She then asks if he wants to play in the game (meaning the students' social cause but turned into a sexual bit with the following), with him saying he does, but only if she wears her cheerleader outfit and lets him tear it off her.
  • Charlotte's dad says that his wife once burned in bra in protest, but gave up after getting chaffed nipples.
  • Various scenes show Katie in short skirts and midriff-revealing tops.
  • Charlotte and Holden briefly comment on a "make love not war" bumper sticker as they sit together in the backseat of a car. She then asks if he wants to, he asks what and she replies "Make love." He wonders if she's serious and she says she wondered why he hadn't asked her yet and that she's tired of being considered respectful. The two then passionately make out and then recline out of the camera shot, implying sex.
  • The next scene shows them in a drugstore where Holden is grabbing all of the boxes of condoms. Charlotte states that she knows he's 17 and that's like a guy's sexual prime, but adds "This is ridiculous." At the checkout counter, the male clerk comments on Holden being ambitious, but he says they're not for them.
  • We then see many students who have the wrapped condoms attached to their clothing as part of a protest.
  • A morality type school play shows two actors posing as other students, with one being pregnant.
  • About a school play, Chuck says he's seen better acting in porn. After seeing how a cheerleader looks at him, he adds not that he likes it. The girl then suggestively says she likes porn, exciting him and causing him to touch her arm when she then states that she was just kidding and that he can't touch her again.
  • To protest Weller suspending Lawrence for kissing another boy (which we see), Holden shows video footage of various heterosexual couples kissing in and out of the school. He then says that Lawrence was singled out because the person he was kissing had the same sort of genitals. He then encourages those at an assembly to kiss someone else of the same sex to protest Weller's policy. We then see the likes of Charlotte, Chuck, Kelly and even the football coach kissing other members of the same sex.
  • A song has lyrics about "You and me baby ain't nothing but mammals, let's do it like they do it on the Discovery channel.
  • While in police custody, Emily (who's Japanese) tries to act like she doesn't speak English. When the cops call her on that, she suddenly blurts out "Licky-licky?"
  • Lawrence, stuck in the hospital, asks the others after they're bailed out of jail, "Was prison hot?" (a gay joke).
  • About the football coach, Walanda suggestively says she has some black beans to go with the coach's burrito grande.
  • The football coaches berate a player by asking if he has a vagina (and other such related talk).
  • Needing the quarterback to skip the game, Katie hikes up her shirt to show a lot of her bare and taut midriff and then tells him "Do you want to see the Olsen twins up close and personal again?" (referring to her still-covered breasts, all as she leans back in a suggestive pose).
  • During a telethon type entertainment show, a comment is made about seeing two girls "juggling their fruit," but we then see that's what they're actually doing. We then see the overweight Chuck in just a small thong, performing a song for Lawrence who couldn't be there. There are many shots of him, and once he's done and standing off camera, Charlotte checks out his butt (which we don't see) while seated behind him.
  • A cheerleader shows a little cleavage.
  • A drawing in the end credits shows an exaggerated, buxom woman in a tight top.
  • Holden and Charlotte decide to outdo the longest onscreen kiss on record. We then see them passionately making out, including him laying her down on the hood of a car (both are clothed), during the end credits and doing so for what they say is six-plus minutes.
  • SMOKING
  • None.
  • TENSE FAMILY SCENES
  • Charlotte briefly mentions that her dad died in the Gulf War.
  • A real-life student in the end credits says that her mom died from having HIV.
  • TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT
  • The film's portrayal of the conservative principal vs. the more liberal, activist students.
  • Staging protests.
  • Sex-ed in high school.
  • The caricatures on display (the effeminate gay guy, the angry black young woman, etc.).
  • Female genital mutilation.
  • Katie's mom appears to be an alcoholic (or at least is inebriated every time we see her).
  • A person comments on three girls at the school being pregnant and later there's brief talk about abortion.
  • Holden questions whether kids should follow adults simply because they say to trust them.
  • Holden goes on a tirade about girls getting abortions in high school when money earmarked for sex education goes to the new football field.
  • Holden tells Weller that the side effects of education should not be death by boredom and mediocrity.
  • The comment that it's hard to fight the good fight when you're not playing in the game.
  • The comment that there's nothing permanent but change.
  • The fact that Weller suspended Lawrence for making out with another guy in the school, but didn't for heterosexual couples.
  • During the end credits, we hear stories of real students who got in trouble for doing things such as writing a story about wanting to shoot the teacher, one handing out condoms due to her mother having HIV and another wearing a t-shirt that reads "Barbie is a Lesbian."
  • VIOLENCE
  • At the end of a social tirade at a presentation, Holden pulls out a knife and slits his wrist, with blood then on his arm and the floor around him. But he then stands up and shows that it was all just faked.
  • We see the students pouring gasoline all around the football field and night and then lighting that. The flame shoots across and around the field, eventually hitting Lawrence and catching his pants on fire with other scrambling to put him out. We then hear that he had second degree burns from that and is then seen in the hospital, but nothing more is made of or seen concerning that (meaning no burns, etc.).
  • A cop grabs Holden by the shirt while interrogating him.



  • Reviewed October 21, 2005 / Posted October 21, 2005

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