Common Sense Media Review
By S. Jhoanna Robledo
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
High school reporter exposes bully in teen comedy with edge.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Beware the Gonzo
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Eddie "Gonzo" Gilman (Ezra Miller) wants to be both the Woodward and Bernstein of Parker Prep, but Gavin Reilly (Jesse McCartney), the popular editor at the student paper, has no interest in that kind of investigative journalism. So when Reilly fires him, Gonzo and his fellow misfits start their own underground publication. Their mission: reveal the seamy underside of their high school and hopefully expose Reilly as the nasty bully he is.
Is It Any Good?
It's not totally clear whether the movie's title refers to the hero or his eponymous publication, but both of them do a great job of stirring up trouble and exposing hypocrisy. The film is a little bit over the top in portraying a clique of athletes who dominate the school's nerds and misfits with the tacit approval of the principal, but it's plenty of fun to watch Reilly and his pals get their long-overdue comeuppance, and it's just as entertaining to see Gonzo and the rest of the unseen students of Parker Prep get a chance in the spotlight.
Campbell Scott and Amy Sedaris have small roles as Gonzo's parents, who vacillate between support for his rebellious endeavor and concern when his actions may threaten his college prospects. And Zoe Kravitz stands out in a much meatier role as Gonzo's romantic interest who has her own reasons for taking down Reilly. Pitting nerds against popular kids isn't especially original, but the film is entertaining enough.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Gonzo's decision to start a newspaper. What were his motivations? Is it ever OK to use any kind of media to reveal others' secrets?
How does the movie portray bullying? How does physical bullying compare to cyberbullying?
Are the movie's characters relatable? Teens: Do they remind you of anyone at your school? Do you and your friends deal with similar situations? Does the movie have realistic consequences for the characters' behavior?
Movie Details
- In theaters : September 9, 2011
- On DVD or streaming : January 24, 2012
- Cast : Ezra Miller , Jesse McCartney , Zoe Kravitz
- Director : Bryan Goluboff
- Inclusion Information : Non-Binary Movie Actor(s) , Queer Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Tribeca Productions
- Genre : Comedy
- Run time : 99 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : February 18, 2020
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
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.
See how we rate