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Parents' Guide to

How to Beat a Bully

By Barbara Shulgasser-Parker, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Awful slapstick comedy is full of potty humor.

Movie NR 2015 90 minutes
How to Beat a Bully Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

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age 9+

Based on 3 parent reviews

Ira
Ira Adult
June 7, 2016
age 8+

Delightful family film with a moral

It’s refreshing to see the serious subject of bullying tackled in a humorous yet satisfying way. The story line is clever… and the whole movie works. It’s well shot and well acted. The parents do a terrific job, and the kids are infectious. How to Beat a Bully is a well-made movie that tackles a very real social problem… that has a good moral… and that’s enjoyable and fun to watch! As both a parent and an educator, I highly recommend this film!

This title has:

Great messages
KarenBW
KarenBW Adult
January 22, 2016
age 9+

A Fun Little Comedy

This movie was actually very cute. It had lots of surprises and was creative and different. The family in it was very likable and the dialog was clever and fun. The opening about a boy not wanting to move is a real issue and bullying is a real issue. But here it is done with entertainment value instead of making it sad or shocking. There are lots of funny scenes, and the kids in it are great little actors. The father is fun and quirky and his relationship with the son is sweet. The teacher is the only one who is a bit over-the-top. But otherwise, it is refreshing to see a comedy that touches on a serious subject but does it in a way that isn't so heavy-handed. There were funny jokes and also some touching moments like when the father tells the son that words can be just as dangerous as fists. I watched it online with my kids on a rainy afternoon. They laughed out loud when the kids in the movie caught the comic gangsters and I found myself laughing at many of the lines, too. There are no known stars in this, but overall it was enjoyable and conveys a positive message, even though it's not really a message movie.

This title has:

Great messages
See all 3 parent reviews

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?

Our review:
Parents say: (3 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

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

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