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Parents' Guide to

Turbo Cola

By Tara McNamara, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Stoner heist comedy lacks pop; drug use, language.

Movie NR 2022 94 minutes
Turbo Cola Movie Poster

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

age 16+

Based on 1 parent review

age 16+

Fun Trip to the 90s!

So much fun! Cult Classic 90's film.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

Turbo Cola may be a first: a comedy seemingly made as an homage to two "classics" that leaves viewers disappointed in all three films. It's best described as Clerks meets Ocean's 11, but those films captured lightning in a bottle. Clerks was the kind of low-budget filmmaking that was a snapshot of the mid '90s, and while Turbo Cola's drug dealer Jimmy has a very '90s look, there's nothing in the movie's production design, acting, or writing that truly makes viewers believe that this high school crew is about to party like it's really 1999. The slickly shot Ocean's 11, meanwhile, was hailed for setting the heist-film bar when it came out in 2001, with electric banter and excellent cast chemistry. But watching Turbo Cola only makes it clear how much Clerks doesn't hold up and how the plot of Ocean's 11 is unlikely and ridiculous.

What's more, one strongly off-note performance in Turbo Cola's climax threatens the credibility of the entire piece. All of that said, as a whole -- and as a piece of independent filmmaking -- there's enough showmanship here to get most of the talent their next gig. The plot about high school seniors who are desperate to get out of their small town may be enough to satisfy teens. And one line does spur poignant feelings about life in the pre-9/11 United States. But overall, Turbo Cola starts with a fizzy premise but goes flat before the ball drops.

Movie Details

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