Perfect for kids 7-12, otherwise it might be tough going…
by Martin Hafer
How To Beat A Bully is a new film that kids from about 7 to 12 will probably enjoy. It has very broad humor and there are lots of scatological references in the final 15 minutes of the film. I can picture in my mind kids rolling in laughter because of the rude jokes and silly situations. As for everyone else, the film is problematic. The acting and writing are such that most adults simply will turn off their brains or leave the room to let the kids enjoy it without them. As for younger kids, they probably won’t understand much of the plot…though they, too, will probably love all the poop jokes near the end.
*****
When the film begins, Cory and his family are packing up and moving from New Jersey to California. Not surprisingly Cory is not excited about the move but it becomes worse when he begins at a new school…where are plenty of bullies who are more than ready to make his life miserable. His father insists that Cory can talk his way out of any bully problems by using his words and Cory takes him literally. He soon orchestrates events to that the kids think Cory’s father works for the mob. Soon, the kids’ parents also begin believing the guy is a mobster. So, although Joe is only an insurance salesman, folks thing that he’s an enforcer and ‘insurance’ is what folks have to pay in order to stay healthy! Eventually, however, this causes serious problems when a group of real mobsters think Joe is one of them…and by the end of the film things get very, very serious…seriously deadly. So it’s up to Cory and his friends to save the day…presumably because calling the police would have been too difficult.
As I said already, the film has very broad humor and will not appeal to most adults. It clearly is thinking about things that kids would like however….rude, nasty jokes about farting, defecating and the like! If you don’t mind your kids watching stuff like this, I’m pretty sure they’ll enjoy it. For anyone else, however, if could be a very, very long movie.
