Movie Where Boy Draws Picture of His Crush in Class
I actually thought it was pretty good.
Honestly, It was one of those days when I just wanted to see a movie and anything would do. So I went to see Middle School as it was playing at the time I showed up. I herd of the movie, I did not have low expectations, and did not have any exceptions.
So what I got is a very entertaining movie. This genre of movie has never peaked my interest, so I was real surprised how much I actually liked it. It's pretty funny. A lot of good jokes that I generally enough to appeal to a large variety of people. A few laugh out loud moments, and a lot of small ones that really keep the momentum going.
This is despite the fact that the cast of characters was pretty generic and mediocre, except for one named Georgia, the little sister of the main character Rafe. Should have been more of her on the screen.
Was also surprised at how deep the movie got. It's main plot of letting children be creative individuals did not spark much inside me, but the subplots of dealing with the lost of a family member did hit home, and was delivered perfectly.
Plus, there was some cool animation in it, and I'm a sucker for that.
Overall Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life was worth the ticket. It makes me feel differently about movies like this overall.
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Fun, adorable, and heartwarming
#MiddleSchoolMovie made me cry. I didn't expect the story to be so sad, but it really was, and it's all in a good way. The film is fun, adorable, heartwarming and it just makes you want to hold your loved ones closer than ever. There needs to be more and more movies like this.
The story is quite simple, it's about this young kid named Rafe (Griffin Gluck) who has an active imagination. He loves drawing stuff on his notebook and the characters come to life in this quirky animation which is part of the film's appeal. But Andrew Daly's character, the school principal is anti-creativity, so he's always on Rafe's case. So Rafe strikes back with all kinds of hilarious pranks. But at home, his mom is dating a jerk of a boyfriend who's giving him and his sister a hard time. So all in all, it hasn't been a good school year for Rafe, not to mention his family is still trying to recuperate from a certain tragedy.
Without spoiling any important plot points, let me just say that the fun parts are fun and the dramatic parts are truly dramatic, this is not a movie that insults anybody's intelligence just because it's a PG movie for younger viewers. Based on James Patterson and Chris Tebbetts' novel that I haven't read yet, but this film sure motivates me to buy a copy, what I think makes MIDDLE SCHOOL effective is that the comedy aspect isn't mean to get your guard down, and the emotional aspect isn't quickly dropped like some kind of anvil. It also opens your eyes, you realize that even a middle-schooler can go through a lot We sometimes underestimate them, we often forget that those formative years are crucial to a human being and so I think the film does a good job of showing that.
Actor Andrew Daly has played this type of douchebag authoritative role before and so has Rob Riggle in a role of a jerk, so both actors are comfortable in their element, they know what they're doing and they got it down to a science. It's absolute pure joy watching them do what they do best even if we may not like their characters. Kudos to all the kid actors as well, especially Griffin Gluck and Alexa Nisenson who seem so effortless in their performances. What other actors may have to learn for years in order to get to that point of exposing their emotions and shedding it for the screen, these kids make it seem like a walk in the park 'cause they wear it on their sleeves. What an incredible talent for such a young age. This movie's got tons of animation as well that will be sure to put a smile on your face. You will come out of the theater a much better person than when you were when you enter in. That's how surprisingly positive and powerful this film is.
-- Rama's Screen --
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needs a better lead
Rafe Khatchadorian is a troubled student who is obsessed with his drawings. Jules (Lauren Graham) is his single mom and Bear (Rob Riggle) is her annoying boyfriend. Georgia is his smart-mouth sister. He starts at a strict new school run by the Principal Dwight and VP Stricker. He finds fellow troublemaker Leo attending the last chance school. Mr. Teller (Adam Pally) is his loose teacher. Leo talks him into breaking all the rules.
It's sporadically fun in a childish coming of age movie. The adults are one dimensional or half dimensional. There are a few too many jerks. It's unnecessary for the maitre-D to be one. It's like Diary of a Wimpy Kid but less compelling. Rafe doesn't have the spunk. The kid playing Leo would be better. It's all a little bit unlikeable. They need a more charismatic lead.
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"Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life" is relatable, poignant and fun!
Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life. Who can't relate to that sentiment? At school, you have to deal with peer pressure and bullies and, at home, you probably have issues with your siblings and parents who just don't understand. You may be experiencing your first real crush, but not know how to talk to that special someone – or what you're supposed to do after you manage to have a conversation. You're just starting to figure out who you are as a person, but there's still so much that you're not sure about. You're only beginning to make sense out of life, but you lack the life experience and perspective to understand what's important and what's not. You're confused, frustrated and maybe a little bit lost. You just wish you had some… some… control. All this is why the James Patterson novel turned-big-screen-adaptation "Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life" (PG, 1:32) is so relatable – and so fun.
Rafe Khatchadorian (Griffin Gluck) is having a rough year. His younger brother died of leukemia, his father has left the family, Rafe's often fighting with his even younger sister, Georgia (Alexa Nisenson), and his mother, Jules (Lauren Graham), is struggling with all of this and dating an obnoxious, two-faced, self-centered guy named Carl (Rob Riggle). Rafe deals with all this through the drawings and imaginative worlds he creates in his sketch book – and by acting out in school. In fact, Rafe has been expelled from two different schools and is transferring to the last school who will take him. In his new middle school, he really has only one friend, his partner-in-crime, Leo (Thomas Barbusca). Rafe does get along well with his homeroom teacher, Mr. Teller (Adam Pally), and he hopes that one day he can be more than friends with Jeanne (Isabela Moner), the sweet and socially conscious A.V. Club President. Unfortunately, Rafe's more immediate concerns at school are Miller (Jacob Hopkins), the bully who sits right behind him in class, the school's tough and unreasonable Vice Principal, Ida Stricker (Retta) and the strict disciplinarian and completely kid un-friendly, Principal Dwight (Andy Daly, the principal on TV's "Modern Family").
Principal Dwight only really cares about two things – his school's continued high scores on an annual achievement test known as the B.L.A.A.R. (Base Line Assessment of Academic Readiness) – and his long list of school rules which he enforces on his students without compassion. Dwight is the kind of principal who "welcomes" a new student by pointing out a slew of dress code violations before the new kid even enters the school for the first time – and then destroys that same student's treasured sketch book just because some kids were passing it around during a school assembly. At Leo's urging, Rafe decides to get his revenge on Dwight by destroying the principal's book – his rule book – as in, making it a goal to literally break every rule in the book, but not get caught. What follows is a series of creative and intricate pranks which inhabit their own Facebook page: "Rules Aren't For Everyone". While Rafe is busy with his own brand of "don't try this at home" stunts, he's also dealing with an escalating situation between him and Miller, Rafe's growing feelings for Jeanne and the increasingly serious relationship between his mom and Carl, whom he and his sister unflatteringly call "Bear".
"Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life" is very enjoyable and surprisingly poignant. While mainly focused on Rafe's complicated family life and his war with his principal, the story works in some subtle criticism of modern trends in education – and an emotional twist near the end that will shock those who haven't read the book. Daly makes a perfect antagonist (effectively supplemented by Retta's, Riggle's and Hopkins' characters), while Moner is fittingly adorable and Gluck and the other actors who play members of the Khatchadorian family create relatable and sympathetic characters. This cast is full of actors many Movie Fans will recognize… and have trouble placing, but they make for a great ensemble.
Throughout the movie, there are creative and entertaining animated sequences which bring Rafe's imaginative pen-and-ink creations to life – and his equally imaginative rule-breaking makes for some great (albeit over-the-top) visuals. Realism isn't the main consideration, but a sense of (relatively) harmless fun is – and that we get in spades. This story feels like it's actually being told from the perspective of a middle schooler – and is likely to have a lot of appeal for an audience of the same – and maybe even for their parents… and for the odd movie reviewer who remembers well the trauma of middle school, is happy just to have survived it and would've liked to have been as brave and resourceful as the main characters in this movie. "A-"
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A sixth sense comedy
Warning: Spoilers
I read the first review and I must admit-- at first, I had a feeling about expecting a somewhat "The Diary of a Wimpy Kid" sort of vibe but, boy oh boy I was wrong. This looks and sounds much better than I expected. The movie itself speaks to me in many levels, bringing me back to my youthful years, and making me feel like I wish I had that much creativity unleashed. What a wonderful, creative and interesting way to portray a wonderful, heart-warming story.
Not to mention, I didn't even see it coming-- the sixth sense reference. I read the blurb/pitch/short-description of the movie and I was ecstatic to find out in the end that "Leo" was actually the younger brother who died.
A very interesting closure for a wonderful movie. Although, I wish I could have seen a bit more of connection between the Rafe's teacher and his mom. Then again, I think this one was already enough.
kudos to the makers of this movie! hoping to see more like these in the future.
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Very important subjects but almost a failure as a kids movie
Warning: Spoilers
My 8 years old daughter forced me to take her to this movie. I was expecting a kid's comedy but to my surprise it had very little comedy and the main themes are mostly for adults. The main subject is the public education system; schools whose only goal is to get good results on whatever government imposed test in order to raise the school level and obviously get better bonus for the result. It does not matter that kids do not learn; since the goal is TEACHING THE TEST, NOT TEACHING THE PUPILS.
On the other hand, the movie attacks the extreme conduct rules of some schools; basically oriented to push discipline over creativity and punishing students by taking out unimportant classes like Arts or PE in order to accommodate budgets for "other business".
I did not read the original book; but I assume it was even more poignant about these issues.
However, as important and clear the message is; the movie does not deliver on the kids comedy part; there are too many sad situations like a cancer victim brother, a mother more interested in her career and getting company than in communicate with her children, a prospect self-center stepfather to ignore.
On top of that; when the main character start his rebellion against the dictatorship of both Principals; the pranks do not madness or energy to generate more than very mild smile.
The inclusion of the animated drawings created by the protagonist; do not really add anything to the move and felt kind of disconnected with the main story; they do not even reflex something funny or interesting.
In brief; kids get bored after about 30 minutes; but some pranks might get their attention back for a while; but we as parents need to think about the criticism the movie puts on the School system and how we communicate with our siblings.
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Twizard Rating: 89
As I've said a thousand times before, the lack of live-action comedies for the younger members of our society saddens me. In the '90s, when I grew up, you couldn't get away from them. It was awesome. But nowadays, pre-teens' only options for movies are of the superhero variety. Or some other big budget franchise. Unless they merely want to watch animated films with characters that aren't human. And I'm not knocking computer animation. It's just that during a time when empathy is getting further and further away, it's nice for kids to see "tangible" characters that they can actually relate to.
And there have been some good live-action options for kids semi-lately. The Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, for example, was perfect. But many others dumb themselves down for children. And when this happens, you lose the parents as well.
Middle School isn't like that. It's full of quality humor and an engaging storyline that will find both kids and adults laughing out loud--the latter might even be surprised with how much they like it.
The film follows Rafe (Griffin Gluck), a middle schooler who's been inexplicably kicked out of his previous two schools. His active imagination, along with problems with authority, get him into trouble. Especially at his new school, where the principal (Andrew Daly) acts as a warden, creating asinine rules. The kids aren't allowed to talk in the hallways, wear colorful clothes, or even draw pictures.
Rafe isn't having any of this nonsense and wages a war with his principal in a Home Alone-type of way. It's highly entertaining seeing what he comes up with and how his life progresses with those around him, including his best friend, Leo (Thomas Barbusca), his sister Georgia (Alexa Nisenson), and his cool insouciant teacher, Mr. Teller (Adam Pally).
And with the quality talents of Rob Riggle, who plays Rafe's borderline-abusive future stepfather, and Daly, Middle School has humor for young and old.
Yeah, the script has some issues with a couple of jarring tonal shifts, but it also refreshingly surprises us when we least expect it.
I have a hard time knocking a film that does its job. It never talks down to kids--in fact, it gets kids all too well. There isn't some over-exaggeration of how much they use their phones. Even the banter feels lifelike. It speaks to adolescents who are at that "middle" stage between childhood and responsibility-hood. It's a fun time that most of us took for granted. But Middle School pleasantly brings us back so we can live it over again with Rafe--in a stunningly committed first-person narrative.
This film isn't just going through the motions, folks. There's a lot of genuine intent throughout. Plot points and jokes that are obviously very well meditated upon. While sitting and watching this movie, I legitimately thought to myself, "This isn't just a moneymaker for them--they actually want it to be good." Even if it were among the other classic live-action kid films of yesteryear, I would still go out of my way to watch it. I wish I had this movie when I was growing up. But at least I have it now.
Twizard Rating: 89
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Better than I thought
I have to say this was way better than I thought. Yes I recommend it James Welch Henderson Arkansas. 11/18/2020
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Well Above Average
Warning: Spoilers
Middle School feels like a movie that started out as something made for adults--it doesn't feel too different from an episode of Eastbound and Down--and then reworked for kids. It's too well done to be aimed at a tween audience who are known for showing up for movies regardless of the effort put into their making. It's smartly written and has perfect comic timing, with a few performances putting it just over the top. The bits of drama make the comedy feel even more earned, and the animation doesn't tire me as much as it usually would. My biggest problem is that they staged a climactic chase scene that has no point whatsoever; also, I would have liked a more apropos comeuppance for the Carl character. His storyline was one of the most entertaining parts of the film.
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Doesn't do the book justice.
Warning: Spoilers
As someone who read and really enjoyed the book this movie's based off of growing up, I don't like this movie very much. It took a book that's surprisingly dark for its age group and completely removed a lot of the more serious parts that made it stand out. For example, in the book, the character Carl (Bear) was an emotionally and even physically abusive stepfather that made Rafe's home life miserable throughout the whole book, until he shoves Rafe's mother and is kicked out of the house. In the movie, though? He's just an idiot that's obsessed with his car. Not much more to his character than that.
Really, though, my biggest problem with this movie is how unrealistic it is. In the book, Rafe (the main character) went to what was essentially a normal school and created his own problems by trying to break every rule in the book. The movie uses the same premise of breaking every rule, but this time it's because the school has rules that are extremely pointless and restrictive. The problem with this is that there's no way the principal should be able to get away with everything he does. No clubs? No bathroom breaks? Not one kid is going home to complain to their parents about that? No one's going to the school board?
The movie's overall message is that kids should be able to think freely and express themselves, but the school is hindering that with all of their rules. This would be completely fine if not for the fact that the movie is extremely in-your-face about it the whole time. There's a point where the vice principal literally says "teach to the test, not to the kids". It's ruined even more by the fact that, like I mentioned before, these rules are so overly restrictive and unrealistic that any person would be against them.
There are other, more minor problems I had that ruined the "realistic fiction" aspect of the movie for me:
- Why is the principal allowed to just destroy Rafe's property? (Sketchbook scene)
- During the colorful water sprinkler scene, I have a VERY hard time believing that it would break out into a dance party. I feel like a more natural reaction would be people being annoyed that their clothes and hair are getting wet, but not even one person seemed to care. I get that it's supposed to be symbolic of creativity and all that, but still...
- The ending. Aren't these characters supposed to be 6th graders? Why are they kissing???
Overall, this movie might have been okay to me if it stood on its own, but it basically mangled the plot of a perfectly good book. For that, I'm not a fan of it.
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memories........
Whenever anyone asks me what was the best and the worst moments in your life.The answer always zeroes down to the same place.Yes,the best moments in my life were spent in my School.The worst moment in my life was when I had grown up so old that I could no longer go to school.
I also like the animation stuff .
It delivers an easily digestible and amusing portrait of youthful hi- jinks that should well please its target audience. "Operation R.A.F.E.," short for "Rules Aren't for Everyone." The campaign entails a series of elaborate pranks, including the walls of the school being plastered with thousands of Post-It Notes and the trophy case transformed into an aquarium, complete with eel and lobster. Meanwhile, Rafe finds himself desperately attracted to his brainy classmate Jeanne (Isabel Moner), who shows signs of returning his interest.
It reminded me of my school days ,my school Kalyan Nagar Vidyapith.I miss you all my friends...
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Original and Entertaining
I was expecting a rip-off of "The Diary of a Wimpy Kid" films with similar toilet and slapstick humour - I was hoping for it as well, wanting a cringe-worthy film like HSM.
Instead what I found was not a patronizing, garden-variety kids movie. It is surprisingly creative - every time I thought the plot was leaning towards a clichéd "moral of the story" kind of trend (standing up to the bully/becoming popular and ignoring old friend/prank master) the movie was original and refreshing.
GOTTA say i really loved how current this film was (soundtrack is all popular pop songs and well suited to this movie type - Drake was mentioned and the kid "Shon" or "Sean" or whatever CRACKED me up)
Plus, the animated parts were interesting and just childlike enough that the films more serious sub- themes didn't become tedious.The acting was decent and the characters (apart from 'bear') weren't so archetypal that it was hard to digest.
(this movie made me cry ((a LOT)) and thus, 10/10)
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A simple story enriched with imagination
Liked the story line and the imagination plot. Was a decent effort, could have been better if the actors gelled into the script. I felt there was a minor gap between the story and a group of talented actors. Alexa Nisenson was exceptional though.
Positives: Story-line, Animation, Georgia, Principal
Negatives: Predictable towards the end.
Rating it 7 as I liked the story-line.
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Help me...
Not a great movie. Maybe if you're a pre-teen, but not for adults. BTW, thanks for instilling in my children that it's okay to be disrespectful and rebellious toward authority figures, basically with no consequences. And please tell me why Rafe put the lighter to the sprinkler system immediately without letting the principal respond to his request. Oh that's right because it made for a colorful silly dance scene, to heck with common sense! Skip this one.... watch the Diary movies again, instead.
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A Kid's Ferris Beuler
Warning: Spoilers
I'm really not all that sure why I watched this – basically it is a kid's version of Ferris Bueler's Day Out, and it wasn't even that good. Okay, maybe it had something to do with the protagonist wanting to get one up on the principle, particularly since the principle is one of those principles that wants to run his school like a concentration camp. The other thing is that here in Australia we really don't have Middle School, well yes and no – but not really like what they have in the United States. However, I wanted to get out of the house, and this was the only movie that I hadn't seen, so I decided to give it a shot.
Well, it turned out to be pretty shocking, but then again I probably was looking for a movie to give a low rating to. Also, being stuck in a cinema full of kids, and being the only adult there without any kids in tow, does sort of make me feel like the odd one out. However, I guess it had something to do with the Ferris Beuler's element that initially attracted me to it, and also that there was nothing else on. However the film was predictable, especially when this kid pops up that looks a lot like our protagonist, I pretty quickly worked out that he was imaginary. As for the step father – well, he was shocking, and incredibly stereotypical as well. Mind you the whole horrible stepmom, stepdad, sort of creates this image of the single guy without any kids marrying a single mom – you are basically going to expect the kids to hate you because that is what they are being fed (and I have seen it happen).
Anyway, the film involves our protagonist starting a new school to discover that the principle, as I mentioned, is running it like a prison. He is stuck in the remedial class, which are full of the never-do-wells. However, the principle has also this standardised test coming up, and he wants his school to ace it as well. However, as it turns out, our protagonist wants to teach the principle a lesson, and goes out of his way to break as many rules as possible, without actually getting caught. In the end, as we can probably work out, we know who's going to win in the end – it's a no brainer.
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Largely disjointed and unfunny
The twist on the film was reasonably good but other than that it was just remarkably unfunny and very stop start lots of set pieces very little comedy and even less of a story! Would give it a miss and save yourself the time.
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New school, new beginning and a new set of rules to adapt. What bad could happen.
Not good as I expected, either not bad as what the majority those who saw it says. The film was based on the book of the same name and the first one of I think in the nine book series. It tells the story of a middle school boy who transferred to a new school. Having no friends, straight he falls prey to a bully. Beyond that, the principal turns his life in the campus even harder with all his strict rules. His real adventure begins when he starts to break every rule and bring chaos, as well as joys in his schoolmates. From this, how the remaining story shapes are told with a twist.
There are similarities with this and many other films, particularly 'Wimpy Kid...'. Those interfering animations resemble that film. It's like a normal protocol in these days children film, so no complaint on that. But I'm very impressed with the quality. This film was too childish. I mean there's nothing wrong for the kids watching it, they will enjoy it. But for the adults, who had seen lots of middle school themed films of the 80s and the 90s, so it might look an average one. A good film for families with young kids. I particularly suggest to the such category audience.
The twist was unexpected. It was easy, but I did not go deep to predict that. I think most of you all too fail to see it coming. Particularly in a film like this who would think of it. That was not enough for me to like the overall film. It is entertaining in parts, but an average film from the inside and outside. Even though I hope they would turn the remaining books as well into the films. All these words I wrote in this review because of I'm being a non- target-audience. So if you are a kid or kid's film fan, ignore my saying and watch the film.
6/10
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Surprisingly enjoyable movie
Warning: Spoilers
When I first watched this movie I didn't really think it would be up to much but I was very wrong. Not only was the movie enjoyable, but it had a great soundtrack and good actors playing the parts. There was also a sad part which is so unexpected (unlike most kids movies these days).
The movie involves a boy named Rafe and revolves around his day to day struggles at middle school hence the title "Middle School". The movie incorporates cartoons with real life because Rafe likes doodling and has a wild imagination. Although this movie is more for kids, there are quite a few adult jokes throughout the movie that will most likely confuse kids.
There is also a reasonable amount of mild swearing so just keep that in mind if viewing with younger children. The movie is very inspiring and makes you love the world a little more. If only more directors caught on to this kind of movie.
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I loved it
It's a good movie. It's a movie based of a popular book(not really) I watched it today and it was cool and creative. So I would rate this as a 10/10 stars!
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Generic
Generic hapless school boy outcast, generic cartoonish school bully immediately introduced with the teachers magically ignoring him, generic annoying sister with a big mouth, generic annoying school girls, generic everything.
The only thing original and creative about this movie are the little cartoon segments someone talented worked on. Everything else is the most uninspired trash.
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Worst movie of my life
Warning: Spoilers
With all of the good reviews I see, I need to be the one to tell the truth here. I saw this with my twelve year old cousin and I was actually the one who thought it would be a good idea to see this movie. worst hour or so of my life. I'm actually doing it a favor by posting 4 stars instead of 1.
About me: I went to middle school, I usually am the person who gives a movie a try before making a decision on whether or not I actually like the movie, and I like the color yellow (not relevant, but whatever).
Let's start with the characters. They were all very two dimensional. all except Lauren Graham, who has been very typecast as mothers in her film career (ex. Gilmore Girls, Evan Almighty, and now this), which could make her seem a little 2D at times; and the main character Rafe, who lost his brother and now sees dead people. Most would call that crazy and put him in a mental institution, but this is the movie world. Some two dimensional characters include: the mean principle(s), the conservationist girl whom the main character likes, the evil boyfriend of the single mother, and the goofy best friend. Most kids wouldn't care because the movie is mostly kid humor and won't make any half- witted adult laugh.
This clichéd movie takes some of the best middle school movies like 'Ramona and Beezus,' and 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid' and takes a huge dump on them by calling itself a middle school family movie. Why did they need to have the kissing scene at the end? Where was his Mom during this scene? and what the heck with the two dimensional characters? Seriously, the mind of this child is possessed or something.
Now that I have made my rant, I'd like to say that during that ending kissing scene my twelve year old cousin slowly turned to me, I returned the gaze, and we both laughed so hard at the cringe that they kicked us out of the theater. NO, we didn't get kicked out. We left willingly.
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Rafe = Rules. Aren't. For. Everyone.
Warning: Spoilers
I watched this at home on BluRay from my local public library. It wouldn't normally be the type of movie I'd choose but I am a sucker for any movie on BluRay, the sound and picture are so good.
However I also really like this one. It is about a teenage boy who lost his brother to illness just a year earlier. His brother was his best friend and it affected him to the point he had been asked to leave a couple of schools. It seems this middle school might be his last best chance.
The boy is played by Griffin Gluck as Rafe, very bright and mature for his age, and a very inventive artist. He carries a notebook of his drawings, some cartoons, and as the movie progresses often we see a short scene where is characters come out of the book and become animated.
The antagonists are the rule-bound Principal and his equally strict Assistant Principal. But Rafe is not a "rules" person and as the big event of the school year approaches, a battery of tests, Rafe decides he will sabotage each of the school rules, in very inventive ways.
Young Gluck is a very good pick for this role, he is very believable, as well as his younger brother who plays a key role as a vision of Rafe's. Plus several of the other young teenagers.
I also am a big Lauren Graham fan, I enjoyed seeing her as the mom, Jules, her task becomes not only helping Rafe stay on a good path but also ward off her self-centered boyfriend who asks her to marry him while figuring out ways to get rid of the kids.
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Not What I Expected
Warning: Spoilers
James Patterson's series about Rafe Katchadorian's middle school escapades comes to the big screen with "The Worst Years of My Life"–book one in the series. Rafe (Griffin Gluck) transfers to a new school where Principal Dwight (Andy Daly) has a list of rules that has turned student's metaphorical "prison" description into reality. Rafe, with the help of his best friend Leo, make it their mission to break every single one of the rules.
This is most definitely a tween movie for the age group that does not fit into full-fledge PG-13 films, but feel they're too old to be entertained by Disney/Pixar animation. Enter the mash-up of the two. We're given live-action that takes the 1985 classic, Real Genius, where students rebel against the authority figure in creative fashion, and combines it with the animated narration of the kid's show, Lizzie McGuire, with Rafe's imagination running wild and bringing his art to life.
So why did 26-year-old me see this film? A school that wants to extinguish creativity and forces the creative students to rebel to bring back the art. How could I resist? Admittedly I have no artistic talent with a sketchbook or paint, but I write, and I have a close friend who is the type of artist whose heart ached when she watched the principal throw the sketchbook in a bucket of acid. My heart ached too, but that's because I firmly believe art and creativity belong in all schools.
True, I was not the target audience, and those suffering through middle school or even high school are more likely to love this movie, but I still enjoyed it. The various pranks, each one more creative than the last, was awesome to watch. The obvious theme of "anything you can imagine is real" definitely hits home.
Even with all the pranks the film still has a very cookie-cutter, Disney Channel vibe with the age-appropriate humor and villains who spout ridiculous rhetoric and act more childish than those watching. At one point Rafe and Leo are trying to determine what rhymes with "suck" and we know what they want to say, but they can't for obvious reasons, but that turns into a dramatic pause that places too much attention on the censored language of the PG rating. While the school bully and mom's boyfriend are just obstacles for Rafe to overcome.
Everything is on-the-nose with Rafe's comebacks to the bully, the checklist for rules broken, the payback to Carl the bear of a stepfather, and everything falls into place. Rafe shoots to stardom for his pranks, gets the girl, the friends, and wins–not that we'd expect anything different from this type of movie where the kids are misunderstood and adults are out to get them.
However, I will admit that when I saw the film I was surprised by the more serious criticism of standardized testing and "teaching to the test rather than the student". As a teacher I have a mixed relationship with standardized testing. I understand the benefits, for students applying to college, schools needing funding, and states trying to determine how they'll measure comprehension. On the other hand, I also feel focusing so much energy on these tests is problematic for teachers trying to teach the students in a way that is engaging and beneficial. Especially when no two students are alike.
It's likely most of the "tween" crowd watching the film were too distracted by the antics to catch that message, but there is another surprise to the film that adds another dimension that is impossible to miss. One that the trailer fails to include in its desire to present this film as another classic school comedy. The film is funny, but definitely not as funny as it leads us to believe.
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Source: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4981636/reviews
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