Kids in America (film)

Kids in America is a 2005 American comedy film[1] directed by Josh Stolberg. It was written by Andrew Shaifer and Stolberg. The film is inspired by real events. It received negative reviews from film critics, and was a box office bomb.[2]

For other uses, see Kids in America (disambiguation).
Kids in America
Theatrical release poster
Directed byJosh Stolberg
Produced byAndrew Shaifer
Written byJosh Stolberg
Andrew Shaifer
StarringGregory Smith
Stephanie Sherrin
Distributed byScreen Media Films
Rainstorm Entertainment
Launchpad Releasing
Slowhand Cinema
Release date
  • October 21, 2005 (2005-10-21)
Running time
91 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$750,000
Box office$537,667

Plot

Inspired by real events,[3] Kids In America is a teen comedy about a diverse group of high school kids who band together to peacefully stand for their personal rights and dignity. Holden Donovan and his love interest, Charlotte Pratt, are fed up with Principal Donna Weller, who goes to great lengths to stop the students from enjoying their right to free expression, such as suspending Monica Rose for wearing condoms on her outfit to promote safe sex during Spirit Week and suspending Lawrence Reitzer for kissing another guy in the hallway. Meanwhile, she's running for State School Superintendent, which, if elected, will afford her the power to practice her brand of administration beyond Booker High School. Holden himself is suspended and ultimately expelled for speaking out publicly against Weller, to whom he says, "You're nothing but a politician".

The students have an ally, Mr. Will Drucker, one of their teachers who encourages them to fight for their rights. He pays a price for his position and is fired by Principal Weller. He decides to use his dismissal to make a change of his own, using his new-found free time to produce a documentary chronicling the experiences of students who are faced with similar issues. Holden befriends a group of teens, including libertarian Charlotte Pratt, voyeuristic punk-rock fan Chuck McGinn, cheerleader Katie Carmichael, Chinese-American Emily Chua, homosexual Lawrence Reitzer, African-American Walanda Jenkins, cheerleader Kelly Stepford, founder of the school's celibacy society Monica Rose, cheerleader Ashley Harris, and goth chick Dementia. Together, they engage in civil disobedience, passing out condoms and staging walk-outs, and organize the student body to take on Principal Weller and make a real change at Booker High. Due to their efforts, Weller loses the election and subsequently quits her job.

Cast

Students
  • Gregory Smith as Holden Donovan
  • Stephanie Sherrin as Charlotte Pratt
  • Chris Morris as Chuck McGinn
  • Caitlin Wachs as Katie Carmichael
  • Emy Coligado as Emily Chua
  • Alex Anfanger as Lawrence Reitzer
  • Crystal Celeste Grant as Walanda Jenkins
  • Nicole Richie as Kelly Stepford
  • Rosalie Ward as Monica Rose
  • Genevieve Cortese as Ashley Harris
  • Rakefet Abergel as Goth Girl
  • Damien Luvara as Rick Garcia
  • Marcella Lentz-Pope as Elizabeth Goings
  • Raymond Braun as Mo Williams

Faculty and staff

Parents

Inspiration

This film was inspired by true events. Three students in particular are interviewed at the end of the film, including:

  • Lanessa Riobe of Osceola High School, who was suspended for taping condoms to her shirt in order to promote safe sex,[4]
  • Natalie “Nicky” Young, who was suspended for wearing a shirt proclaiming, “Barbie is a Lesbian,”[5] and
  • Rachel Boim, who was suspended for writing a story about a girl experiencing a violent dream.[6]

Soundtrack

The movie contains the following songs:

References
  1. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0408961/
  2. http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1152189-kids_in_america/
  3. http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/kids-in-america-2005
  4. "Osceola Girl Suspended For Safer-sex Message". Orlando Sentinel. 2003. Retrieved 2013-11-23.
  5. "Teen sues over 'lesbian Barbie' shirt ban". CNN.com. 2003. Retrieved 2013-11-23.
  6. "My So-Called Life". reason.com’s Hit & Run Blog. 2003. Retrieved 2013-11-23.
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