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Kids in America (2005)

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All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 4.2/10
Reviews Counted: 35
Fresh: 6 | Rotten: 29

No consensus yet.

Average Rating: 4.1/10
Critic Reviews: 17
Fresh: 3 | Rotten: 14

No consensus yet.

audience

liked it
Average Rating: 3.4/5
User Ratings: 7,206

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Movie Info

Teenagers stand up for their rights and take on the woman who wants to scuttle their freedoms in this comedy drama inspired by a true story. Principal Weller (Julie Bowen) is the ambitious but hard-headed leader of Booker High School. Weller plans to run for superintendent of her school district, and believes if she wants to win she needs to project the image of a no-nonsense leader, and with that in mind she begins cracking down on what she sees as discipline problems at Booker High. However,

PG-13, 1 hr. 29 min.

Documentary, Comedy

Directed By: Josh Stolberg

Written By: Andrew Shaifer, Josh Stolberg

In Theaters: Oct 21, 2005 Limited

On DVD: Mar 7, 2006

Box Office:$0.4M

Slow Hand Releasing

Kids in America Trailer & Photos

More Photos (14)

Cast

Gregory Smith
Holden Donovan
Stephanie Sherrin
Charlotte Pratt
Malik Yoba
Will Drucker
Julie Bowen
Principal Weller
Caitlin Wachs
Katie
Emy Coligado
Emily Young
Crystal Grant
Walanda Jenkins
Christopher Morris IV
Chuck
Alex Anfanger
Lawrence
Adam Arkin
Mr. Mumsford
George Wendt
Coach Thompson
Andrew Shaifer
Chip Stratton
Nicole Richie
Kelly Stepford
Rosanna Arquette
Abby Pratt
Elizabeth Perkins
Sondra Charmichael
Charles Shaughnessy
Sergeant Charmichael
W. Earl Brown
Boss McGinn
Kim Coles
Loretta Jenkins
Samantha Mathis
Jennifer Rose
Amy Hill
Mrs. Young
Michelle Phillips
Singer
Derrick Jones
Reporter #2
Ron Perkins
Murray Rietzer
Tim Griffin
Tony
Derek Webster
Police Officer #1
Suzanne Krull
Reporter #3
Jeff Chase
Asstistant Coach Fasso
Steven Rosenbaum
Security Guard
Damien Luvara
Rick Gracia
Antoinette Peragine
Tammy
Owen Williams
Cashier
Michael Tubbs
Guitarist
Genevieve Cortese
Ashley Harris
Leila Charles Leigh
Jane Jordan
Marcella Lentz-Pop
Elizabeth Goings
Justin Halliwell
Twan
Matthew Brent
Nat French
Raymond Braun
Teenage Stanley
Rakefet Abergel
Goth Kid
Rosalie Ward
Monica Rose
Eamon Roache
Police Officer #2
Mary Strong
Reporter #1
Steve Kim
Guitarist
Tim Spears
Johnny Estes
Guitarist
Charlie Paxson
Drummer
Jimmy Messer
Guitarist
Chris Morris
Crystal Celeste Grant

Critic Reviews for Kids in America

All Critics (38) | Top Critics (18) | Fresh (6) | Rotten (29)

What a wasted opportunity.

October 24, 2005 Full Review Source: Ebert & Roeper

| Comment

Richard Roeper

Ebert & Roeper

Top Critic

Would be easier to root for if it weren't so very pleased with itself.

October 21, 2005 Full Review Source: Variety

| Comment

Justin Chang

Variety

Top Critic

A feeble call to arms, and inept entertainment to boot.

October 21, 2005 Full Review Source: Orlando Sentinel

| Comment

Roger Moore

Orlando Sentinel

Top Critic

While a title card at the beginning of the picture says the story is inspired by true events, it really should read, 'Inspired by another film.'

October 21, 2005 Full Review Source: Newark Star-Ledger

| Comment

Lisa Rose

Newark Star-Ledger

Top Critic

Filmmaker Josh Stolberg claims to have been inspired by real-life events, but mostly he ineptly rips off other movies and wastes a cast that includes Rosanna Arquette, Adam Arkin and Elizabeth Perkins.

October 21, 2005 Comment

Lou Lumenick

New York Post

Top Critic

You get the exhausting feeling that Stolberg is desperately trying to prove how cool he is.

October 21, 2005 Full Review Source: New York Daily News

| Comment

Elizabeth Weitzman

New York Daily News

Top Critic

boy, does it kick goals! There's some real fun to be had here

September 12, 2006 Comment

Clint Morris

Moviehole

The cast keeps it watchable, but it's not a flick you'll remember for more than 45 minutes.

March 21, 2006 Full Review Source: DVDTalk.com

| Comment

Scott Weinberg

DVDTalk.com

Even after 18 years of seeing every movie that plays here, I'm still surprised by some films. I even gave this one conflicting ratings.

November 2, 2005 Full Review | Comment

Linda Cook

KWQC-TV (Iowa)

Why did anyone bother making a teen movie after Heathers? No, really, why?

October 28, 2005 Full Review Source: E! Online

| Comment

E! Online

For sheer nerve, I give it full marks, even if it can't quite overcome its limitations in other areas.

October 27, 2005 Full Review Source: Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

| Comment

Ken Hanke

Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

(They) let their political agenda blunt the laughs, or, conversely, let their comedic inclinations dilute the film's social message.

October 25, 2005 Full Review | Comment

Rob Thomas

Capital Times (Madison, WI)

Leaving the expression of 17 year-olds to the care of 35 year-old men is a good pathway to mediocrity, and a sure promise of insufferable, bogus screenwriting.

October 23, 2005 Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com

| Comment

Brian Orndorf

eFilmCritic.com

occasionally approaches a provocative topic... only to scurry back into the safety zone of slapstick and put-downs.

October 22, 2005 Full Review Source: Kalamazoo Gazette

| Comment

James Sanford

Kalamazoo Gazette

The screenplay tries to shake too many trees and ends up preaching - stabbing at straw men rather than taking the time to investigate problems with the education system.

October 22, 2005 Full Review Source: Arizona Daily Star

| Comment

Phil Villarreal

Arizona Daily Star

A muddled mess whose message gets lost in the confusion.

October 21, 2005 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide

| Comment

Angel Cohn

TV Guide's Movie Guide

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Kids in America

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As far as I'm concerned, Kids In America is very underrated. What you have here with this film is a comedy that exposes an important subject. People hate on this film because of the fact that Nicole Ritchie plays in this film. Well, her role I thought was so minimal that it really didn't bring anything memorable to the

July 14, 2011

Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski

Super Reviewer

Honestly I thought it was going to suck.. but there is a certain real edge to the movie that you don't find in the vast majority of "teen movies".. Most of the dialogue and characters are spot on, teens act like teens.. yet it still manages to be entertaining and humorous while carrying a message without caving and

June 23, 2007

Nick Grimm

Super Reviewer

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