Tim Timmerman could earn a cult following

Movie Title:   Tim Timmerman, Hope of America

Grade:  B+

Rating:  PG-13, 94 minutes

In a Nutshell:  Brought to us from the clever peeps at VidAngel Studios, Picture Picture, and Purdie Distribution, this quirky film will take you back to high school in the 1990’s and make you laugh out loud.

Considering it only opened in Utah theaters (to sell-out crowds, mind you!), it has already earned a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.  Director Cameron Sawyer presents a fun family flick that is loosely based on his own life.  Test-screening audiences have described the film as Ferris Bueller's Day Off meets Napoleon Dynamite.  That actually does describe it pretty well!  I love both of those silly celluloids!  If the filmmakers of Tim Timmerman continue to win awards and fill seats in theaters, this movie could earn itself a cult following.

Uplifting theme: 

• “Knowledge is power, dude.” – Garrett Stubbs
• “Time heals all wounds.” – Bill Clinton 
• Actions have consequences.
• Friendship, loyalty
• Persistence, focused determination
• Service

Things I liked:

• Eddie Perino is fantastic as the charming slacker Tim Timmerman.  Even though Tim Timmerman has a lot of flaws, he is adorable and extremely likeable.  I'd like to see Eddie Perino in more films.  You may have discovered him in Disney XD's "Lab Rats."
• Chelsea Maidhof is lovely as Sydney Anderson.  She and Eddie Perino find an innocent chemistry together that is so charming.
• I love that the movie features a deaf girl.  You get to learn how the Telecommunications Relay Service works.  The first time I had to make a phone call with that service, I was so confused!  I thought it was so endearing when Tim strikes up a friendly relationship with the TRS operator, like he did with everyone.
• The Assassins League running gag of the guy with the toy pellet gun chasing Tim around was awesome and hilarious.  I wish my high school had that when I was a teenager!
• Correct me if I’m wrong, but wasn’t the girl who sings a patriotic song in one of the scenes Aaliyah Rose?  She recently got a three-chair turn from the judges on The Voice!
• Keep watching until after the rolling credits at the end for a funny glimpse at what happens one year later.  I love it when movies include that.
• The movie’s website includes a list of the characters, along with their favorite bands, foods, and hobbies.  Hilarious.  www.timtimmermanmovie.com
• "Save Tim Timmerman campaign" ala Ferris Bueller's Day Off.  ha ha

Things I didn’t like:

• I didn’t like how Tim smugly uses people, but I was impressed by his focused ambition.
• There is some reckless, dangerous, and even illegal behavior that parents won’t want their kids getting any crazy ideas from.
• Inappropriate flirting of a female teacher to a male student.
• I would have liked to see them do something more with the theme "Hope of America" since that was in the film's title.  There's actually an award called "Hope of America" for service and leadership organizations.
• Wait, wasn't Tim Timmerman a real guy who played baseball?
• There's a slam on Salt Lake Community College.

Things that really take you back in time to the 1990’s:

• Pagers
• Instamatic camera
• Cassette tape
• Walkman CD
• President Clinton
• Tab
• Boom box
• Girl overalls
• Flannel

Funny lines:

• “Fetch!” – Tim Timmerman
• “Did you guys see that white suit?  Crisp!” – Garrett Stubbs

Tips for parents: 

• You’ll want to talk to your kids about how they should NOT ride on top of a moving car, leave a dead animal in the hall at school, etc.
• Teens make out in a van.
• Other than the few items I listed above in things I didn’t like, this film is very family-friendly.
• Point out to your kids how Tim prevents his friends from smoking marijuana.  Nice job Tim!  (Just don't put their joint in your pocket.)
• Thank you for the lack of profanity!

@trinaboice 

Fist Fight showcases the worst of American high school

Movie Title:    Fist Fight

Grade:  D for don't waste your time on this garbage

Rating: R, 1 hour 31 minutes

In a Nutshell:   #TeacherFight

This filthy movie features about 947,633 moments of profanity, bullying, drug-use, porn, and a huge variety of inappropriate and lewd behavior by high school teens AND adults. 

Uplifting theme: 

• “It takes courage to grow up and to become who you really are.”   e.e.cummings
• “Words are always going to matter.” – English teacher
• “Actions have consequences.” – Ron Strickland (Ice Cube)
• As I always tell my 4 sons, “Be. A. Man.”
• If you don't stand up for yourself, who will?

Things I liked:

• Andy Campbell is the perfect wuss.
• Jillian Bell is hilarious, but inappropriate 99% of the time.
• Christina Hendrick smolders, as always.
• Occasionally funny pranks.  I was Senior class president of my high school and planned an awesome Senior Prank.  I sent home letters to all the parents of seniors, explaining that the students would have a particular day off school for some legitimate-sounding reason, forging the principal's signature.

Things I didn’t like:

• There has to be premise for the fight, but Ron Strickland (Ice Cube) throws a temper tantrum in a classroom, destroys school property, and then picks a fight with another teacher.
• Tracy Morgan always plays the same character in everything.  I walked past him in an airport once and said, "Hey!"  He answered back, "Hey yourself."
• I hate the expression “Snitches have stitches.”  I’ve heard students say that before.  It encourages the lack of consequences. 
• I hated the talent show where little elementary school student Ally (Alexa Nisenson) drops a million F-bombs.  NOT adorable.
• I chuckled a few times, but it’s mostly not funny.
• Ice Cube was good, but he pretty much plays the same character in everything he does too: tough, scary guy matched up with a weasely light-weight who plays the comic relief.

Funny lines:

• “No meth period.” – Andy

“When I’m on my period, don’t do it?  That’s when I need it the most.” – Holly

“Holly, this has got to stop!” – Andy

“Cuz it’s a gateway?” – Holly

“It’s the finish line!” – Andy

• “The guy’s a virtuoso.” – janitor

“That doesn’t seem so scary.” – Andy

“You didn’t see his eyes.” – janitor

• “Where do I get drugs?” – Andy

“You’re in a public high school in the United States of America. There couldn’t be a better place to get drugs.” – Holly

• “Whoever dies first haunts the school!” – Holly 

Tips for parents: 

• This is a true Rated R movie that is not family-friendly viewing.
• Tons and tons of profanity.
• Tons of inappropriate images of porn, underage sex talk, and masturbation.
• It makes American high school look like it’s filled with complete drug & porn addicted delinquents.

@trinaboice 

The DUFF makes you glad you're not a teen anymore

Movie:  The DUFF

PG-13, 1 hour 41 minutes

Grade: B

In a Nutshell:  Teenagers have always lived in the world of bullying and underdog struggles for greatness, but this movie takes a modern tech, funny look at YOLO cyber terrorists.  Based on the book by Kody Keplinger, it gives hope for teens currently in high school, struggling to survive it.  If you’ve already graduated, it makes you feel grateful you don’t have to do it again.

By the way, DUFF stands for "Designated Ugly Fat Friend."

Uplifting Theme:

·         “Believe. Retrieve. Achieve. Just don’t conceive.”  - Dottie

·         “When you become proactive, your problems become subtractive.” – Dottie

·         “When I went to school in the 90’s, we didn’t have emoticons.  We had actual facial expressions.” – teacher

·         Self-acceptance
-   "Only you can define yourself." - Bianca
-   "Honey, you're weird.  So?  Own it!  Be the best weirdo you can be." - Dottie

Things I liked:

·         I love Allison Janney in anything.  

·         Mae Whitman does a good job as a snarky underdog with teenage angst.
-    Clever rolling credits at the end.

Things I didn’t like:

·         I’m a big The Walking Dead: Season 1 fan, but how can Bianca possibly get a good night’s rest with those gross zombie posters on her bedroom wall?

·         The movie is a bit shallow and predictable, like some of the teens in it.
-     It's pretty sad how teenagers can be so cruel to each other.  

Funny lines:

·         “Irregardless.”  - Wesley

“Not a word.” - Bianca

(True.  I’m such a Grammar Nazi)

·         “We’re sizing up your strengths and weaknesses.” – Wesley

“And?” – Bianca

“You’re horrible.  I hope you like cats.” – Wesley

·         “J-date?  You’re not Jewish.” – Bianca

“I know.  That just makes me more exotic on the site.” – Dottie
- "I just thought of something funny and now no one's going to know."  - teen in hall after cell phones were taken away from the students.
- "You're racist against jocks.  You're jockcist." - Wesley

Terrible advice from teens:

·         “What happens in high school stays with us forever.  Most people don’t think so, but most people are losers.” – snobby girl

·         “No one’s making out if they’re 3 feet apart.” – Wesley
-    Pick-up line:  "I could tell from across the room we might be into each other.  Now that I'm here, I know.  your move."  - Wesley

·          

Tips for Parents:

·         A LOT of sex jokes, discussion about porn, and sexual acting out

·         A LOT of profanity. 

·         Teenage partying
-     The only F-bomb dropped in the movie comes out of the mouth of Bianca's MOM.
-     Two male teachers kiss during the rolling credits at the end.

If you like any of these below, then you're going to like the movie The DUFF: (Designated Ugly Fat Friend) :