 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Drillbit Taylor
- Review Date: March 19, 2008
- PG-13
- Genre: Comedy
- 2008
Common Sense Media says
More fights than laughs in Owen Wilson comedy.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
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.
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.
What 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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AGE
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!!!!!!
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AGE
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.
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AGE
Funny comedy shows kids how bullying affects people
I recently watched this with my son and was almost tempted to turn it off as there is strong bullying which is sort of educational as it shows how bullying can affect lives. There is pretty strong language but no f--k's the sex Is not so bad, but do not show this to an under 11
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AGE
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!!
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AGE
Strong Language, not funny.
We had to leave in the first ten minutes due to strong language and some suggestive scenes...
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AGE
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:
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AGE
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.
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AGE
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.
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| Studio: | Paramount Pictures |
| Director: | Steven Brill |
| Cast: | Nate Hartley, Owen Wilson, Troy Gentile |
| Genre: | Comedy |
| Run time: | 102 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | March 19, 2008 |
| DVD release date: | June 30, 2008 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | crude sexual references throughout, strong bullying, language, drug references and partial nudity. |
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