Citizen Duane
Lackluster teen election tale with extra drinking, swearing.
Parents say
Based on 1 review
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that this teen political comedy uses expletives throughout: especially "s--t" and "ass" in numerous forms, as well as one use of "f--k off." Also, several characters consume beer and other alcoholic beverages, including teens and the lead's "favorite uncle" who is known to be a gambling alcoholic. The character Hero has a fierce temper and tries out several methods of revenge, with little success, including fighting and building an elaborately comical but ineffectual "weapon." All of the action is played for comic effect and no one is seriously hurt or injured. Sexual content is pretty mild -- a boy asks a girl if he can see her naked.
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What's the Story?
Duane Balfour (Douglas Smith) hates being a loser and object of ridicule at school, but he continually screws up. After he loses an election to the class bully, Duane contemplates all kinds of vengeance, but nothing works. He loses his girlfriend, gets suspended over and over again, and feels friendless and alone. When his teacher (Vivica A. Fox) counsels him to set his sights higher and use his creative energy in a more positive way, he resolves to run for mayor of his small town and fight against the materialism and corruption of the town's first family, headed by the bully's grandmother. Having to live down the memory of his father's eccentric past and violent death complicates Duane's quest.
Is It Any Good?
Just about every aspect of this movie is amateurish and derivative. With the exception of performances by Donal Logue as Uncle Bingo and Alberta Watson as Duane's mother, the characterizations are shallow and inauthentic. Though the filmmakers obviously wanted to follow CITIZEN DUANE as he learned to channel his self-destructive intellect and passion onto a more positive and life-affirming path, he never seems to stand for anything specific or show any talent for problem-solving or as an instrument of change. Emotions go unexplored; grief is barely acknowledged; and most relationships have no solidity or heart. Worst of all, it's simply not funny and never truly engaging.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how, in the movie's opening, Duane is affected by the activity of an ant. How did watching the ant motivate him and give him purpose? How did the presence of insects during the opening credits connect to the final resolution of the movie?
How did your feelings about Duane's father change over the course of the movie? Do you think the way the facts about Cecil Balfour are revealed little by little made the story more compelling or confusing?
How were the school elections in this film different from the elections in your school? What are some of the issues that you think are important to kids when they're voting for representation?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: April 20, 2010
- Cast: Donal Logue, Douglas Smith, Vivica A. Fox
- Director: Michael Mabbott
- Studio: THINKFilm
- Genre: Comedy
- Run time: 84 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG-13
- MPAA explanation: sexual content, language, brief teen drug and alcohol use
- Last updated: November 24, 2022
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