Rushmore

  • Review Date: May 8, 2003
  • R
  • Genre: Comedy
  • 1998
 Review

Common Sense Media says

Probably of more interest to adults than to teens.
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

Not yet rated

Kids say

Not yet rated

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this movie contains very strong language and sexual references as well as extremely reckless and destructive behavior.


What's the story?

Max Fischer (Jason Schwartzman) is a 10th grader on scholarship at the tony private school Rushmore Academy. Max shows his devotion to the academy by participating in every possible extracurricular activity, but he's risking expulsion unless his grades improve. Max falls for one of the teachers, a beautiful young widow. And he connects with Blume (Bill Murray), a rich academy alumnus who is drawn to Max's passions, and even acts as a go-between for Max's absurd attempt at courtship, until he himself becomes attracted to the teacher. All three characters feel a sense of loss. Blume and the teacher seem stuck. Max, with his collision of adult and childish emotions, comes up with one hopeless scheme after another to get attention and respect, ignoring genuine opportunities for true friendship. Yet somehow, he manages to keep working toward his dreams, and even makes a few of them come true.


Is it any good?

 

This story about the misery that comes from the grandiosity and humiliation during adolescence is probably of more interest to adults than to the teens who are already only too aware of those experiences.

Rushmore is not a movie in which people learn great lessons and are drawn closer together. It's a movie in which a lot of hurt people grope toward something that even they cannot quite visualize. Its appeal is in its quirky characters and in its moments of humor and perception.


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What families can talk about

Families can talk about Max and Herman's rivalry. Who do you want to win? Why?


This review was written by Nell Minow
Teen, 18 years old
October 21, 2010
 
Rushmore
"Rushmore" is a quirky, indie gem of a movie, written and directed by nice-guy director Wes Anderson. The movie centers around a nerdy high-school playwright named Max Fischer who swears, lies, and manipulates others to fulfill his various ends, but at heart he's an honest kid who's been deeply affected by his mother's death and the way the world treats him. The film has its own handmade aesthetic, treating audiences to the full dosage of Wes Anderson's trademark style. Though the movie is undoubtedly an acquired comedic taste, it has a moving undertone and plenty of inappropriate sight gags to laugh at in its scant running time. (There are numerous instances of strong language-- f-words and the like. As well, some sex acts are mentioned briefly in dialogue, though not often enough to label the picture a "sex comedy." In short, this is a coming-of-age tale that rewards audiences and stimulates discussion moments after the slow-motion credits. Go see it.

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Parent of 15 year old
September 11, 2010
 
worth the watching
love it.... wes anderson is brilliant in his construction of characters and a genius at filming a movie that makes you think

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Adult
April 9, 2008
 
Quirky, amusing, and entertaining. An all-around good comedy! I'd say that it barely earns its R-rating, there's a couple of f-words and some sexual references, but that's it.

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Kid, 13 years old
April 9, 2008
 
I
CS overrates Everything!!!

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This review was written by Nell Minow
Studio:Touchstone Pictures
Director:Wes Anderson
Cast:Bill Murray, Jason Schwartzman, Olivia Williams
Genre:Comedy
Run time:93 minutes
Theatrical release date:December 11, 1998
DVD release date:June 29, 1999
MPAA rating:R
MPAA explanation:strong language and sexual references

This review was written by Nell Minow
 

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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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