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School for Scoundrels Review

Release Date: Sep 29, 2006
Rated: language, crude and sexual content, and some violence
Runtime: 1 hr. 40 min.
Genres: Comedy
Director:Todd Phillips
Cast:Billy Bob Thornton, Jon Heder, Jacinda Barrett, Michael Clarke Duncan, Luis Guzman. Full cast + crew

Movies.com Critics

3.5

Dave White Profile <h3>Dave White</h3> <p><strong>Your Movies.com Man at the Multiplex</strong></p> <br /> <p>Dave White's first movie review was of the animated feature Snoopy Come Home. He was seven years old...<a href="http://www.movies.com/movie-reviews/dave-white">Read full profile</a></p>

50% funny, 50% lame. Read full review

Other Critics provided by Metacritic.com

Critics scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

3.0

44

out of 100

Metascore^®
Mixed or average reviews
based on a weighted average of all
critic review scores.
25

out of 100

USA Today Claudia Puig
School for Scoundrels will only leave you scratching your head in bewilderment and might possibly shave off IQ points.

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30

out of 100

The New York Times Manohla Dargis
Billy Bob Thornton's leer is much in evidence in the shoddy comedy School for Scoundrels, though the tackiness of the film, its lazy direction and its self-satisfied stupidity may mean that Mr. Thornton curled his lip about the production rather than for it.

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50

out of 100

Entertainment Weekly Lisa Schwarzbaum
Director Todd Phillips tries for the kind of frat slaphappiness he applied so successfully to "Old School," but these boys are less scoundrels than individual salesmen for the brands of Heder and Thornton.

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50

out of 100

Variety Robert Koehler
Picture seemed certain to either fly high on outrageous humor or crash under the weight of tastelessness. Instead, the movie just sits there and never comes alive.

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50

out of 100

The Hollywood Reporter Sheri Linden
An inert and muddled mash-up of romantic comedy and theater of stupid cruelty.

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70

out of 100

Los Angeles Times
This is a modest education-of-a-punching-bag entertainment with a kind of breezily rude compatibility -- a hallmark of sorts for both co-writer/director Todd Phillips ("Road Trip," "Starsky & Hutch") and the wonderful actor assigned to play the self-help instructor from hell, Billy Bob Thornton.

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See all School for Scoundrels reviews at Metacritic.com

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For Families provided by Common Sense Media

Iffy for 13+

Dismal comedy about nerds trying to be cool.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this movie isn't suitable for kids -- plus, it's just not a very good movie. It's got everything going against it -- foul language, poor behavior, crude humor, and slapstick violence that's so not-funny that it really isn't funny. Save your hard-earned dollars for something better. That said, because Jon Heder (Napoleon Dynamite) stars, kids will be begging to see it. So please take some time to talk about the movie with your kids so you can add your two cents.

Families can talk about constructive ways to improve confidence and self-esteem. What tools and behavioral techniques might be helpful? What should you do if someone you trust turns out to be a jerk? Why is it never OK to make fun of other people? What should you do if you see others being made fun of?

The good stuff

Messages: Geez, where to begin. This movie includes disrespectful behavior, going behind others' backs for your own gain, making fun of others' shortcomings, and physical and verbal abuse. A character is also shown peeing (no nudity).

What to watch for

Violence: A violent paintball game and tennis game are played for laughs; characters are attacked by other characters; someone's head gets pushed into a toilet; lots of slapstick comedy with hitting, shoving, slapping, and mace-spraying. Assorted things are shot at guys' groins. References to guys being (possibly) raped by a large man.
Sex: Flirting, kissing. A character draws a crude picture of a breast.
Language: "F--k" (one instance); "s--t," "goddamn," "a--hole" (all numerous); "hell," "damn," "tits," "ass," "sucks," and "retard."
Consumerism: Penn and Babolar sports equipment; references to Chicken Soup for the Soul and Tony Robbins seminars; NYC Parking Bureau.
Drinking, drugs and smoking: Some smoking and drinking.

Common Sense Media

An independent nonprofit dedicated to providing families the information they need to help kids thrive in a world of media and technology.

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Fan Reviews provided by

Average Rating: 3.045

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