School For Scoundrels parents guide

School For Scoundrels Parent Guide

Overall D

A young man (Jon Heder) who is devoid of self-confidence enrolls in a mysterious school intended to pump up his personality. Under the tutelage of Dr. P (Billy Bob Thornton), he and the other students engage in acts of vandalism, womanizing, elder abuse and subject themselves to the possibility of homosexual rape--in order to become "real" men.

Release date September 28, 2006

Violence C+
Sexual Content C
Profanity D
Substance Use B

Why is School For Scoundrels rated PG-13? The MPAA rated School For Scoundrels PG-13 for language, crude and sexual content, and some violence.

Parent Movie Review

When Jon Heder made his screen debut in Napoleon Dynamite, there was a rousing cheer of “Yesssss” emanating from the many disenfranchised teens that finally found a role model they could relate to. Unfortunately, that enthusiastic positive praise may deflate into a hissing “Nooooo” after checking out this film.

The setup has a young man named Roger (Heder) working as a parking bylaw enforcer—a job his friends call a “meter maid.” Definitely devoid of self-confidence, he gets roughed up after writing tickets, picked on by the guys at work, and can barely speak to Amanda (Jacinda Barrett) who lives in the apartment down the hall. Even his volunteer effort of being a Big Brother ends up in heartache after his “little” asks to be placed with a different “big.”

When a friend gives him a tip to enroll in a mysterious school that will pump up his personality, the desperate twenty-something feels it’s his only hope. Passing $5,000 in an envelope to a huge guy named Lesher (Michael Clarke Duncan), Roger finds himself ushered into a classroom full of other “nice” guys. Under the “care” of their tutor, Dr. P (Billy Bob Thornton), the group of aspiring self-esteem builders are soon forced to stand up for themselves, or be mowed over.

What begins as a funny premise quickly erodes into one of the more mean-spirited films to make its way onto the big screen. Suggesting the definition of a real man includes being confrontational, “dangerous,” having a desire to get drunk and willing to take any opportunity for sex; this movie seems determined to leave a very negative impression on young audiences.

The screenplay also promotes some other bad habits such as, smashing car windows at random, being cruel to elderly people (one character dumps Jello in the face of a nursing home resident), disregarding safety rules (during a paintball sequence the guys exchange point blank shots while not wearing any protective gear), stealing and causing other property damage—all in an effort to enlarge their egos. Language is no better, with frequent profanities, terms of deity, and discussions of homosexual rape.

Perhaps we should have seen the writing on the wall, as the script was penned and directed by Todd Phillips, whose past credits include other infamous comedies like Old School and Starsky & Hutch. But just in case you assumed this film (which doesn’t even attempt to offer a redeeming wrap-up message) would provide more benign Napoleon-like entertainment, be warned this School For Scoundrels deserves a failing grade.

Starring Jon Heder, Billy Bob Thornton. Theatrical release September 28, 2006. Updated

School For Scoundrels
Rating & Content Info

Why is School For Scoundrels rated PG-13? School For Scoundrels is rated PG-13 by the MPAA for language, crude and sexual content, and some violence.

In an attempt to teach a group of men self-confidence, this school advocates doing illegal and mean things to innocent people and to fellow students. Acts depicted include destroying personal property, elder abuse, starting fights on a subway, and verbally demeaning other people. Sexual abuse is also present, when a man—in the role of a teacher of adults—has a group of his male pupils remove their pants and kneel on the ground. Later, there is discussion of this man raping other male members of his class. Language consists of frequent mild, moderate and sexual expletives along with crude sexual remarks and terms of deity. There is also a paintball scene where the guns are used in a very careless and unsafe manner.

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School For Scoundrels Parents' Guide

What character traits do you think are important for men to have? Is it possible to exhibit self-confidence without demeaning others?

Home Video

The most recent home video release of School For Scoundrels movie is February 12, 2007. Here are some details…

School for Scoundrels is being released to DVD in both the Rated theatrical edition and an Unrated edition. Both of these versions are available in either wide or full screen.

Related home video titles:

Jon Heder’s breakout role in the indie film Napoleon Dynamite depicts a nerdish teen that finds a way to dance to the beat of his own drum. In the movie Hitch, a “Date Doctor” helps men with low confidence find the courage to ask out the women of their dreams. A nice guy, who always seems to finish last, gets a chance at romance in the film Marty.