Youth In Revolt parents guide

Youth In Revolt Parent Guide

If you are expecting a conclusion that somehow redeems this morally bankrupt little script, you are wrong.

Overall D+

Nick Twisp (Michael Cera) has only one goal in his teenaged life -- to lose his virginity. So he plots, plans and schemes to make this sacrifice on the altar of Sheeni Saunders (Portia Doubleday).

Release date January 8, 2010

Violence C+
Sexual Content D
Profanity D
Substance Use D

Why is Youth In Revolt rated R? The MPAA rated Youth In Revolt R for sexual content, language and drug use.

Run Time: 90 minutes

Official Movie Site

Parent Movie Review

With such a lofty title, one may wonder what has motivated the youth in this movie to revolt? Environmental issues? Starvation in the Third World? The rising price of music on iTunes?

Wrong on all counts. The reason behind 16-year-old Nick Twisp’s (Michael Cera) sudden change from being a reasonably nice kid to juvenile delinquent is that he is still a (gasp!) virgin. And if he doesn’t fix this problem before the end of high school, he’s convinced he’s a failure.

One morning, after another round of masturbation, he determines it’s time to change his life. Fortunately a free ride out of town is coming after his mother’s (Jean Smart) boyfriend Jerry (Zach Galifianakis) has to run from a group of Marines to whom he sold a lemon of a car. Arriving at Jerry’s country trailer, Nick meets one of the neighbors. Sheeni (Portia Doubleday) is another stressed out young girl who has everything she can do to tolerate her fanatically religious parents. In short order the hormone-saturated pair are swabbing each other with sun block on the beach and discussing sexual needs.

Sheeni’s family aside, it looks like Nick may finally solve his problem—until Jerry decides to return “home” and Nick must follow. Yet with the obsessive lust between these kids, either is willing to do anything to be together again. The pair manages to get Nick’s estranged father (Steve Buscemi) a job near Sheeni’s residence. Now the only thing left to figure out is how to get Nick kicked out of his house so he is forced to live with his Dad. That won’t be easy, because his mother depends on support payments for their income.

With Sheeni’s suggesting Nick learn to be “bad, real bad,” the teen hatches an alter ego—Francois (also played by Cera). Possibly the most creative element in the movie (and the first time we see Cera play a role other than the typecast one we’ve seen in all his other movies, such as Juno and Nick and Norah’s Infinite Play List), the cigarette smoking French dude helps Nick find his bad self. That begins with stealing Jerry’s car and trailer, along with a few extra gallons of gas in the back seat, and deliberately smashing the vehicles into a coffee shop causing a multi-million dollar blaze. While Nick manages to get away from the scene, the law is on his tail.

Although the hot situation does get the youth moved to his father’s home, Sheeni’s parents unexpectedly make arrangements to have their daughter attend a boarding school far away. Undeterred, Nick and a friend travel in a stolen car to Sheeni’s dorm and stay overnight with her and her roommate. The outcome is lots of sex for Nick’s buddy—but nothing for the sad virgin. Ever persistent, Nick hatches another plan to get Sheeni expelled (which involves having a fellow student secretly give her sleeping drugs).

If you are expecting a conclusion that somehow redeems this morally bankrupt little script, you are wrong again. Nick is found by the police, but his girl assures him that at the tender age of sixteen, the most he can expect for his crimes is three months in “juvi”. As for Nick’s original “problem,” lets just say he manages to reach his goal before the law comes pounding on the door.

Nor are the constant lying, stealing, arson, promiscuous behavior and message of only having to face a three-month-long consequence the total of the content concerns within this movie. It also includes extensive scenes of illegal drug use by teens and adults, frequent profanities and multiple uses of a sexual expletive.

These elements alone give Youth In Revolt a much-deserved R-rating in the United States, which begs the question: “Why make an R-rated film about teens that teens aren’t supposed to be able to see?” Whether or not the target audience lies their way into the theater, it’s a sure bet this epic will release to the home video market in an “unrated” version where adolescents will have ready access to it.

Directed by Miguel Arteta. Starring Michael Cera, Portia Doubleday, Ray Liotta. Running time: 90 minutes. Theatrical release January 8, 2010. Updated

Youth In Revolt
Rating & Content Info

Why is Youth In Revolt rated R? Youth In Revolt is rated R by the MPAA for sexual content, language and drug use.

The consumption of hallucinogenic mushrooms, marijuana, and tobacco by teens and adults, along with a teen boy’s decision to have sleeping pills placed in a girl’s drink each day to force her expulsion from school, are just a few of the issues parents will find in this film. In an attempt to get kicked out of his home, a teen steals a car and trailer, douses them in gasoline and crashes them into a business full of people. Other crimes are committed. A boy is punched. A teen couple plans to have sex throughout the film (the boy is concerned that he will leave high school still a virgin). A boy is heard masturbating, and a teen couple is heard having sex. Unmarried adults openly discuss their sexual activity. The script includes frank sexual discussions with sexual terms. A book shows explicit drawings of sexual positions—these are later animated during a hallucination sequence. At least 20 sexual expletives, along with other profanities, terms of deity and sexual slang terms are heard.

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Youth In Revolt Parents' Guide

What consequences are not found in this movie? Some areas to consider include damages resulting from crimes, personal relationships marred by impulsive decisions, drug dependencies and the possible ramifications of casual sex. Why is it so tempting for filmmakers to ignore these when making a movie like this? What age group will likely find this movie most appealing?

Home Video

The most recent home video release of Youth In Revolt movie is June 15, 2010. Here are some details…

Youth In Revolt is releasing on DVD and Blu-ray June 15, 2010.

Related home video titles:

Two youth revolt against the effects of poor parenting by their fathers and living below the poverty line when they form an unusual friendship in The Mighty. Another misfit teen finds friendship despite his quirky personality in Napoleon Dynamite.