Kids in America

Kids in America (2005) is the directorial debut of my close personal friend who I have never met Josh Stolberg, who has gone on to write some notable and this movie was pretty mediocre.

Positives for Kids in America (2005): The premise of this story is interesting enough to make a movie about it. I liked seeing these kids fight against their superintendent for their freedom to do anything that involves sex. The cast does a good enough job with their acting. The movie has good pacing that keeps the story interesting for the audience. And finally, I liked the montage at the end of the movie where you see a couple of kids talking about their experiences with sex in high school.

Negatives for Kids in America (2005): This movie suffers from Josh Stolberg being a first time director where you can tell that he hasn't quite found his footing yet. The movie's premise is one that I have seen done better in other movies. Julie Bowen's character was very annoying as she gets mad at students over dumb stuff like a girl wearing a dress made of condoms to promote safe sex to other students. And finally, the closing montage is way too long for its own good.

Overall, Kids in America (2005) is a mediocre teen sex comedy movie that does the bare minimum with its basic premise, but I would recommend it to people so that they can form their own opinions.

It's an interesting and entertaining film about high school kids rebelling against their principal. But unfortunately all their causes are filtered through the liberal Hollywood writer's viewpoint without much respect for any alternative views. The kids gripe about the hypocrisy of authority without ever addressing their own. A mass same sex kissing scene involving dozens of teens will offend many - maybe most - viewers. The film might have been very effective without that, but as it is, it turns away anyone who doesn't agree with the agenda without a chance to win them over. In spite of good acting by Gregory Smith and others, the comedy and other good qualities of the film don't overcome that. At least, if you're not homophobic or offended by condoms, you can enjoy it as a light comedy.

KOA is worth a look by adults and mature teens, and it has a PG-13 rating for a reason. A rebellious young student gets expelled by his high school principal, and with his equally rebellious crew of misfit friends (which includes a drop-dead gorgeous cheerleader!) decides to seek revenge. The only problem is the pranks they pull grow increasingly dangerous, until ... well, you will have to see it yourself. I would say show KOA to high school juniors and seniors, at the very least. It is an independent film, based on several real high school stories, with a cast of unknowns who do a decent, if not spectacular, job. We get to see the real students and hear abbreviated versions of their stories during the end credits. The outtakes are worth a look as well, but they incredibly raunchy, so beware if you have a young one in the house.

The film offers viewers an all too brief journey into politics and playfulness in a public school with an overbearing principal running for political office. She expels the male lead and Mr. D, voted teacher of the year for 5 years running and the one teacher who challenges his students to think, is fired and as expected the students rebel. A somewhat predictable story of teenage angst and a 2005-view of sexual orientation. A public school ruthless in its policing duties, the protagonist-principal has no desire or purpose other than maintaining the free range of her own narcotic narcissism, spewing exclusivity and dominance over the intellect, conscience, human potential of the students and teachers at her every turn. Unreceptive to interrogation, she cannot form or tolerate new ideas, try as she might to shape the thoughts of others, or tolerate independent thought. Yet there it is - a diamond glitters: Emily playing an ABC (American-born Chinese, third generation) and a scene stealer of the first order, predatory, yet sentimental and sexy. We recommend you see Emily, oops!, the film.

Based on real events, Kids In America is a teen comedy about a group of high school kids who band together to peacefully do something to kick their principal out of the school. It basically starts off when a student walks around promoting safe sex. The principal doesn't allow that, so she suspends that student. Then more students are into something that get the principal irritated, so she suspends all of them. Gregory Smith plays Holden. He finds himself expelled for criticizing school policy, and this how everything gets started when the group of students get involved. Nicole Ritchie is also in this film, but for like 10 minutes. She's on the poster and she's the second name you see on the poster. I wouldn't say this is her movie, and who cares about her.

I thought this would be a pretty decent teenage comedy. I was very wrong. The film stays where it's at and doesn't movie. It is awfully boring and most people won't be happy. I kept looking at the clock and time didn't movie. It felt like this movie was taking forever to end. It's also such a fake movie. Students running their school brainless. I didn't like this movie and I felt that it didn't have a good story. There are other high school comedies are decent and far better. Kids In America isn't one of them. 4/10