Drillbit Taylor (PG-13, 2008)

common sense media says

More fights than laughs in Owen Wilson comedy.

parents & educators say

33% say violence is an issue
33% say language is an issue

What parents need to know

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.

Positive 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.

Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

What to talk about

Talk to your kids

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?

What's the story?

On the first day of freshman year, Ryan (Troy Gentile) and Wade (Nate Hartley) make a big mistake: They both wear the same T-shirt, which instantly attracts the attentions of senior bullies -- including super creepy Filkins (Alex Frost). Many threats, mean-spirited pranks, and humiliations later, they decide to hire a bodyguard. The only one they can afford, Drillbit Taylor (Owen Wilson), claims to have an army background, but he's really a homeless army deserter who wants a few hundred bucks to relocate to Canada. That is, until he infiltrates the school as a substitute and hooks up with the English teacher. Oh, and he starts to like the boys too, and decides to actually help them. But does he like them enough to stop his friends' plan to rob Wade's house? Or enough to help his charges when they challenge Filkins to a fight on his turf?

Is it any good?

Like a first-timer's fist fight, DRILLBIT TAYLOR is awkwardly and mean-spiritedly funny for a second -- until it's painful to watch. Wilson's comedic timing is always great, and the kids who play Ryan and Wade are really freshman-boy nerdy in a comical way. A couple of scenes are even pretty laugh-out-loud funny, like when Drillbit realizes that all he needs to pull off the substitute teacher role is to have a coffee cup in his hand. But after that it gets painful.

Why present the boys' nemesis as one-dimensional evil in Eminem's clothing? All great bullies have a little depth -- just look at The Karate Kid. Also, the humor relies on too many scenes of the kids learning how to fight, which slows the movie down and makes it apparent that there's not much here in the way of plot. Then the fighting gets more and more violent to speed things up again -- making the movie less and less funny with every punch. Per formulaic-movie rules, Drillbit saves the boys in the end and works in some great one-liners, but it's not enough to make this a winning comedy.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details

Studio: Paramount Pictures
Director: Steven Brill
Cast: Nate Hartley, Owen Wilson, Troy Gentile
Genre: Comedy
Run time: 102 minutes
Theatrical release: March 19, 2008
DVD release: June 30, 2008
MPAA Rating: PG-13
MPAA explanation: crude sexual references throughout, strong bullying, language, drug references and partial nudity.

Watch our review

This review was written by Carrie R. Wheadon

Review It

What parents & educators say

Based on 6 parent & educator reviews:

33% say violence is an issue
33% say language is an issue

Read the reviews

Most useful reviews by all members

LoveOwenWilson
teen, 15 years old

Teens

My main concerns are s** scenes and language. this is a mild combo of both but it is nice!! Drillbit Taylor does, finally teach a lesson, if not a very obvious one. he saves his friends, the nerds and saves the day once again but also teaches them abut courage and bravery. so yeah, it's good and Owen Wilson is such a good actor!!

What other families should know

Movie Details

Starring

Genre

Drillbit Taylor (PG-13, 2008)

common sense media says

parents & educators say

What parents need to know

More on Drillbit Taylor

What to talk about

Talk to your kids

What's the story?

What's the story?

Is it any good?

Is it any good?

Movie themes & details

Movie Details

Watch our review

Review It

Review Drillbit Taylor

What parents & educators say

Most useful reviews by all members

Teens

DEAR GOD!!!!

One of my favorite movies

Funny comedy shows kids how bullying affects people

I really enjoyed this movie. I rate it iffy for ages 14-16. However, the deleted/extended scenes contain some worse content.

for tweens 13-15 not for tweens 10-12

Strong Language, not funny.

Okay for teens

Very Good Movie

WHAT WERE THE DIRECTORS THINKING????

hysterical

hillarious

awsome

Lost of Languge

loved it

Soo funny...

It was funny but...

More reviews ...

An independent voice for families

Age-appropriate reviews

Advice on the big issues

vote now

Will you see Drillbit Taylor?

Already seen it? What do you think?

Great alternatives handpicked by our editors

Browse more movies

About our rating system

Browse our library of reviews

See what our editors recommend