SCREEN IT! PARENTAL REVIEW: I LOVE YOU, BETH COOPER

"I LOVE YOU, BETH COOPER"
(2009) (Paul Rust, Hayden Panettiere) (PG-13)

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

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

Sex/ Nudity	Smoking	Tense Family Scenes	Topics To Talk About	Violence
Extreme	None	Moderate	Heavy	Moderate

QUICK TAKE:: Comedy: After publically expressing his long-repressed love for the head cheerleader at their high school graduation, a nerdy valedictorian ends up spending a wild day and night with her, his best pal, and her two best friends.

PLOT:

With prior encouragement from his best friend, Rich Munsch (JACK T. CARPENTER), Buffalo Glenn High School valedictorian Denis Cooverman (PAUL RUST) decides to get a few things off his chest during his commencement speech. Although he makes points about various students, such as school bully Greg (JOSHUA EMERSON) and past graduate turned military maniac Kevin (SHAWN ROBERTS), Denis gets down to business: He tells head cheerleader Beth Cooper (HAYDEN PANETTIERE) that he loves her.

Not only does that anger her boyfriend (who just so happens to be Kevin), but it takes her by surprise, just like her best friends, Cammy (LAUREN LONDON) and Treece (LAUREN STORM). Yet, despite the accompanying embarrassment, Beth thinks it's somewhat charming, and thus she and her friends agree to stop by Denis' party that he and Rich are throwing while Denis' parents (ALAN RUCK & CYNTHIA STEVENSON) go out for the evening.

But when Kevin shows up with his goons wanting retribution, Denis, Beth and their friends go on the run. As they end up going from one escapade to the next, the nerdy and socially awkward brain tries to get to know the more confident but wild cheerleader who believes her best days might be behind her.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?: The teen angle might be enticing for some, and those who are fans of anyone in the cast might also be interested in seeing it.

WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13: For crude and sexual content, language, some teen drinking and drug references, and brief violence.

CAST AS ROLE MODELS:: PAUL RUST plays a nerdy high school valedictorian who finally (and publically) unleashes his long-suppressed love for Beth, taking her and everyone else but Rich by surprise. He must then contend with the consequences of doing so that not only involve finally getting to know who she really is, but also encounters with her angry boyfriend, the school bully and others. He uses profanity and drinks.
HAYDEN PANETTIERE plays the head cheerleader who's surprised but a bit charmed by his public confession. More confident than him but with a wild side, she realizes her best days are probably now behind her. She must contend with her psychotic boyfriend trying to beat up Denis, drinks and uses her sexuality to buy beer while underage (and to entice Denis, including apparently showing him her full frontal nudity), and uses profanity.
JACK T. CARPENTER plays Denis' best friend who constantly defends his own heterosexuality, despite everyone believing he's gay. He uses profanity (some of it briefly strong), drinks, and ends up having a three-way sexual encounter with Cammy and Treece.
LAUREN STORM plays one of Beth's close friends who ends up spending the day and night with her, Cammy and the boys. She drinks, invites the guys to join the girls in a group shower, and has 3-way sex with Rich and Cammy.
LAUREN LONDON plays her and Beth's other friend who does all of the same, but comes off not quite as flighty.
SHAWN ROBERTS plays Beth's boyfriend and former graduate turning military psycho who wants to beat up Denis and others. He's noted as having a drug problem, but isn't seen using any, but does use some profanity.
JOSHUA EMERSON plays the school bully who's tormented Denis in the past, but becomes his pal once the secret behind his behavior is out.
ALAN RUCK plays Denis' trying to be hip dad who allows his son and Rich to have a party with a bottle of champagne, informs them of the whereabouts of his condoms, wants his son to live it up a bit now that he's graduated, and fools around with his wife.
CYNTHIA STEVENSON plays his wife who knows about some but not all of the above and fools around with her husband in a parked car.; HAYDEN PANETTIERE plays the head cheerleader who's surprised but a bit charmed by his public confession. More confident than him but with a wild side, she realizes her best days are probably now behind her. She must contend with her psychotic boyfriend trying to beat up Denis, drinks and uses her sexuality to buy beer while underage (and to entice Denis, including apparently showing him her full frontal nudity), and uses profanity.
JACK T. CARPENTER plays Denis' best friend who constantly defends his own heterosexuality, despite everyone believing he's gay. He uses profanity (some of it briefly strong), drinks, and ends up having a three-way sexual encounter with Cammy and Treece.
LAUREN STORM plays one of Beth's close friends who ends up spending the day and night with her, Cammy and the boys. She drinks, invites the guys to join the girls in a group shower, and has 3-way sex with Rich and Cammy.
LAUREN LONDON plays her and Beth's other friend who does all of the same, but comes off not quite as flighty.
SHAWN ROBERTS plays Beth's boyfriend and former graduate turning military psycho who wants to beat up Denis and others. He's noted as having a drug problem, but isn't seen using any, but does use some profanity.
JOSHUA EMERSON plays the school bully who's tormented Denis in the past, but becomes his pal once the secret behind his behavior is out.
ALAN RUCK plays Denis' trying to be hip dad who allows his son and Rich to have a party with a bottle of champagne, informs them of the whereabouts of his condoms, wants his son to live it up a bit now that he's graduated, and fools around with his wife.
CYNTHIA STEVENSON plays his wife who knows about some but not all of the above and fools around with her husband in a parked car.; JACK T. CARPENTER plays Denis' best friend who constantly defends his own heterosexuality, despite everyone believing he's gay. He uses profanity (some of it briefly strong), drinks, and ends up having a three-way sexual encounter with Cammy and Treece.
LAUREN STORM plays one of Beth's close friends who ends up spending the day and night with her, Cammy and the boys. She drinks, invites the guys to join the girls in a group shower, and has 3-way sex with Rich and Cammy.
LAUREN LONDON plays her and Beth's other friend who does all of the same, but comes off not quite as flighty.
SHAWN ROBERTS plays Beth's boyfriend and former graduate turning military psycho who wants to beat up Denis and others. He's noted as having a drug problem, but isn't seen using any, but does use some profanity.
JOSHUA EMERSON plays the school bully who's tormented Denis in the past, but becomes his pal once the secret behind his behavior is out.
ALAN RUCK plays Denis' trying to be hip dad who allows his son and Rich to have a party with a bottle of champagne, informs them of the whereabouts of his condoms, wants his son to live it up a bit now that he's graduated, and fools around with his wife.
CYNTHIA STEVENSON plays his wife who knows about some but not all of the above and fools around with her husband in a parked car.; LAUREN STORM plays one of Beth's close friends who ends up spending the day and night with her, Cammy and the boys. She drinks, invites the guys to join the girls in a group shower, and has 3-way sex with Rich and Cammy.
LAUREN LONDON plays her and Beth's other friend who does all of the same, but comes off not quite as flighty.
SHAWN ROBERTS plays Beth's boyfriend and former graduate turning military psycho who wants to beat up Denis and others. He's noted as having a drug problem, but isn't seen using any, but does use some profanity.
JOSHUA EMERSON plays the school bully who's tormented Denis in the past, but becomes his pal once the secret behind his behavior is out.
ALAN RUCK plays Denis' trying to be hip dad who allows his son and Rich to have a party with a bottle of champagne, informs them of the whereabouts of his condoms, wants his son to live it up a bit now that he's graduated, and fools around with his wife.
CYNTHIA STEVENSON plays his wife who knows about some but not all of the above and fools around with her husband in a parked car.; LAUREN LONDON plays her and Beth's other friend who does all of the same, but comes off not quite as flighty.
SHAWN ROBERTS plays Beth's boyfriend and former graduate turning military psycho who wants to beat up Denis and others. He's noted as having a drug problem, but isn't seen using any, but does use some profanity.
JOSHUA EMERSON plays the school bully who's tormented Denis in the past, but becomes his pal once the secret behind his behavior is out.
ALAN RUCK plays Denis' trying to be hip dad who allows his son and Rich to have a party with a bottle of champagne, informs them of the whereabouts of his condoms, wants his son to live it up a bit now that he's graduated, and fools around with his wife.
CYNTHIA STEVENSON plays his wife who knows about some but not all of the above and fools around with her husband in a parked car.; SHAWN ROBERTS plays Beth's boyfriend and former graduate turning military psycho who wants to beat up Denis and others. He's noted as having a drug problem, but isn't seen using any, but does use some profanity.
JOSHUA EMERSON plays the school bully who's tormented Denis in the past, but becomes his pal once the secret behind his behavior is out.
ALAN RUCK plays Denis' trying to be hip dad who allows his son and Rich to have a party with a bottle of champagne, informs them of the whereabouts of his condoms, wants his son to live it up a bit now that he's graduated, and fools around with his wife.
CYNTHIA STEVENSON plays his wife who knows about some but not all of the above and fools around with her husband in a parked car.; JOSHUA EMERSON plays the school bully who's tormented Denis in the past, but becomes his pal once the secret behind his behavior is out.
ALAN RUCK plays Denis' trying to be hip dad who allows his son and Rich to have a party with a bottle of champagne, informs them of the whereabouts of his condoms, wants his son to live it up a bit now that he's graduated, and fools around with his wife.
CYNTHIA STEVENSON plays his wife who knows about some but not all of the above and fools around with her husband in a parked car.; ALAN RUCK plays Denis' trying to be hip dad who allows his son and Rich to have a party with a bottle of champagne, informs them of the whereabouts of his condoms, wants his son to live it up a bit now that he's graduated, and fools around with his wife.
CYNTHIA STEVENSON plays his wife who knows about some but not all of the above and fools around with her husband in a parked car.; CYNTHIA STEVENSON plays his wife who knows about some but not all of the above and fools around with her husband in a parked car.

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 comedy that's been rated PG-13. Profanity consists of at least 1 "f" word, while other expletives and colorful phrases are also uttered. Sexually related dialogue and brief song lyrics are present in various scenes, a teen three-way sexual encounter occurs off-screen, teen girls (partial nudity and implied full frontal nudity for a boy) invite teen boys into a school shower with them and other sexual behavior and related material is also present. Varying amounts of cleavage are also seen, while a running gag revolves around whether a male teen is gay or not.

There's some fighting and beating up of others, along with property damage caused by bullies. Some of that intentional and accidental violence has bloody results, while various characters display bad attitudes, and some viewers might not like some of the material that's present in the film. Teenagers buy alcohol and drink in various scenes, while a character is noted for having drug issues, but no use is seen. Crude humor is present as is behavior that some kids might want to imitate, while tense family material is also present.

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.

For those concerned with bright flashes of light on the screen, there's some of that from a campfire.

ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE: When a teacher or principal questions Denis' big commencement confession about how he feels about others, he states he was "under an influence" (meaning either Rich convincing him or his own true love for Beth), with the adult then asking him if he's drunk (he's not).
Denis' dad gives him and Rich a bottle of champagne for their post-graduation party, but adds that there will be no drinking and driving, and that he knows how many bottles of wine are in his collection. Rich then says his dad used to give him beer to make him go to sleep.
Rich points out the bottle of champagne as being the drink of pimps. Treece states that champagne makes her do things (presumably meant sexually), with Cammy reminding her that water also makes her do things, but Treece says not regular water. Denis then goes to open the bottle, but cuts his hand on it before the cork hits him in the face, knocking him off his chair and to the floor. Moments later, Treece says she wants beer, but Denis says his dad doesn't drink any of that, but says they have wine. Treece replies that wine makes her think of Jesus.
Beth asks Kevin if he's been doing coke and he says he isn't now.
Beth says that Kevin is afflicted by cocaine, speed and road rage.
Beth and Denis go into a convenience store to buy beer, with her asking what he likes and he lies, saying he likes it all. They then try buying that, with her using a fake I.D. When the young clerk won't sell it to her, she tries persuading him, eventually asking what if she kisses him so hard that every time he thinks about that, he'll have to change his underwear. She apparently does (not seen) as they then walk out with the beer. Treece says she couldn't have done that before having some beer, while Rich says he could have done that with the male clerk, adding that it would be the three-second rule. We then see all five teens drinking beer, with Beth opening a bottle with her teeth. Denis tries the same, but breaks off a tooth that he then chokes on before spitting it out against Beth's head (by accident).
Teens do a lot of drinking at a party where Rich and Denis hold drinks, but never have any as they try to leave quickly.
The five teens drink in a cabin in the woods.

BLOOD/GORE: Denis cuts his hand while trying to open a bottle of champagne (lots of blood, briefly seen).
Denis lands in some vegetation and has thorns in his face, with a little bit of bloody results.
Treece, Cammy and then Rich all say they have to pee so that they can leave Beth and Denis alone.
Treece and Cammy convince Rich to try to tip a cow, and they must avoid stepping in fresh cow patties on the ground. But Rich missteps and ends up with his foot in one, seen then and again later with it covering his shoe (prompting others to say he "pooped his shoes").
Rich has a red mark on his neck from where he says a cow bit him (not seen).
Denis' lip is bloody after Kevin punches him.
Denis has a bloody nose in Beth's car (from Kevin earlier hitting him), and she makes him put his head back, with him saying it's then dripping down his throat. Treece hands him two new tampons, and we then see him with them stuck up his nose, with some blood soaked into them.

DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE: Although nervous about doing so, Denis doesn't pull any punches in saying what he thinks about certain classmates. That includes saying Rich should just accept that he's gay, that Greg is a dumb moron and "asshole" who was probably sexually abused, a certain girl is a "stuck-up bitch," and that Kevin is a "creepy loser" who hangs around high school girls.
Some viewers may take offense at a running gag throughout the film where everyone thinks or comments on Rich being gay, but he repeatedly denies that (including saying "No soy homo").
A teacher or principal tell Denis he shouldn't take heterosexual advise from Rich (since everyone thinks he's gay).
Kevin is a psychotic bully who repeatedly wants to beat up Denis, and his goon buddies assist him on that quest.
Denis' dad gives him and Rich a bottle of champagne for their post-graduation party, but adds that there will be no drinking and driving, and that he knows how many bottles of wine are in his collection. Rich then says his dad used to give him beer to make him go to sleep.
Beth mentions something about date rape charges or allegations against Kevin.
Rich mentions something about someone being "retarded," with Beth saying her brother is "retarded." The boys think she's serious until they realize she isn't, with Rich saying she probably doesn't even have a brother. She says she did, but he died, and the boys laugh from thinking she's joking until they realize she isn't.
Kevin drives his Hummer through a row of flowers along the curb.
While driving without lights, Beth accidentally sideswipes Denis' parents' car. After seeing who it is, the teens then drive off without identifying themselves.
We see the male gym teacher at a teen party, standing close by a teen girl bent over while playing billiards. He then doesn't stop a pending fight between Kevin and Denis (and calls them "ladies"), but instead simply lays down the ground rules (including "no sissy stuff").
Beth sees Kevin nuzzling on a girl's neck at a party, prompting her to tell him he should get himself tested for gonorrhea, while he tells her to get her cute little butt in his car.
Despite having a key and previous permission to use it, Beth, her friends and the guys then trespass at night after graduating.

FRIGHTENING SCENES: Scenes listed under "Violence" may be unsettling and/or suspenseful to younger viewers and/or those with low tolerance levels for such material, but probably few others as most of it's played for one form or another of comedy.
Cows stampede toward Rich, Treece and Cammy (played for comedy).
A raccoon suddenly bares its teeth and chases Beth and Denis back to her car (played for comedy).

GUNS/WEAPONS: We briefly see sword fight footage from an old movie.
Rich plays around with a shotgun while acting out certain scenes from movies (with it accidentally pointing toward Treece and Cammy, but nothing ever happens).

IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR: Phrases: "What the F?" (said just like that), "He's on our sh*t list," "Oh sh*t," "Sh*tty," "Sure as sh*t could," "Sh*t my panties" (not literal), "Dip-sh*t," "That's such bullsh*t," "I loved you from behind," "Don't be such a p*ssy, p*ssy," "Dude," "I'm a stuck-up bitch," "I'm a big dumb moron," "I'm a big ol' asshole," "Purple nurples," "Some kind of creepy loser," "Losers," "No soy homo," "Sorry your dad's such a d*ck," "Puberty has done nothing but screw me," "Retarded," "GPS that, asshole," "Radio sucks," "Something is really wrong with you," "Stepmom bitch," "What the hell was that?" "He pooped his shoes," "Gay dynamic duo," "Whack-job," "Hell no," "Ladies" (men), "No sissy stuff," "Shut up" and "Always ass-kicking."
Teen drinking occurs in various scenes.
Rich is always noting from what popular movies certain sayings come.
Treece sees that Rich is holding a row of packaged condoms and says they're party balloons. Rich starts to correct her, but she says she knows and starts to blow one up like a balloon.
Kevin drives his Hummer through a row of flowers along the curb.
We see that Beth is a bad driver now (swerving, speeding, going through stop signs and such, etc.), and in flashback footage of her in driver's ed where she runs over cones and into things, etc.
Beth tries buying beer with a fake I.D. and then ends up kissing the young clerk (not seen) to persuade him to break the rules.
Beth opens a bottle with her teeth. Denis tries the same, but breaks off a tooth that he then chokes on before spitting it out against Beth's head (by accident).
Beth drives down a road through the woods without any headlights.
Beth steals Kevin's Hummer, drives it through a wall and window, and then parks it diagonally up some steps at school.
Despite having a key and previous permission to use it, Beth, her friends and the guys then trespass at night after graduating.
Rich plays around with a shotgun while acting out certain scenes from movies (with it accidentally pointing toward Treece and Cammy, but nothing ever happens).
Cammy has a small tattoo on her wrist, while one of Kevin's goons seems to have one on his arm.
Coming to Denis' rescue, Rich repeatedly hits Kevin and two of his goons with a rolled up and/or wet towel that he snaps into their faces and clothed crotches.

JUMP SCENES: None.

MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE): Some playfully done chase music is briefly heard in the film.

MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE): We hear a song with the lyric "Feels like the first time."
Other songs had lyrics that we couldn't fully hear and/or understand, thus presenting the possibility of them potentially containing something objectionable.
A song includes a lyric about not being a one-night stand.

PROFANITY: At least 1 "f" word (with another said as "F"), 13 "s" words, 3 slang terms using male genitals ("d*ck," "boner" and "chubby"), 2 using female ones ("p*ssy"), 1 possible one for sex ("hook up"), 6 asses (5 used with "hole"), 3 hells, 1 S.O.B., 7 uses of "Oh my God," 5 of "G-damn" and 2 of "God."

SEX/NUDITY: Rich tells Denis that if he doesn't tell Beth how he feels about her, the next time he sees her will be at their 10th reunion where she'll be pregnant, baking someone else's DNA.
As Denis publically states his love for Beth during his commencement speech, he talks of previously doing so without her knowing that, such as "I loved you from behind" (innuendo on the part of the film).
About why Greg acts as a bully, Denis states that he was probably sexually abused as a kid (and Greg later admits that's true).
We see a flashback to a school principal or teacher in her teen years in the back seat of a convertible. A guy is nuzzling on her neck, goes down her body (out of the camera view) and lifts up her shirt, only to state, "Your nipples are so weird" (embarrassing her then and now in the present when she thinks back on that).
Beth removes her graduation robe, revealing her dressed in small/tight cut-offs and a tank-top that shows cleavage.
As Kevin leaves, he makes a gesture of cutting off what would appear to be Denis' penis.
We briefly see a flashback to sword fight footage from an old movie, followed by young Rich telling young Denis that they should recreate that scene but with their "boners."
We see Denis shirtless as he tries to air out his shirt.
After his mom checks to see if Denis is still wearing his childish underwear (pulling his pants out and pulling up the briefs), his dad says he probably shouldn't wear that because if he happens to get lucky (sex), those briefs could be a deal breaker. His mom then adds that no one is getting lucky under her watch.
Denis' dad tells him and Rich that he has condoms in his bedside table (referring to the post-graduation party the boys are holding at the house), but adds that they're not toys. After the parents leave, Denis can't believe it and says he thinks his dad wants them to have sex. Rich wonders if he means the two of them, but Denis says no. Rich then asks about Denis' parents still using condoms and wonders if they're lubed, but Denis doesn't want to discuss any of that.
We see slow motion footage of Beth and her friends getting out of their car and walking toward Denis and Rich, with Beth and Treece showing abundant cleavage.
Rich points out a bottle of champagne as being the drink of pimps. Treece states that champagne makes her do things (presumably meant sexually), with Cammy reminding her that water also makes her do things, but Treece says not regular water. As Denis then goes to open the bottle that's between his legs near his crotch, Beth states she wants some of that (some innuendo on the part of the film).
We see Rich finding condoms in Denis' dad's bedside table.
After Denis is hit in the face and knocked to the floor by a champagne cork, Beth straddles him on the floor, holding frozen waffles to his face (and showing some cleavage). She then asks how that feels, but then looks down toward their apparently touching (but clothed) crotch areas and smiles when saying, "Pretty good, I guess."
Treece sees that Rich is holding a row of packaged condoms and says they're party balloons. Rich starts to correct her, but she says she knows and starts to blow one up like a balloon.
After falling from a roof and landing hard on the ground, Rich complains that he's a paralyzed virgin, with Denis stating that such people can have sex as he saw that in a documentary.
We hear a song with the lyric "Feels like the first time" as we see a parked car with Denis' parents inside, lying down and fooling around (clothed). His cell phone starts to vibrate from an incoming call, and she says he's vibrating, with him suggestively replying, "You bet I am." When they don't recognize the number, he puts the phone down the front of her pants where she enjoys the vibrations.
Beth swerves her car, thus causing Denis' head to fall into her lap. We then see his close-up point of view up her short skirt, showing her panty-covered crotch where the word "Hello" is printed.
Sarcastically talking about herself in the third person, Beth says she's the kind of girl who wouldn't "hook up" with some loser.
While driving without lights, Beth accidentally sideswipes Denis' parents' car. His dad then comes out, pants around his ankles, while his mom comes out and adjusts her dress (no nudity for either). Treece tells Denis the situation could be worse as it could be someone other than his mom.
We briefly see teenage girls in bikinis at a pool party.
Beth says the teen host of a party is by now usually upstairs with a guy.
We see the male gym teacher at a teen party, standing close by a teen girl bent over while playing billiards.
There's brief talk by Denis and Rich about them being called the gay dynamic duo, with some mention of the word penis and such.
Beth sees Kevin nuzzling on a girl's neck at a party, prompting her to tell him he should get himself tested for gonorrhea, while he tells her to get her cute little butt in his car.
Beth and her two friends do a sexy cheer (with sashaying hips, etc.) for Denis and Rich, including asking, "Can you feel it?" during that. The girls then state they're off to the shower, with Rich saying that's an invite for him and Denis to join them, but the latter doesn't believe that. Rich then rushes off to join them, with Denis tentatively entering the locker room to find the girls in just towels (there's a brief and partial side view of Treece's bare breast). Denis is embarrassed and can't believe his eyes, especially when Beth drops her towel in front of him (thus showing her full frontal nudity, while we only see her bare back). They head into the shower (with Cammy telling the guys to "come get wet"), with Rich running in there wearing just his boxers. Denis then prepares to join them, removing his pants. When they're pulled out from under his arm, he thinks it's Beth and states she's in for a treat as he read one of his mom's women's magazines and now knows how to please her (sexually), but it's Kevin and not Beth. Later, we see Rich in just a towel as he battles Kevin and his goons.
Beth states that guys say they love her because they want something (meaning sex). Later, Denis comments on so many guys who'd love to be with her (meaning as a couple), with her sarcastically replying, "Yeah, for a night."
Beth says Denis smells bad and thus has him remove his shirt so that she can air it out (holding it out the car window). But she drops that, and he gets out to search for it, but he's only in his boyish boxers, prompting the others to laugh about that view.
Rich tells Treece and Cammy that he isn't gay, prompting Cammy to ask why he didn't have a "chubby" while in the shower with them and Beth. He says he was just being cool, with one of them saying no guy is that cool. Cammy then says that he's never been with a woman as the two teens come on to him, including both licking opposite sides of an ice cream sandwich and then starting to unbutton his shirt. He states he has no condoms, with Cammy saying Treece does, and the latter confirms that she has many.
We next see all three of them in bed, with Rich in the middle, shirtless, while the girls are under the sheets, presumably nude, and not that happy. Cammy states "that was expedient," with Treece saying that at least they know he's not gay. Rich and Cammy then start talking about school, with Treece feeling jealous and stating, "Hello, it was a three-some."
Beth wonders if Denis is still in love with her (after learning who she really is), sarcastically adding if she's everything he masturbated to.
Denis and Beth briefly kiss, and she later plants a kiss on him again.
Rich tells Denis he thinks he's gay, prompting Denis to hug him (for finally accepting that), but Rich says he isn't gay for him, followed by adding that he (Rich) could be "bi" (bisexual).

SMOKING: None.

TENSE FAMILY SCENES: About why Greg acts as a bully, Denis states that he was probably sexually abused as a kid (and Greg later admits that's true).
Rich states his dad gave him a bill for around a quarter of a million dollars (the cost for raising him), and Rich is amazed that his dad was even paying attention.
Rich mentions something about someone being "retarded," with Beth saying her brother is "retarded." The boys think she's serious until they realize she isn't, with Rich saying she probably doesn't even have a brother. She says she did, but he died, and the boys laugh from thinking she's joking until they realize she isn't.
Treece comments on her stepmom "bitch."
After Denis asks, Beth states that her brother was already sick when she was born and then died when she was just two.

TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT: How teens view their lives, past, present and future.
Teenagers, sex, and other sexual behavior.
About why Greg acts as a bully, Denis states that he was probably sexually abused as a kid (and Greg later admits that's true).
Dealing with bullies at school and elsewhere.
Denis states that puberty has done nothing but "screw" him.
The notion of carpe diem.
The comment that you're not alive if you're not living.
Beth states that guys say they love her because they want something (meaning sex). Later, Denis comments on so many guys who'd love to be with her (meaning as a couple), with her sarcastically replying, "Yeah, for a night."
Beth thinking her best years are behind her and that she's in store for an ordinary life.

VIOLENCE: Kevin grabs Denis and then chokes him with the ribbon of the medal around his neck. He then pushes him to the ground where he steps down on his chest until a school authority stops that. As Kevin leaves, he makes a gesture of cutting off what would appear to be Denis' penis.
We briefly see sword fight footage from an old movie.
Denis cuts his hand while trying to open a bottle of champagne (lots of blood, briefly seen) and the cork then pops out and hits him in the face, knocking him off his chair and to the floor.
Kevin drives his Hummer through a row of flowers along the curb.
Kevin and a goon come after Denis in a menacing fashion in Denis' home. That includes breaking a large vase, throwing bottles against the wall, and Kevin throwing a microwave oven at both boys who duck out of the way as it hits and wedges into the wall. They then flee upstairs, with Rich hiding in the closet and Kevin preparing to defend himself against Kevin -- who punches a wall photo of Denis and then pounds on and then kicks open the door -- with a prop light saber. Kevin then breaks the arms off a full-size human skeleton and uses them like nunchuckas to attack Denis, repeatedly hitting him with them. Rich runs and jumps out the window, while Kevin pins Denis against the wall and is about to punch him when Beth hits Kevin over the head with the skull from that skeleton. Denis then goes out the window to find Rich hanging from the gutter, only to have the downspout pull away and he and it fall and hit the ground hard. Denis then either falls or jumps from the roof and lands hard as well, this time in some sort of barbed vegetation that leaves some thorns in his face. Denis then runs out in the street where Beth swerves to try avoid hitting him, but does anyway, knocking him across the street.
Beth opens a bottle with her teeth. Denis tries the same, but breaks off a tooth that he then chokes on before spitting it out against Beth's head (by accident).
While driving without lights, Beth accidentally sideswipes Denis' parents' car. His dad then comes out, pants around his ankles, while his mom comes out and adjusts her dress (no nudity for either). Treece tells Denis the situation could be worse as it could be someone other than his mom. The teens then drive off without identifying themselves.
Greg grabs Denis and takes him off into an empty room, making Denis think he's going to be hit. But Greg confides that Denis was correct about his past and just wants some consolation.
Kevin's goons grab Rich and then Denis, pushing the latter around among them. Kevin then prepares to fight Denis who doesn't want to participate, but Kevin punches him in the face anyway, bloodying his lip. Greg then comes to Denis' defense, tackling Kevin, clotheslining two other goons, and elbowing the school's male gym teacher in the face. Kevin then repeatedly kicks Greg backwards until he seems defeated, but Beth drives Kevin's hummer through the wall and window to rescue Denis. With Kevin distracted, Greg then punches him in the face.
Kevin grabs and hits Denis, and then tries to stomp down on him as Denis scoots backwards along a locker room bench. Rich then comes to his rescue, repeatedly hitting Kevin and two of his goons with a rolled up and/or wet towel that he snaps into their faces and clothed crotches. During this, we see a flashback to when young kids cornered young Rich and did the same to him, thus leading to his proficiency with a rolled up and/or wet towel.

Reviewed July 6, 2009 / Posted July 10, 2009

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