Parents' Guide to

Assassination of a High School President

By Joly Herman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 17+

Compelling high school noir movie, but not for kids.

Movie R 2009 93 minutes
Assassination of a High School President Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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What's the Story?

Bobby Funke (Reece Thompson) is an aspiring journalist who has sniffed out a huge story at St. Donovan's, where he's a sophomore. When the S.A.T. tests go missing, Funke takes it upon himself to find out who the culprit is. He gets his man, but then finds that he has only scraped the surface of a much bigger, much darker, more complicated corruption ring. Though thwarted by the principal (Bruce Willis), an unhinged Desert Storm veteran, and sidetracked by Francesca (Mischa Barton), Funke looks past the smokescreens to see the truth. And in this case, the truth sets him free.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

Fans of film noir will enjoy the fast-talking, if foul-mouthed, teens portrayed in this movie. But let us be clear: this movie is not meant to be viewed by the age group it portrays. There are no parents at all, and the adults in view are not in control of their own emotional lives. If a sixteen-year-old boy is the moral compass of a movie, there are sure to be red flags. This said, adults who appreciate a dark suspense movie will enjoy watching this young fan of Woodward and Bernstein get his story right in the end.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about peer pressure. St. Donovan's is portrayed as a place where many kids have been pressured into having sex. Is this how your school is? How do you say no? Are kids ready to be adults in this way? Here are some tips for parents and kids to help create dialogue about a very important issue.

  • Performance-enhancing drugs are everywhere nowadays. What are your views about prescription drugs that are used to "help" kids concentrate? What are the downsides of using drugs to aid with concentration?

  • Parties in movies about high school often involve drinking. How is this similar to or different from how parties are in your high school? Here are some ways to talk about alcohol and the influence that movies like this one have on teen viewers.

Movie Details

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