Satire's too heavy a load for lightweight 'Kids in America'

Friday, October 21, 2005

By DAVID GERMAIN
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

A well-intentioned attempt to make fun of joyless, sanctimonious authority figures that stifle creativity in public schools, "Kids in America" ends up trivializing the subject through cutesiness and villains too farcical to believe in.

MOVIE REVIEW

KIDS IN AMERICA

DIRECTOR: Josh Stolberg

CAST: Gregory Smith, Stephanie Sherrin, Chris Morris

RUNNING TIME: 91 minutes

RATING: PG-13 for sexual content, mature thematic elements and language

GRADE: C

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This low-budget comedy has the youthful earnestness of a student film, yet its lack of polish and real wit makes it not much more interesting than the sort of teen audio-visual club projects it spoofs.

Director Josh Stolberg co-wrote the script with producer Andrew Shaifer, who also co-stars as a toadying, pretentious drama teacher. Stolberg and Shaifer create a parade of teen types and imbue them with energy and irreverence, yet few teens will see themselves reflected in these grinning crusaders whose proactiveness in the name of free expression is far too preachy and stilted.

Leading the cast is young rebel Holden Donovan (Gregory Smith of TV's "Everwood"), who teams with classmates in his audiovisual club in a student rebellion after school principal Weller (Julie Bowen of "Boston Legal") goes on a rampage of suspensions.

So war is declared by Holden and his gang, including new girlfriend Charlotte (Stephanie Sherrin), cheerleader Katie (Caitlin Wachs), tough chick Walanda (Crystal Celeste Grant), tech geek Emily (Emy Coligado), rabble-rouser Chuck (Chris McGinn) and flashy gay teen Lawrence (Alex Anfanger).

The filmmakers angle for broad satire, but it collapses into caricature, Bowen's principal and other adults behaving with such outlandish excess, they're cartoon characters.