Adventures in Public School
Common Sense says
- NR
- 2017
- 86 minutes
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A lot or a little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Adventures in Public School is a comic look at a bright, coddled, homeschooled high school senior. He adores his overbearing mother yet yearns to break away gently. He insists on attending public school, "an institution for low expectations," according to mom, where she believes the presence of attractive females will distract him from his destiny to become a Cambridge University student in astronomy. Mom teaches him to curse (expect to hear "f--k," "p---y," and "c--ksucker," among other words), feeds him alcohol, shares a joint with him, encourages practice time with condoms, and takes him to a frat party to make up for the years she kept him isolated and innocent. He manages to become more outgoing and even to kiss a girl. A jealous boyfriend punches him in the face, but the movie is generally lighthearted while simultaneously aware of how alcohol, drugs, and sex can be dangerous when in the hands of irresponsible minors.
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What's the story?
ADVENTURES IN PUBLIC SCHOOL is what Liam (Daniel Doheny) wants to have. Around 18, bright and homeschooled by his obsessive mother, Claire (Judy Greer), Liam has been sheltered from bullying, drugs, gangs, and supposedly low IQ classmates, but he's also been denied friends and romance. Claire has made Liam's education her obsessive priority and plans for him to ace his high school equivalency exam, after which she'll accompany him to Cambridge University to study astronomy. But when he breezes through the test, he sees an attractive girl named Anastasia (Siobhan Williams), who has only one leg, and falls immediately into lust. He erases all his right answers and forces Mom to enroll him at school. The principal only has room if he takes the place of a student named Maria, who is out due to illness. Liam uses her student ID card, answers "here" when Maria's name is called at attendance, and takes over her classes and abandoned projects, which gives the movie its slightly absurdist bent. He breaks away from Mom enough to kiss a girl, lose her, and then learn that she was probably not the right one for him.
Is it any good?
This is a charming, funny piece that makes you laugh as much as it makes you cringe. Adventures in Public School adores the mother who has poured all of her love and soul into raising a great kid on her own, but it also acknowledges how absurdly clinging and over-protective she is. Judy Greer aptly makes Claire both worrisome and lovable, showing us all the ways her good intentions sometimes wander beyond the borders of good sense, but also why Claire still comes up on the better side of parenting most of the time. Daniel Doheny is perfectly awkward, goofy, and adventurous as the somewhat stunted Liam. It's a tribute to his performance that we actually see Liam grow and mature as the movie progresses. Teens will cringe at him and root for him at the same time.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about the comic effect of the mother in Adventures in Public School who wants to be too close to her son, but also wants him to grow up and be successful and happy. Sometimes she seems to know that she goes too far. What are some instances where she doesn't recognize this early enough?
Why does Liam finally get angry enough at his mother to put the door to his room back up? How does his mother overstep usual boundaries between parents and maturing children?
Do you know anyone who has been homeschooled? What are the benefits and challenges of learning at home?
Movie details
- In theaters: April 27, 2017
- On DVD or streaming: June 26, 2018
- Cast: Judy Greer, Daniel Doheny, Siobhan Williams, Grace Park
- Director: Kyle Rideout
- Studio: Gravitas Ventures
- Genre: Comedy
- Run time: 86 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
For kids who love coming-of-age tales
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Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.