Fired Up (PG-13, 2009)

common sense media says

Raging hormones rule in crude cheerleading comedy.


parents & educators say
  • 60% say sexual content is an issue
  • 40% say language is an issue

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this is a review of the PG-13-rated version of the movie and not the unrated DVD. Expect to find even more adult content in the unrated DVD. This crude comedy about two lust-driven teen boys is full of boundary-pushing sex and language content. The main characters are surrounded by -- and happily ogle -- hundreds of girls clad in the shortest of shorts and tiniest of bikinis. Boys are shown naked from both the back and front (private parts are covered by towels, etc. in the latter case). Though actual physical contact is limited to kissing and a few scenes of "grab ass," the characters are constantly talking and thinking about "hooking up." Not surprisingly then, the language can get vulgar and sexist -- and it's also peppered with "s--t" and the like. Underage characters drink, and there's some same-sex kissing and fondling; many of the gay characters are played very stereotypically, though it's all meant to be funny rather than disrespectful.

Positive messages: Lecherous teen boys learn about caring and respect for the opposite sex -- but along the way their behavior is selfish, egotistical, and driven by their very randy urges. "Winning" is shown to be far less important than improving and doing the best you can.
Positive role models: The main characters are selfish and obsessed with sex, though they do eventually mend at least some of their ways. There's also plenty of stereotyping.
Violence: Several punches to the face; football hits during a game; cheerleaders fall and hit the ground hard during practices -- no injuries.
Sex: From the movie's opening moments to its final frames (including under the closing credits), raunchy teenage behavior is the focus of this film. There's enthusiastic kissing and passionate embracing throughout. Teen boys constantly ogle bikini-clad girls, girls in short shorts, and other girls of all shapes, sizes and ethnicity. There's no frontal nudity or bare breasts, but naked boys are seen from many angles on several occasions. Boys and girls grab each other's clothed butts. Same-sex female kissing in two scenes, and some gay and lesbian fondling. All of the above is played for comic effect and portrayed in a lighthearted manner.
Language: Continuous bawdy language; every possible form of "s--t," plus "dick," "kicka--," "t--ty bar," "bang," "douche monsters," "bitch," "a--hole," "dog knockers," "boob," "goddamn," "suck bucket," and more. One character is defined by the extensive euphemisms he creates for all things female and sexual.
Consumerism: Significant references to Staples Office Products are used to parody the concept of product placement in sports.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: One scene shows teen boys drinking, partying, getting drunk, and behaving ridiculously.

More on Fired Up

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families can talk about the consequences of the characters' behavior. Is there any fall-out from their drinking or obsession with sex in the movie? Would there be stronger consequences in the real world?
  • How would you describe the filmmakers' attitude toward the boys' behavior? What role does Carly play in clarifying that attitude?
  • Unlike in many other sports movies with underdog heroes, the Tigers don't win the cheerleading competition. What does the movie say about winning, losing, and doing your best?

What's the story?

What's the story?
Shawn (Nicholas D'Agosto) and Nick (Eric Christian Olsen) are the cutest (and cockiest and most lecherous) football heroes in their high school. They conspire to ditch their summer football program so they can join three hundred teen girls at cheerleading camp instead. Their dreams come true, but over the course of the movie they also encounter the joy and pain of first love; unexpected friendships with spirited, larger-than-life characters; and a lesson in the art of giving instead of taking.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

If you can get past the strong language, some amateurish acting, a first-time director (Will Gluck) who's far from sure-handed when it comes to the camera, and cheerleading routines that are clumsily shot and show little pizazz, FIRED UP is actually a fairly clever teen comedy in spots. It's a movie about acting dumb and exhibiting outrageous behavior, but it's always self-aware of its outlandishness.

D'Agosto and Olsen are consistently adorable and aware of their own ridiculousness, and they have impressive comic timing and delivery. Also appealing are supporting actors David Walton, Adhir Kalyan, and John Michael Higgins (in the requisite role of the adult buffoon). They're all obviously having fun with their over-the-top performances and the movie's broad tone. Fired Up may not be a teen classic, but it has its moments.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Sony Pictures
Director: Will Gluck
Cast: Eric Christian Olsen, Nicholas D'Agosto, Sarah Roemer
Genre: Comedy
Run time: 90 minutes
Theatrical release: February 20, 2009
DVD release: June 9, 2009
MPAA Rating: PG-13
MPAA explanation: crude and sexual content throughout, partial nudity, language and some teen partying
Watch our review

This review was written by Renee Schonfeld
 
 

Review It

 

Review Fired Up





Hang on! You need to be a member to post your review.
A safe community is important to us. Please observe our guidelines.
 

What parents & educators say

13
Based on 10 parent & educator reviews:
  • 60% say sexual content is an issue
  • 40% say language is an issue

Most useful reviews by all members

greenactress
teen, 15 years old
 
HA HA
this movie was VERY funny! Language was bad and sexual suff was a bit extream, but was entertaining, after all, isn't that what a movie is about? The ending was good. I really liked this movie!

 
Absolutely Hilarious!
I loved this movie! It was hysterical and sexy!

gamereviewer
teen, 14 years old
 
Overall, this was a very funny movie, but I saw the unrated version, and there is a scene of full frontal nudity of a girl and boys. The girl has her breasts shown in a lake, and the boys are seen by their penises and butts. Parents are cautioned for the unrated version.

tshrum
parent of 14 and 15 year old
 
No wonder our children have no sense of right or wrong any more when the girl ask the other girl why she was in her bed and the other replied sleepwalking but would make the best out of it and carressed her breast it made me sick

peytonmckenzie
teen, 15 years old
 
Very funny movie for teenagers.
I loved this movie. It is very funny. It was quite stereo-typical. The main thing to be concerned about is the sexuality. Although it's not any more raunchy or dirty then any usual teen movie, it is still not appropriate for 12 and under. Some language to be concerned about. Great funny movie for 13+.

the no bull zone
teen, 15 years old
 
good for tweens and teens
i loved it its a great movie if you like comieds

vampire child
teen, 16 years old
 
I DNT SAY ITS FOR ALL TEEN BT I SAY FOR MUTURE PPL
YO DIS MOVIE WAS FUNNY I LAUGHED EXSPIACILLY WHEN HE HAD THT GAY DUDES BRACELET IN HIS MOUTH AND WHEN HE HAD TO DANCE NAKED AND WHEN THA RACOON TOOK THEIR CLOTHES .WOW THIS MOVIE IS SMETHIN.i SAY THIS SHOW IS FOR MUTUIRE PPL. PPL WHO ARENT AFRAID TO C BUTTS AND STUFF LIKE THT.I LOVE IT I HPE THEY CME OUT WITH ANOTHA

Ballinmyanus
parent of 19 year old
 
Anyone who's parents don't mind watching a funny movie.
It is not movies that make kids do what they do, or videos games. And I am sick of everyone saying this. I am 14, and I was not influenced in anyway by this movie and to go out and act the way these guys do. I did that sht before I watched this movie. So you need to stop complaining about everything you see and chill the fk out. This was one of the FUNNIEST and greatest movies ever. And should not be rated any more/less than PG-13.

 
this movie is very funny. but this movie also has a lot of sexual content and language.

imattison
teen, 18 years old
 
I LOVE THIS MOVIE.

cabbe
parent of and 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 18 year old
 
Not Your Average Cheerleading Movie!!!!
I thought this movie was very funny! I went to it with my sixteen year old and we had agreat time. I liked how it wasn't an average cheerleading movie. There was a little to much sexual references though.

bradley4846
teen, 17 years old
 
Very Funny
This was the first movie i've bought in a while. It is very funny. In the PG-13 one the language doesnt go past the s-word (same with unrated). In the unrated there is more sexual humor and a brief scene of nudity.

natthebugw
teen, 16 years old
 
BEST MOVIE EVER!!! it wasn't very innapropriate . very funnyy and entertaining, mature 10 year olds can watch it. in the unrated version there were barely any differences but that version for atleast 13 or 14 year olds

ali1970
adult
 
there is nudity in it when in the lake the girl takes her bra off full frontal view of bare breasts

bananalover
teen, 16 years old
 
i think this movie is so funny

Kaihfewuory327ybch
teen, 17 years old
 
Crude and boring
This has got to be one of the worst movies I have ever seen. I only laughed once in the entire movie while the rest of the time I was cringing at the stupidity of the cheerleaders, the annoying way the two main characters (who look about 30) talked in unison and how disrespectful the guys were to the girls in the movie. I fail to see how two jocks sleeping their way through their entire highschool and then rocking up at a cheerleading camp to try and sleep with every girl there as well, even counts as funny.

creamcheese7
teen, 14 years old
 
good for tweens like ages 12 and up
it is a good movie...only bad part is when you see a girls boobs.

ironkid21
kid, 13 years old
 
This was a very funny movie but there were some innapropriate things like strong make out scenes with breast groping, lesbians etc. There was one scene were they go swimming nude and a skunk takes their clothes but their chests' are only shown. And the movie does have a bad message. 10+ if they know how to not repeat stuff.

DBarto
adult
 
No, just, no
This is one of the worst movies ever made. I wouldn't even force my worst enemy to watch it. The only thing is movie is about is sex, sex, and more sex. There is a lot of language, there is a ton of commercialism, a phenomenal amount of sex, and this movie projects the wrong ideas onto kids. I never expected this movie to be any good, but this is worse than even I could have imagined. 1 out of 5

drama_1414
teen, 18 years old
 
I laughed so hard!!!!!
This movie is so funny. Its about 2 high school quarterbacks that are obsessed with girls. They are the 2 players of there shool and when they find out that football camp is going to be in Arizona away from all the cheerleaders they decide that they are going to go to heerleading camp. They go through lots of funny stuff. I recommend this movie for everyone 14 and up. :)

An independent voice for families
Age-appropriate reviews
 

vote now

Will you see Fired Up?


Already seen it? What do you think?

 

Great alternatives handpicked by our editors


About our rating system
ON: Content is 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