Kickin' It Old Skool

  • Review Date: August 27, 2007
  • PG-13
  • Genre: Comedy
  • 2007
 Review

Common Sense Media says

Kennedy's lowbrow comedy best for '80s veterans.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this Jamie Kennedy comedy has crude humor and language. The "equal opportunity" jokes make light of coma patients, the mentally ill, homosexuals, Jews, African Americans, Latinos, and Asians, but not in an over-the-top way. A few scenes show Kennedy's character (a 30-year-old who miraculously comes out of a 20-year coma) "learning" about sex on the Internet (nothing is shown) and practicing moves on a male buddy who's wearing a wig and a bra. It's not a complete raunchfest like Borat or South Park; most teens are now used to this kind of humor -- as long as they're interested in the '80s, that is.

  • It's debatable whether Justin is a role model for revived coma patients, but his dedication triumphs over his nemesis' selfishness.
  • Dancers push and shove each other, and Darnell's girlfriend "bitch slaps" him.
  • Two 10-year-olds kiss; another 10-year-old prepares for a kiss by sticking his tongue out. Justin learns about sex by, presumably, watching 12 hours of Internet porn. Justin practices how to touch a woman's "breasteses" on his male friend. Various characters give advice on how to touch a woman. Jen opens her shirt, but there's no nudity. Jen and Justin kiss.
  • Several uses of "s--t" and "bitch," as well as "ass" and one "f--k." Characters (one African American, one Caucasian) say the "N" word to each other. Justin says "retard," not realizing that it's no longer considered acceptable. Other problematic words: "homo," a "Jewbiks cube" (features a menorah, a dollar sign, a star of David and circumcised penises), and referring to Asian and Latino friends as "rice and beans."
  • Featured '80s brands/products include the show Knight Rider and the car KITT (as well as David Hasselhoff), Hammer pants, Pop Rocks, Garbage Pail Kids, and a ton of decade-symbolic movies and shows -- The Karate Kid, The Smurfs, Sixteen Candles, Transformers, Miami Vice, Diff'rent Strokes, etc.
  • Even at a club party, there's no obvious drinking or smoking.

What's the story?

KICKIN' IT OLD SKOOL's protagonist is Justin, a break dancing-obsessed suburban 10-year-old who falls into a coma during a talent-show breakin' battle in the late '80s. Justin (played by Jamie Kennedy as an adult) miraculously wakes up 20 years later, only to discover that parachute pants and cassette tapes are no longer in style and that his elementary-school nemesis Kip (Michael Rosenbaum) is not only still a rich "jerkwad," but also engaged to the girl of Justin's dreams, Jen (Maria Menounos). Reuniting with his "Funky Fresh Boyz" breakin' crew -- a comedic Rainbow Coalition played by Bobby Lee, Miguel Nunez Jr., and Aris Alvarado -- Justin convinces his out-of-shape pals to pop-and-lock their way into a $100,000 dance contest hosted by Kip.


Is it any good?

 

Right from the opening credits sequence -- which is set to one of the 1980s' best soundtrack hits, "Dancing in Heaven" -- Kickin' It Old Skool is unexpectedly entertaining ... just probably not for the reasons that writer-producer-star Kennedy intended. Like the ubiquitous chain mail that starts with "You know you grew up in the '80s if...," this comedy is a 107-minute tribute to those whose youth was spent trading Garbage Pail Kids cards and memorizing the lines of Ferris Bueller's Day Off (Alan Ruck, aka Cameron Frye, even cameos). So moviegoers of a certain age may find themselves laughing at the stereotypical "wax on, wax off" jokes -- while the teenagers in the audience stay silent.

But aside from the dance sequence and the in-jokes for the '80s-initiated, Kickin' It Old School would play better on late-night television, when your standards are much lower. Things are always funnier when you're half asleep.


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What families can talk about

Families can talk about how no group is considered off-limits when it comes to Kennedy's mild ridicule. What did you think of the various racial jokes -- like the "Jewbiks Cube" or the "Ghetto Grabber" inventions? What's the purpose of jabs like these -- is it just pure mockery, or is there a more subtle message underneath? Parents should discuss how, over time, some words become socially unacceptable ("retard," for example). Is that a sign of extreme political correctness or simply increased sensitivity? Lastly, just for nostalgia's sake, parents can share their favorite '80s pop-culture trends.


This review was written by Sandie Angulo Chen
Teen, 14 years old
October 10, 2011
 
A Boat-Load
I personally loved this movie but now looking back at it, it contained a boat-load of bad content and offensive elements.

Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 16 years old
November 27, 2008
 
i waited
i waited through the whole movie praying the cute justin would come back on!!!!

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Adult
April 9, 2008
 
i laughed
the only reason i did big issue for language is because the drop the f-bomb

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Adult
April 9, 2008
 
I loved it
It was the best movie i ever saw

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Teen, 18 years old
April 9, 2008
 
Oh My Gosh
I Hated this movie I only liked the 80's movie and tv stuff at the beginning

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Teen, 15 years old
April 9, 2008
 
nasty

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Kid, 12 years old
April 9, 2008
 
i liked it alot.
It was a great movie I liked alot. BYE THANKS.

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Teen, 14 years old
May 2, 2010
 
0_0
this movie way was great for ages 8+ in my mind. But what do i know i watched porn when i was only 7.

Flag as inappropriate 
Adult
April 9, 2008
 
I did not laugh
its sucked...LOL.....haha

Flag as inappropriate 

This review was written by Sandie Angulo Chen
Studio:Yari Film Group
Director:Harvey Glazer
Cast:Jamie Kennedy, Maria Menounos, Michael Rosenbaum
Genre:Comedy
Run time:107 minutes
Theatrical release date:April 27, 2007
DVD release date:August 28, 2007
MPAA rating:PG-13
MPAA explanation:crude and sexual content and language.

This review was written by Sandie Angulo Chen
 

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About our rating system
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.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

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