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Gym Teacher: The Movie

(2008, Rated NR, Comedy, Starring Amy Sedaris, Christopher Meloni, Nathan Kress)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 5, age appropriate for kids over 6; suggested age 6.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    Underdog sports comedy has a bit of edge to it.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 6 and Up

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Tweens and adults use terms like "spaz," "freak," and "weirdo" to generalize groups of students. Students bully a classmate who's different, but in the end, they pull together as a team. A teacher briefly plots to get a student expelled so he doesn't have to coach him (at the suggestion of another adult). An adult and a kid conspire to deceive the kid's mom to prevent her from worrying. Plenty of poor sportsmanship along the way, but overall has positive themes of perseverance and respecting others.

  • Violence & scariness:

    In one scene, a woman repeatedly hits a man with a stick, but it's played for laughs. A boy is said to suffer bruised ribs after falling from a climbing rope in gym class.

  • Sexy stuff:

    Some suggestive comments by a female principal to a male gym teacher about his muscular physique (she's very clearly interested in him). A male teacher fantasizes about a female teacher (he imagines her as a lithe female gymnast). A tween romance culminates in one quick kiss. In one scene, a man implies that another is homosexual and remarks, "The sight of you makes my butt itch."

  • Language:

    Limited use of words like "butt" and "loser." References are made to training bras and jock straps.

  • Consumerism:

    Wheaties cereal is mentioned a few times.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    The main character and his friends hang out at a place that resembles a bar, but the drinks of choice are health shakes.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Gym Teacher: The Movie

Parents need to know that this made-for-TV movie touches on themes like teamwork, perseverance, and self-perception and examines what it means to be a winner. There's some poor sportsmanship and bullying (tweens tease a classmate, putting him down and throwing things at him), but it could prompt family discussions about respecting others and being tolerant of differences. Expect some sexual inferences (a woman's flirtatious remarks about a man's chiseled physique, a tween couple's one brief kiss, one teacher's mild fantasies about another) and name-calling. One of the co-stars, Amy Sedaris, has a reputation as an edgy comedienne.

Read our full review by Emily Ashby

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about bullying and self-image. Kids: Have you ever been the victim of a bully? How does it affect your self esteem? What can people do to improve their self esteem? What are your own personal strengths? Families can also discuss setting and meeting goals. What goals do you have for your life? Why are they important to you? How do your past experiences affect your determination to meet goals? What steps have you taken (or will you take) to ensure that you're successful? How will you measure your success?
Tools and tips that can help

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    icarly 101
    Lives in Massachusetts
    I rate this title iffy for age 6 and give it 1.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Excessive consumerism
    • Negative message

    LAME!!!!!!

    very lame boring suckish.... DO NOT WATCH!!!

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  2. Parent Reviewer
    pistachio33
    Lives in Massachusetts
    I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 4.0

    funnier than I expected

    Our family (3 generations) enjoyed watching this movie. The lead character was entertaining and really engaging. I appreciated that it wasn't polished, the ackward moments kept it real.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate

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