 | 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. |
Fred 2: Night of the Living Fred
- Review Date: October 22, 2011
- G
- Genre: Comedy
- 2012
Common Sense Media says
An improvement on the original, but Fred's still Fred.
Parents say
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that if this is your tween's first introduction to YouTube sensation Fred Figglehorn, they may be inclined to check out the multiple online shorts that started the frenzy in the first place, as well as Fred's website for additional videos. If it's your introduction to the hyperactive, over-reactive character, don't be surprised if you're inclined to run from sheer irritation. That said, there is a thin silver lining in the fact that, compared to the original movie, this sequel is lighter on some of the content that most offended parents, and it does try to push some good social messages related to bullying and judging people as well as fixing your mistakes. The only thing the movie doesn't tone down is Fred's use of his own personal curse words, which include "Oh my gammit!" and "h - e - double hockey sticks," so be sure your tweens know your family's rules about swearing stand-ins like these.
What's the story?
FRED 2: NIGHT OF THE LIVING FRED follows the antics of Fred Figglehorn (Lucas Cruikshank), a madcap middle-schooler with a flair for the dramatic whose world is turned upside down when his beloved but incompetent music teacher goes missing and is replaced by a sketchy character named Mr. Devlin (Seth Morris). Everyone -- including Fred's starry-eyed mom (Siobhan Fallon Hogan) and his archenemy, Kevin (Jake Weary) -- has fallen under the suave Mr. Devlin's spell, but his unusual habits lead Fred to believe that he's a vampire, and Fred sets out to prove his hunch correct. When things get out of hand and the truth comes out, Fred calls on the help of his best friend, Bertha (Daniella Monet), and a new ally, Talia (Ariel Winter), to set things straight.
Is it any good?
YouTube sensation Fred returns to the screen in this sequel to Fred: The Movie, which serves up plenty more of the outrageous scenarios and pre-pubescent screeching that's made Fred (and Cruikshank) an Internet star. He's a hit with the tween set, much to the chagrin of plenty of parents who loathe both his flair for the dramatic and his use of his own variety of slang cursing. When it comes to this brand of comedy, you either love it or you hate it, and the line slices pretty close to the generational divide. Of course, that's partly due to the fact that tweens will pick out some of the stuff you might not notice, like spoofs of Twilight and cameos by some of their favorite actors from shows like So Random! and Supah Ninjas, but on the whole, it's just not a comedy style most parents will like.
If your tweens are already fans, there's little hope that they won't want to check out this sequel, but there is some good news. Compared to the original, this movie takes some care to tone down a lot of the content that was most unpalatable to parents. Fred's now the object of an innocent crush from a younger girl rather the instigator of a shockingly obsessive one, the issue of his mom's alcoholism never comes up (though she's still not Mom of the Year), he's more self-confident and less susceptible to bullying classmates, and overall, there are fewer episodes of his manic hyperactivity. What's more, the story incorporates some marginally positive messages about judging people, using the Internet responsibly, respecting differences, and taking ownership of your mistakes. Bottom line? It's still not really worthwhile, but at least it's a small improvement on the original.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about comedy. Do you think Fred's character is funny? Did you find this movie funny? How did it compare to the original? If you did like it, is it because of Fred or in spite of him?
Tweens: How has the Internet changed the way we're entertained? In what ways has it equalized the opportunity to become famous? Is Fred evidence of that? Do you think Lucas Cruikshank would have been successful in the pre-Internet days?
What, if any, incidents of advertising did you notice in this movie? Do you think they were there intentionally? Does product placement really impact your consumption habits?
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- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
Take this off of T.V. Please.
This is the worst crap they put on television for children to watch, and have their minds rotted by this ridiculous "comedy". I hate this show, and the rest of disney channel shows that are all the same- stale, and completely messing up the minds of children. Please take this show off of tv. Let our kids watch something better that will enrich their minds, not ruin it, for this next generation to have their minds completely numb with crap that theyve looked up too. Please take this off. This is a warning to all parents, do not let your children watch this for their minds to be saved.
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AGE
Unacceptable
his catchphrases are a little strange. "oh my gamit" is just unacceptable in some ways. Fred 2, however, is rated PG thank god so let the parents decide on whether to let their kids watch this.
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Kid, 11 years old
October 31, 2011
AGE
rrrrrrrgh!
Seriously, don't you have anything ELSE to do?
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AGE
Okay, not the best
This Fred movie wasn't exactly that funny. I thought that it was sort of an awkward movie that seemed to rushed. But there were some funny parts. Okay if you like Fred.
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AGE
MORE Fred? Yes, but you'd be surprised.
A very big improvement from the first Fred movie! Of course, he still uses substitute phrases such as "Oh My Gammit" and "H-E-Double Hocky Sticks". The plot was much more interesting than the first's, Fred thinks his new music teacher is a vampire. As the story progressed, I was really baffled as to whether or not he truly was a vampire. So the movie keeps you guessing. AND keeps you laughing. Crude humor here and there, but nothing too drastic. Also, taking into consideration that this is a playful "horror" movie, there IS a scene where Fred enters what appears to be a butcher shop. Which, of course, Fred mistakes to be the vampire's lunch, that consists of human bodies. But shortly after, we find out it's just plain meat. Violence-wise, the worst scene was a character driving a steak into Fred's chest, believing he is a vampire. But after, we see Fred is fine, and it was all a trick. All in all, I surprisingly enjoyed this movie. Not the best, but VERY amusing.
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Kid, 12 years old
November 19, 2011
AGE
Good Movie!
There were some gross scenes with a giant mosquito draining someone's blood, and fake blood from a stab wound. There is a good message though: if you make a mistake, then fix it especially if you hurt somebody. There was, I think, noticeable advertisement. There was Sunny D and WWE being advertised. Fred does say oh my gammit, which at first could be heard as something else. He also says H-E- double hockey sticks.
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AGE
Great Movie
i remember that when it came out October 22 2011 it was on almost every night and I watched it every night
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AGE
OK, but ending was bad
I saw this and it was ok, but my one major complaint is the ending is pretty bad. But still, it was ok and has a good message about respecting other people's differences. Violence: Some slapstick violence, a WWE fight scene, and fake blood and gruesome body parts is shown in one instance Sex: Two characters date and Fred's mom flirts, but nothing too major. Language: Use of "gammit" and "h-e-double hockey sticks" Consumerism: One scene parodies the Twilight series, and some product placements are shown, like V8 fushion, WWE, and Apple computers.
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Kid, 9 years old
October 26, 2011
AGE
It ROCKS
Oh my gammit! This is the best out of the two Fred movies
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AGE
Creepy kid went through puberty the wrong way
its okay for kids but fred is annoying as h_ll and he creeps the crap outa me
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| Studio: | Lionsgate |
| Cast: | Daniella Monet, John Cena, Lucas Cruikshank |
| Genre: | Comedy |
| Run time: | 83 minutes |
| DVD release date: | February 7, 2012 |
| MPAA rating: | G |
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