THE PERFECT SCORE

"THE PERFECT SCORE"
(2004) (Chris Evans, Erika Christensen) (PG-13)

Alcohol/ Drugs	Blood/Gore	Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude	Frightening/ Tense Scenes	Guns/ Weapons
Moderate	Minor	Heavy	Minor	Moderate

Imitative Behavior	Jump Scenes	Music (Scary/Tense)	Music (Inappropriate)	Profanity
Moderate	None	Minor	Mild	Heavy

Sex/ Nudity	Smoking	Tense Family Scenes	Topics To Talk About	Violence
Heavy	Minor	Mild	Moderate	*Heavy

QUICK TAKE:: Drama: A group of six disparate and desperate high school students sets out to steal the SAT so that they can attain high scores and get what they want in their lives.

PLOT:

Kyle (CHRIS EVANS) is a high school student who wants to go to Cornell to study architecture, but doesn't have the SAT scores to get in. His best friend, Matty (BRYAN GREENBERG), wants to attend the University of Maryland to be with his girlfriend, but likewise comes up short when it comes to that test.

Accordingly, the two concoct a plan to steal the test from the nearby ETS building to insure their success. The only problem is that they somehow need to get in. That's where the rebellious Francesca (SCARLETT JOHANSSON) comes in. It seems her father owns the building and since the two don't get along, she'd be happy to help.

Kyle also wants Anna (ERIKA CHRISTENSEN) to join in - primarily because he's interested in her - but Matty thinks it's a bad idea since she's the second smartest student in school and an overachiever at that. Even so, and despite her perfect GPA, she's nervous that she won't score high enough on the SAT to get into Brown like her parents are hoping.

Eventually joining them is stoner Roy (LEONARDO NAM) who doesn't care about the test but thinks the thievery will be fun when he accidentally overhears the plan. Rounding out the group is basketball star Desmond (DARIUS MILES) who could go straight to the pros, but has promised his mother he'll go to college first. The only problem is that he needs a certain score on the test and isn't sure he can get it.

As the various group members overcome their differences, they then plot to break into the ETS building, find and copy the SAT test and its answers, and thus ensure that their individual futures are set.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?: The high school setting may be enticing for some kids, while those who are fans of anyone in the cast might be interested in it as well.

WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13: For language, sexual content and some drug references.

CAST AS ROLE MODELS:: ERIKA CHRISTENSEN plays a smart overachiever who finally figures out she isn't happy trying to live up to her parents expectations. She uses some profanity and assists in the break-in.
CHRIS EVANS plays an aspiring architect who wants to study that field at Cornell, but doesn't have the SAT scores to get in. Along with Matty, he comes up with the idea to break into the SAT headquarters and steal the test for its answers. He uses some profanity.
BRYAN GREENBERG plays his best friend, a guy who's average in most everything he does and knows he must score well on the SATs so that he can attend the same college where his girlfriend is. He uses profanity (including the "f" word once).
SCARLETT JOHANSSON plays the rebellious student with a pierced nostril, an anti-establishment chip on her shoulder and the desire to break some rules. She lets the others into her father's building to carry out the plan and uses some profanity.
DARIUS MILES plays the school's top basketball player who must get a certain score on the SATs to get into college. He agrees to help steal and copy the test and uses some profanity.
LEONARDO NAM plays the resident stoner who's smart but lazy and agrees to the thievery just because it gives him something interesting to do. He leers at various women and uses some profanity.; CHRIS EVANS plays an aspiring architect who wants to study that field at Cornell, but doesn't have the SAT scores to get in. Along with Matty, he comes up with the idea to break into the SAT headquarters and steal the test for its answers. He uses some profanity.
BRYAN GREENBERG plays his best friend, a guy who's average in most everything he does and knows he must score well on the SATs so that he can attend the same college where his girlfriend is. He uses profanity (including the "f" word once).
SCARLETT JOHANSSON plays the rebellious student with a pierced nostril, an anti-establishment chip on her shoulder and the desire to break some rules. She lets the others into her father's building to carry out the plan and uses some profanity.
DARIUS MILES plays the school's top basketball player who must get a certain score on the SATs to get into college. He agrees to help steal and copy the test and uses some profanity.
LEONARDO NAM plays the resident stoner who's smart but lazy and agrees to the thievery just because it gives him something interesting to do. He leers at various women and uses some profanity.; BRYAN GREENBERG plays his best friend, a guy who's average in most everything he does and knows he must score well on the SATs so that he can attend the same college where his girlfriend is. He uses profanity (including the "f" word once).
SCARLETT JOHANSSON plays the rebellious student with a pierced nostril, an anti-establishment chip on her shoulder and the desire to break some rules. She lets the others into her father's building to carry out the plan and uses some profanity.
DARIUS MILES plays the school's top basketball player who must get a certain score on the SATs to get into college. He agrees to help steal and copy the test and uses some profanity.
LEONARDO NAM plays the resident stoner who's smart but lazy and agrees to the thievery just because it gives him something interesting to do. He leers at various women and uses some profanity.; SCARLETT JOHANSSON plays the rebellious student with a pierced nostril, an anti-establishment chip on her shoulder and the desire to break some rules. She lets the others into her father's building to carry out the plan and uses some profanity.
DARIUS MILES plays the school's top basketball player who must get a certain score on the SATs to get into college. He agrees to help steal and copy the test and uses some profanity.
LEONARDO NAM plays the resident stoner who's smart but lazy and agrees to the thievery just because it gives him something interesting to do. He leers at various women and uses some profanity.; DARIUS MILES plays the school's top basketball player who must get a certain score on the SATs to get into college. He agrees to help steal and copy the test and uses some profanity.
LEONARDO NAM plays the resident stoner who's smart but lazy and agrees to the thievery just because it gives him something interesting to do. He leers at various women and uses some profanity.; LEONARDO NAM plays the resident stoner who's smart but lazy and agrees to the thievery just because it gives him something interesting to do. He leers at various women and uses some profanity.

CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO

HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE

Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit?
Then read OUR TAKE of this film.

(Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below).

OUR WORD TO PARENTS:

The following is a brief summary of the content found in this drama that's been rated PG-13. Profanity consists of at least 1 "f" word, while other expletives and colorful phrases are uttered. Several instances of sexually related dialogue and innuendo are present, as is some making out. Some young women are seen in revealing attire, the camera briefly focuses on a high school student's panty-covered crotch and a pregnant high school student's clothed belly is briefly seen.

A fantasy segment features a "Matrix" like action moment with a woman striking guards and riddling one with gunfire (no blood). Various characters have varying degrees of bad attitudes, including the group that breaks into a building to steal the SAT. Some brief, tense family material is present, while some characters drink, a few smoke and one is noted as being a "stoner" (we see his bong and possibly him smoking pot), while various drug-related comments are made.

Should you still be concerned about the film's appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home, you may want to look more closely at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content.

ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE: Francesca asks others if they know about someone with a Percoset addiction.
Roy appears to be high and may be smoking a joint (or just a cigarette).
Francesca's father has a drink.
A comment is made about Anna starting a pledge drive about refraining from drug use.
Kyle's brother and others in his place drink wine. Roy then has some and Francesca sarcastically jokes about being there for the wine. We then hear Roy ask if something is hemp and then see him trying to light a comforter (to smoke it).
A comment is made about a scene from the movie "The Breakfast Club" where the characters get stoned.
Kyle takes a swig from his brother's beer bottle.
Roy comments on them rolling and smoking something, using that as a metaphor.
Anna asks Roy why he smokes pot and he replies that it's something to do. Later, Desmond's mother asks him the same thing (while holding his bong) and he gives her the same answer. In another scene, when Roy can't run for coughing, Desmond tells him that he needs to "get off that bong."
Trying to set up a diversion, Matty calls his clerk friend and asks if he can hook him up with a bottle of champagne. Later, we see the clerk deliver such a bottle to a security guard.
Roy refers to the SATs as standing for "stoned and toasted."

BLOOD/GORE: Francesca wears a "mask" that's that of a headless person (with a ragged neck stump and fake blood on it).
We see a male urine stream going down into a toilet in jail.

DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE: The six students conspire to break into the building and steal the answers to their upcoming SAT.
A few of them initially don't get along and have some bad attitudes toward some of the others.
Desmond states that his high school teachers have let him slide through his coursework.
Roy tries to steal other items from the building before leaving.
Roy gives the SAT answers to another student.

FRIGHTENING SCENES: It's possible a few viewers might worry about the students getting caught in the process of stealing the test (and there are a few scenes of a security guard nearly spotting them in person or on surveillance cameras).

GUNS/WEAPONS: There's a brief fantasy scene where S.W.A.T. team members show up holding and aiming assault weapons.
There's a "Matrix" style fantasy moment where one of the women kicks some guards and others shoot at her as she runs along the wall. She then grabs one guard's gun and riddles another guard with gunfire (no blood).
A scene from the movie "Heat" shows a bank robber carrying an assault weapon.

IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR: Phrases: "That's f*cked up," "Oh sh*t," "This sh*t ain't fair," "Give a sh*t about us?" "My life is sh*t," "Headfirst into the sh*t pit," "Sh*tty," "Sh*t happens," "Don't touch my sh*t," "I don't need this sh*t," "This sh*t is /boring/messed up," "That sh*t is wrong," "Suck ass test," "(We were) Screwed" (nonsexual), "Yakked" (vomited), "Crapper," "Piss you off," "Don't freak out," "Losers," "What the hell /are you doing here/is this/was that?" "Dumb ass," "My bad," "What in the hell is wrong with you?" "Frickin,'" "Dawg," "Excuse me for being a bitch," "Chicks" (women), "Kiss ass," "I'm kicking his ass," "Haul ass," "Oh hell no," "Kiss my ass," "Idiot," "Get your ass up," "You're a hell of a kisser," "Shut up," "To hell with them," "Jackass," "Screw this" and "Kicked ass."
The narrator states that SAT stands for "Suck ass test."
The six students conspire to break into the building and steal the answers to their upcoming SAT.
Francesca has a stud in her nostril and many piercings in her ear.
Francesca wears a midriff-revealing top.

JUMP SCENES: None.

MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE): A tiny bit of suspenseful music plays in the film.

MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE): A song has lyrics about getting high.

PROFANITY: At least 1 "f" word, 30 "s" words, 14 hells, 13 asses, 1 crap, 1 damn, 2 uses of "Jesus" and 1 use each of "Christ," "For Christ's sakes" and "Oh God."

SEX/NUDITY: We briefly see a pregnant teen's clothed belly in class.
The narrator, Roy, comments that Anna is a future PhD "with a nice a-s-s."
We see a brief and partial glimpse of the cover of a Victoria's Secret catalogue (that a security guard is reading).
Matty complains that the SAT's are "pimping" his girlfriend (or something like that).
The camera briefly focuses on Francesca's panty-covered crotch as it peers between her somewhat spread legs before panning up the rest of her clothed body. During that, the narrator comments on her being "forbidden fruit."
Matty questions if Kyle (regarding Anna) is "trying to get into her pants."
Talking about Anna to Francesca, Matty says that Kyle had a feeling for her. Francesca then sarcastically asks, "Was the feeling anywhere near your crotch?"
A comely executive sits on the edge of her desk, exposing a great deal of her leg and garter covered thigh. She suggestively asks Roy -- who she's discovered in her office -- if he has something for her. He says he does and she tells him to give it to her. He then purposefully drops something on the floor and kneels in front of her. He then suggestively asks, "Is there anything else I can do for you while I'm down here?" as he leers at her legs or crotch.
Francesca isn't happy that her father is always dating women not much older than she is. She refers to one such woman, who shows some cleavage, as a "piece" (meaning "piece of ass").
Roy fantasizes about a scene featuring him and Anna passionately making out in the backseat of a parked car (with steamed up windows). The comment "give it to me" is made, she lies back (out of the shot) and he moves to get on top of her, briefly starting to lower his pants (but nothing's seen).
Matty tells Francesca that it's not like he's going to look at her underwear. She then playfully replies, "Who says I'm wearing any?"
Francesca shows some cleavage.
When asked what she wants to do in life, Francesca mentions a number of things and then adds, "Or porn."
We see a framed photo of a man alongside a woman in a bikini. Later, when looking at that photo for clues as to the man's computer password, Roy enters something, it's successful and he appreciatively comments on the apparent dirty word.
Roy leers at Francesca's cleavage while she leans over.
Anna tells Kyle that she's never made out on a rooftop. She nearly does with him, but they're interrupted before they can begin.
Francesca spots her father asleep in bed with one of his young girlfriends.
Francesca and Matty do some passionate, clothed kissing and then do some more.
Anna shows a little bit of cleavage.
When Anna says that she's not going to Brown, Kyle jokingly says that the boys there will be disappointed. She replies, "Hell, the girls are going to be disappointed." (It isn't clear if that's supposed to be a lesbian or other reference)
Seeing how Anna is dressed (in tight clothing), Francesca tells her, "You look like a slut. I like it." Roy then spots her and says, "You look like you need a pimp."
When Roy comments about who would play him in a movie based on their experiences, he states that whoever it is "better be hung like a horse."
Kyle and Anna kiss.
We briefly see a woman swim by underwater in a small bikini.

SMOKING: Francesca smokes once, Roy might smoke once (or else it's pot) and a security guard takes a cigarette break.

TENSE FAMILY SCENES: Anna isn't happy with her life or trying to live up to her parents' expectations.
Francesca isn't happy that her father is always dating women not much older than she is.
When asked, Roy mentions that his mom is dead.
Francesca implies that her relationship with her father is not good.
Anna gets tired of her mom badgering her about being out the night before the SATs and then tells her she's not going to Brown (shocking her mother).

TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT: We briefly see a pregnant teen's clothed belly in class.
The comment that the SAT is not about who you are, but about who you'll be.
Kyle states that their intention of stealing the SAT is a victimless crime.
Desmond states that his high school teachers have let him slide through his coursework.
Anna isn't happy with her life or trying to live up to her parents' expectations.
There's talk of the SATs being designed by rich white guys for rich white kids and that the test is racist and sexist.
The students' decision not to use their cheat sheets.

VIOLENCE: Matty throws his cell phone into a tree in anger.
There's a "Matrix" style fantasy moment where one of the women kicks some guards and others shoot at her as she runs along the wall. She then grabs one guard's gun and riddles another guard with gunfire (no blood).
Matty bumps and slams into some things in an office due to his mask fogging up and impairing his vision.
Roy falls from a tree (played for comedy and we don't see the impact).

Reviewed January 30, 2004 / Posted January 30, 2004

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