Worst. Prom. Ever.

  • Review Date: May 9, 2011
  • NR
  • Genre: Comedy
  • 2011
Review

Common Sense Media says

Funny comedy plays up teen friendships, sexiness, drinking.
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 sex, drinking, and drugs dominate the content of this movie, implying that they’re an integral part of prom night and making them seem like an everyday presence in teens’ lives. Teens talk about having sex, oral sex is implied in one case, there’s a lot of making out (including guy-on-guy and girl-on-girl kissing), and one girl succumbs to pressure put on her by a friend, who insists that not sleeping with her boyfriend will chase him away (but they don’t complete the act). Alcohol is present most of the time with little consequence for teens, although an adult wrecks a car while under the influence. Expect lots of language (“bitch,” “damn,” and “ass”) and some implications of drug use. That said, the main characters find strength in their bonds of friendship and turn their misfortune around in the end, learning some important things about themselves in the process.

  • Positive messages0
    The movie makes sex, drinking, and drug use prominent aspects of prom night, implying that they play an integral role in teens’ enjoyment of the memorable event. Throughout most of the story, teen relationships get a bad rap, seeming superficial and driven by ulterior motives, but later events reveal some more positive bonds among friends who stick up for each other through bad times. The story also spreads academic, social, and sexual pressures among its varied cast as a reminder that they affect nearly every teen at some point.
  • Positive role models1
    The three main characters turn adversity into a positive experience by facing those who’ve done them wrong and learning from their mistakes. Overall, though, there’s a lot of manipulation that goes on among the teens, not to mention the pervasive sexuality, drinking, and drug use. Adult characters are mostly absent, and the authority figures who are around (a principal and a cop) are ineffective and the brunt of jokes.
  • Violence2
    Guns are present in a number of contentious scenes, and, in a few cases, characters fire at each other, though no one’s hit. A couple of fistfights and some groin strikes don’t cause much grief, nor does a car accident caused by an intoxicated adult driver.
  • Sex4
    Lots of talk about having sex, including mention of past encounters and a conversation in which a teen encourages her friend to have sex with her boyfriend so he won’t leave her. In one scene, a teen prepares for intercourse by stripping to her bra and panties and reclining on a bench. It’s implied that a guy is getting oral sex and that couples have just finished the act in another room, though the act itself isn’t shown. Brief girl-on-girl and guy-on-guy kissing, plenty of heterosexual making out, suggestive dancing, and visible sex aids (oils, handcuffs, a condom, a G-string).
  • Language3
    Many uses of "damn,” “bitch,” “hell,” “ass,” “piss,” “whore,” “butt,” “sucks,” and “Christ,” plus “F him,” rarely.
  • Consumerism0
    Not applicable.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking4
    A main teen character is a heavy drinker and a drug dealer, but he does pay the price for his illegal behavior in the end. The limo driver’s intoxication leads to the car accident that sets the teens’ string of disastrous events in motion. Plenty of other teens drink and are said to do drugs, but aside from some destructive behavior at one student's house party, there isn’t much consequence to their actions.
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What's the story?

Senior prom comes but once in a lifetime, and hopeless romantic Clark (Daryl Sabara) has been planning for months to ensure it’s a memorable night for his longtime girlfriend, Sharon (Angela Timbur). What he doesn’t expect is that she’ll dump him moments before the big event, or that instead of dancing the night away with her, he’ll spend the evening with her two best friends, Heather (Haley Ramm) and Neve (Chloe Bridges), who have also had their nights ruined by their dates. When their intoxicated limo driver nearly kills them in a car crash and they wind up rubbing elbows with a gang of hoodlums, it sets off a series of unfortunate events that eventually lands them in jail and tests their bonds of friendship.

Is it any good?

 

This entertaining comedy will entice teens, but WORST. PROM. EVER.'s casual portrayal of sexuality makes a strong statement about the role that sex plays in real teens’ lives, and it’s bound to get the gears turning for teens if they tune in. Although the movie steers clear of presenting the act itself, the dialogue is pretty graphic (mentioning masturbation, orgasm, and “tapping that ass,” for instance), girls are shown in their bras and panties, and sex (including oral) is implied on a few occasions.

The movie takes a similar stance on teen drinking and, to a lesser degree, drug use. Alcohol plays a big role in the characters’ prom night, and with the exception of some destructive behavior at a teen’s house, there’s no consequence for their actions. The bottom line? The main characters emerge from their tribulations stronger and more self-confident, having met their fears head-on and resolved festering issues, but teens are bound to see all of the movie's marginal behavior as an enticing glimpse of what could be for them. If you do give your teens the go-ahead, be sure to take the opportunity to talk to them about the important issues the story raises.

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What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about sexuality. What messages does this movie send about teen sexuality? Teens: How do these messages compare to your experiences with the issue? Do you feel pressures related to sex? What factors contribute to these pressures?

  • Teens: How much of a presence does alcohol have in your social circle? Do you think the media plays up or minimizes the role that alcohol plays in teens’ lives? Why do you think teens are inclined to drink?

  • Teens: What are some of the pressures you feel on a regular basis? What do you expect of yourself in school and extracurricular activities? How do your relationships with friends and family help you manage these stresses? Do they ever add to your stress? If so, how?

This review was written by Emily Ashby
Teen, 17 years old
September 4, 2011
AGE
14
 
alright
its a good movie i thought it was ok for a other mtv movie
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Helped me decide (12) | Had useful details (8) | Read my mind (9)
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Educator
April 8, 2012
AGE
2
 
10 out of 10
I think it's cool
Was this review useful?
Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
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This review was written by Emily Ashby
Studio:MTV Networks
Director:Dan Eckman
Cast:Chloe Bridges, Daryl Sabara, Haley Ramm
Genre:Comedy
Run time:93 minutes
DVD release date:June 13, 2011
MPAA rating:NR
This review was written by Emily Ashby
 

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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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