Bully (2019)
By Brian Costello,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Positive message, constant cursing in coming-of-age comedy.
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Bully (2019)
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What's the Story?
In BULLY, Jimmy (Tucker Albrizzi) is an overweight teen who's a frequent target of the school bully Miles and his crew. One day while walking home from school, Miles and his friends beat up Jimmy in front of the house of "Action" Jackson, a former boxer. After sending the bullies away and tending to Jimmy's injuries, "Action" encourages Jimmy to take boxing lessons at a nearby gym. Jimmy convinces his parents to try it. "Action" introduces Jimmy to Manny (Danny Trejo), and the two start training. Meanwhile, Miles is trying to extort $100 from Jimmy, who, on "Action's" advice, tells Miles that he will give him $200 in two weeks. While reluctant and lazy at first, Jimmy really starts to enjoy his training. He goes on a date with classmate Adrian, who notices how he has slimmed down a little bit and wants to know his secret. Before Jimmy stands up to Miles, Miles learns that Jimmy has been learning how to box, and comes up with a scheme to ensure Jimmy's boxing days are over. When the day of the big confrontation arrives, Jimmy must find a way to stand up to Miles and make sure that he stops bullying not only Jimmy, but also his friends and everyone in the school that he torments.
Is It Any Good?
It's a shopworn story, but this movie manages to carve out its own space in the "coming-of-age underdog standing up to bullies" genre. As bullied teen Jimmy, Tucker Albrizzi comes across as likable, relatable, and funny. While Jimmy's teen friends seem to rely a bit too much on profanity as a way to convey realism, it actually ends up being more believable dialogue than what you see in most movies and TV shows about teens. As boxing trainer Manny, Danny Trejo seems to be having a good time in each scene. The bullies are appropriately awful in every way, and even as you can easily predict how the movie will end, you'll still find yourself cheering for Jimmy.
Bully does have some flaws. The aforementioned cursing starts getting tired. Vincent Pastore, best known from The Sopranos, is gratuitously used in a cameo near the end, playing the role of a -- you guessed it -- mob guy. It's hard not to groan when you find out that Jimmy's love interest is named "Adrian." That said, the actors carry the movie to the end, and teens are likely to find much to analyze and discuss.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about bullying. How does this movie show bullying? Does it seem realistic or exaggerated? Does Jimmy's approach to dealing with the bullies in his life seem like a viable option for kids experiencing bullying? Why or why not?
How does Bully compare to other "underdog" tales?
Was the profanity in the movie necessary for the sake of realism, or did it seem exaggerated and unnecessary?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: December 31, 2019
- Cast: Danny Trejo , Tucker Albrizzi , Ron Canada
- Director: Santino Campanelli
- Inclusion Information: Latino actors, Black actors
- Studio: Digital Thunderdome
- Genre: Comedy
- Topics: Great Boy Role Models , Great Girl Role Models , High School
- Run time: 83 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: September 15, 2023
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