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Drillbit Taylor

(2008, Rated PG-13, Comedy, Starring Owen Wilson, Troy Gentile, Nate Hartley)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 12, age appropriate for kids over 14; suggested age 13.
  • Is it any good?

    2.0
  • Common Sense says

    More fights than laughs in Owen Wilson comedy.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 13–14

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    The main bad guy is a cruel, unrelenting bully; the principal and parents laugh off his behavior like it's all in good fun. Drillbit is a chronic liar who comes to care for his naïve young charges and decides not to rob them in the end -- but still takes their weekly "protection" money. The protagonists skip school to learn fighting techniques and raid their parents' homes for whatever Drillbit asks for, including expensive suits and electronics. Also lots and lots of fat jokes aimed at a young teen -- and a few skinny-boy jokes, too.
  • Violence:

    Lots of teen fist-fighting. The over-the-top bullying behavior is meant for some laughs, but the main bully, Filkins, is practically a sociopath. He nearly runs the freshmen down in his car, punches them out repeatedly (breaking a nose), and hits them with other objects (like the base of a lamp). He eventually throws a sword that severs a finger. Includes scenes in which the freshmen boys try to learn how to fight and end up hurting each other repeatedly (played for laughs, including the easy groin gag).
  • Sex:

    Two bare-butt shots of Drillbit showering on the beach (people passing in cars can see him from the front). Drillbit and the English teacher have daily quickies in the classroom -- though nothing but kissing is shown. As part of a rap, Ryan says "suck on my family's jewels, bitch" and grabs his crotch. Life Skills class talks about symptoms of STDs and shows a diagram of a penis. In bullying montages, pants are pulled down in hallways, and boys are pushed to face each other at the urinals, then picked up -- viewers see pee hit the ceiling.
  • Language:

    Words include "bitch," "ass," and "s--t," as well as negative stereotype words like "faggot" and "queers."
  • Consumerism:

    Cap'n Crunch cereal has the biggest plug -- Drillbit loves it. Apple laptops are everywhere. The boys down Red Bulls before their big fight. Clips of Fight Club and The Untouchables. Mentions or shots of iPods, Gameboy, Coke, Power Bar, Clif Bar, Costco, Hot Topic, YouTube.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Kids party before the big fight, and everyone has a big plastic cup in their hand. Adults drink. Plenty of references to pot smoking.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Drillbit Taylor

Parents need to know that this teen comedy was produced by Judd Apatow -- who directed the "hard R" comedies The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Knocked Up -- and co-written by Knocked Up star Seth Rogen (who also co-scripted Superbad). With a PG-13 rating and a focus on high school bullies, the adult humor and language are dialed down a few notches here (there are a couple of bare-butt shots of Drillbit showering, as well as words like "s--t" and "bitch") ... and replaced with relentless, violent bullying behavior. The freshmen are constantly threatened, beaten up, chased, and humiliated. For most of the movie, parents and the principal laugh the behavior off. Also expect plenty of product placement and fat jokes aimed at a young teen.

Read our full review by carriew

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about how the movie portrays bullies. Do you know bullies like Filkins, or is he just a caricature of a freshman's worst nightmare? What would you do in the boys' situation? Even though the principal's total obliviousness was for laughs, do you think there's some truth to the idea that adults don't take the problem seriously? What other forms does bullying take these days? Is it always physical, or are there other ways bullies can hurt people?

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Our Members Say

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See all 31 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in Massachusetts
    I rate this title iffy for age 14 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative message
    • Negative role models

    Very Good Movie

    The First thing i have to say is there is basicly constant violence there is so much i really cant even mention it all. There was some sexual content not much tho, nothing really surprising that pushes pg-13 limit (except for eminems A** like that" is played. There is underage drinking. And Drillbit is not a good role model.

  2. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    Lives in Michigan
    I rate this title off for age 13 and give it 1.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use

    WHAT WERE THE DIRECTORS THINKING????

    This movie was terrible!!! What are the writers thinking??? the language was HORRIFFIC, the SC was awful, and the whole movie was related to beating kids up, doing drugs, etc.. the funniest part was when the kids were "Practicing" fighting. DON"T WATCH THIS MOVIE!!!!!!

  3. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    Lives in Oregon
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 1.0

    DEAR GOD!!!!

    Is this honestly what Owen Wilson has resorted to? He's gone from "Wedding Crashers" to this load of crap? In the incredibly unfunny bomb, he stars as a homeless man who acts as a bodyguard for a group of misfits, but tries to rob them. He-he-he. Here's the upside to the film: I laughed one time. And one time only. Now, brace yourself for the downsides:

  4. I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate language
    • Negative message

    One of my favorite movies

    i really like this movie. However the fight scene really go over the top at some points espically the last one and the main chracters arent really good role models either. but the movie has a good message in the end.

  5. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title iffy for age 11 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

  6. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    Lives in New Jersey
    I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 5.0

    hysterical

    it was hilarious. i am 9 yrs. old and i think that people 8-9+ can watch this movie

  7. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Connecticut
    I rate this title off for age 10 and give it 3.0

    hillarious

    SO FUNNY,alot of swearing and fighting though :)

  8. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    Lives in Maine
    I rate this title on for age 9 and give it 1.0

    awsome

    this movie was hallairious i laughed my head off i think you should be at least 9 to watch this movie

  9. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Washington
    I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it 2.0

  10. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Massachusetts
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 4.0

    loved it

    i thought that this movie was really funny. it is about 3 nerrdy boys wh do not want to be bothered by bullys any more so they get a body guard. if you have kids younger then 12 i suggest you watch it first but i did not think it was that bad. i think you should watch it.

  11. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    Lives in Pennsylvania
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 3.0

    Lost of Languge

    There was a ton of swearing in this movie. also some nudity and drugs. this is not a kids movie at all. Even the plot of the movie is bad, it pretty much tells kids to fight back if they are getting bullied.There is also some blood and one charaters loses there Pinky finger in the end. Adults steal from kids and there families and in the end, end up in jail. not for kids. 14+

  12. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Georgia
    I rate this title iffy for age 11 and give it 3.0

  13. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 3.0

  14. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 5.0

    very good and funny

    awesome movie but very bad for young kids! a lot of sex,swearing and fighting but very funny!

  15. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Alaska
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 4.0

    very funney!!!! rotfl!

    this was a hillarious movie!!! i watched it on the plane the other day. its very violent. a little bit to much for kids younger then 11. it wasnt tht bad sexual wise. there were some parts when the english teacher and drillbit did it. (nothing was shown) bullying is pretty harsh, but this movie is a little unrealistic. but hey it ws funney and a great movie!

  16. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Kentucky
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 4.0

    It was funny but...

    This was a great movie, and funny my sister and my friend saw it and we are all 13 years old and there really isn't any sex, refernces to drugs (no Use) and I like it so you should see this movie!!!!!!!!

  17. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 4.0

    Soo funny...

    I realy liked this movie... its that kinda movie that gose good with your nachos. The kids in this movie are realy geeky and when they need a bodyguard for high school, Drillbit Taylor is thier. The movie was realy funny.Soo I realy hope u like it! =)

  18. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 5.0

    I laughed

    This is the funniest movie I have seen in a while.There is some iffy content though.The language is not too bad. If you are over 10 you have heard it at school.The movie shows Owen's bare butt but only for a second.The boys go to a health class but nothing other than that.I say pause for 11.

  19. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title iffy for age 11 and give it 3.0

    not on the high on a roll list,bnut still nice little comdey

    owen wilson rocks.good cast,may be scary for the young crowd

  20. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in New Mexico
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 3.0

    Great movie. PG-13 for a reason

    this is a great movie. its funny and silly. but its rated PG-13 for a reason. anyone under 13 is a little to young. there is alot of sexual inuendos but it is very humorous =)

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