Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Avoid popular YouTubers' vile, repulsive prank movie.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Natural Born Pranksters
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In NATURAL BORN PRANKSTERS, YouTube celebrities Roman Atwood, Dennis Roady, and Vitaly Zdorovetskiy play twisted pranks on people. They pretend to siphon gas from a muscle car, to be aroused during a massage, to kill dogs in the kitchen of a Chinese restaurant, and to get third-degree burns at a tanning parlor. They trick an actor into filming a robbery scene and then call the police on her. They auction off a painting that appears to be made from fecal matter, masquerade as policemen and pretend to urinate on the street, and try to convince a white man that his Asian wife has given birth to a Black baby.
Is It Any Good?
This movie based on the stars' popular YouTube channel is vile. Even people who like pranks may find that these repulsive, hateful, insulting, and often racist acts go too far. Most of the unimaginative, juvenile pranks in Natural Born Pranksters involve sex and/or bodily fluids, and there's some bullying. Occasionally, they also veer into truly offensive territory, particularly in the sequence in which they try to convince diners that a Chinese restaurant is killing dogs to serve as food and in another sequence in which they try to convince a white man that his pregnant Asian wife has given birth to a Black baby.
Normally, if a prank is funny, the victim might smile or laugh, but many of the reactions here are the opposite. One man simply yells, "Why?! Why?!" Another guest prankster hugs the victim and says, "I'm sorry." One man simply stares and stares, seemingly in shock, as if he can't believe the depths of depravity that have been unleashed upon him. One prankster actually pranks his mother; she responds by calling him an "a--hole." Some victims seem to express relief after their torture is over, but it's nothing that could be called funny. There's little else to be said about Natural Born Pranksters other than: Stay as far away from it as possible.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the way that Natural Born Pranksters depicts violence and gore. How does the "fake" violence compare to images of more genuine threats, fear, and fighting?
How does the movie view sex? What values are imparted?
Could these pranksters be considered bullies? Why or why not?
What's the appeal of pranks/prank videos? Why do some people find them funny? How do the ones in this film compare to others you've seen?
Could some sequences in this movie be considered racist? Why or why not?
Movie Details
- In theaters : April 1, 2016
- On DVD or streaming : April 1, 2016
- Cast : Roman Atwood , Dennis Roady , Vitaly Zdorovetskiy
- Directors : Ben Pluimer , Roman Atwood
- Studio : Lionsgate
- Genre : Comedy
- Run time : 90 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : crude and dangerous pranks, language throughout and sexual content
- Last updated : February 15, 2023
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