Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Shulgasser-Parker
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Awful slapstick comedy is full of potty humor.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
How to Beat a Bully
What's the Story?
The examples set in HOW TO BEAT A BULLY won't be of much help to real kids who move to a new town and face bullying. Twelve-year-old Cory's parents advise him to ignore his impulse to punch his bullies and instead use words and gestures of friendship and generosity to win the bullies over. Cory's words conjure a fantasy home life, describing him as the son of a mob hit man while, in fact, his father, Joe, is a mild-mannered insurance salesman. Not only do the bullies back off and treat Cory with fear and respect, but they also spread the false story among their parents. Neighbors shun Cory's dad socially but buy lots of insurance. Real mobsters get wind of the story and through euphemism and vague lingo manage to hire Joe to "take care of" an employee, who happens to actually be a hit man, and that puts Joe's life in danger (the weapon is a not-very-scary pitchfork). Cory and the bullies-turned-friends ambush the bad guys Home Alone-style to save the day.
Is It Any Good?
This inept attempt at slapstick won't amuse anyone but perhaps the youngest viewers, and even they will probably get tired of the juvenile humor and antics. The acting is amateur. The writing is clichéd. The directing is formulaic. New Yawk accents come and go. The jokes are terrible, from "weapons of mob destruction" to "I can make you holey," uttered by the man brandishing the pitchfork. Families looking for an insightful look at bullying should look elsewhere, as should families looking for a funny family comedy.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what it's like to move to a new town and adjust to a new school and friends. How would you adapt?
How long do you think it would take to make friends as the newcomer in a seventh-grade class? What do you think would be different about living in New Jersey from living in California?
Bullying is a serious topic. Is this movie meant to be taken seriously? How can you tell?
What should you do if you or someone you know is bullied?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : October 1, 2015
- Cast : Grant McLellan , Eric Lauritzen , Amy Lyndon
- Director : Doug Bilitch
- Studio : Dream Factory Entertainment
- Genre : Comedy
- Run time : 90 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : March 13, 2020
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