Unlike the MPAA we do not assign
one
inscrutable rating based on age, but 3 objective ratings for SEX/NUDITY, VIOLENCE/GORE
and PROFANITY on a scale of 0 to 10, from lowest to highest,
depending on quantity and context.
In this British coming-of-age comedy/drama, a gay high
school boy explores his sexuality and falls in love with a fellow classmate who's the
object of all the girls' affections. With Ben Silverstone, Brad Gorton, Charlotte
Brittain, Stacey Hart, Kate McEnery, Patrick Nielsen, Tim Harris, Louise J. Taylor,
Jacquetta May, David Lumsden, David Elliot, Morgan Jones, Richard Hawley and Steven Elder. [1:48]
SEX/NUDITY 5 - Lots of sexual innuendo (including references to
homosexuality, safe sex, masturbation, conception and erections); sexual activities and
desires are discussed frequently but not graphically throughout the movie. Several kisses
and a few embraces, mostly between boys; although we never see anything more, it's
implied the boys have sex at least once. Boys wrestle on a bed, then one starts unbuckling
the other's belt and nearly kisses him before running out. A boy and several men hang
out near a men's bathroom in the park; we never see any sexual encounters, but we
learn that the boy and others have had many there. In one scene, a boy and an unknown male
exchange notes in the bathroom to set up a rendezvous; they meet but don't have any
sexual contact. Students are shown a video of porcupines mating while the teacher gives a
very clinical description of the act. It's implied a boy has an erection while
dancing with a girl. A boy tells a story about skinny-dipping with another boy and being
towel-dried, kissed and fondled by him. We see a boy's bare backside as he's
getting out of bed, a boy wearing a tiny swimsuit and some shirtless boys.
VIOLENCE/GORE 2 - A boy is slapped, grabbed and shoved in a few scenes; in
one of the scenes, he's thrown head-first into a locker and kicked in the stomach
(he's not visibly injured). A girl slaps a boy after he grabs her arm.
the review continues below...
PROFANITY 8 - About 25 F-words, several anatomical references, lots of
scatological references, a few mild obscenities, lots of insults, lots of British slang
and a profane finger gesture. [profanity glossary]
DISCUSSION TOPICS - Homosexuality, discovering one's sexuality, generational
issues, family, premarital sex, extramarital sex, teen smoking and drinking, false
pretenses.
MESSAGE - It's difficult being gay, and coming out has its risks,
including losing those you think are closest to you; ultimately, though, telling others
who you are rather than pretending to be someone you're not is liberating.
A CAVEAT: We've gone through several editorial changes since we
started covering films in 1992 and some of our early standards were
not as stringent as they are now. We therefore need to revisit many
older reviews, especially those written prior to 1998 or so; please
keep this in mind if you're consulting a review from that period.
While we plan to revisit and correct older reviews our resources are
limited and it is a slow, time-consuming process.
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