Kids in America (2005)
Directed by Josh Stolberg
Written by Josh Stolberg, Andrew Shaffer
Starring Gregory Smith, George Wendt, Adam Arkin, Malik Yoba, Julie Bowen
Release Date October 21st, 2005
Published October 26th, 2005
Teens in movies always fall into particular stereotypes. Nerds, jocks, cheerleaders, slackers and pervs. It is the rare teen movie that breaks these well worn types. Kids In America does not completely break the mold but in its ambitious story and passionate advocacy the film breaks more than a few of the conventions of the teen movie.
Gregory Smith from the television drama "Everwood" stars in Kids In America as Holden, a rebel with a cause. Inspired by his film class teacher Mr. Drucker (Malik Yoba), Holden begins a crusade against the schools officious principle, Mrs. Weller (Julie Bowen) after she suspends a student for wearing condoms on her dress to promote safe sex.
That is just one of many injustices that have piled up at the school. There is also censorship at the school newspaper, where Holden's fellow film class student, Charlotte (Stephanie Sherrin), has been butting heads with the teacher Mr. Mumsford (Alan Arkin). Holden and Charlotte Bond over the mutual cause of censorship and fighting injustice and develop a fun little romance.
Holden and Charlotte are joined by fellow free speech warriors Chuck (Chris Morris), Katie (Caitlin Wachs), Emily (Emy Coligado), Walanda (Crystal Celeste Grant) and Lawrence (Alex Anfanger) in a quest that will fight back against censorship and hopefully prevent the principle from being elected state school superintendent.
Each of these kids does fall into a character type. Lawrence is flamboyantly homosexual, Walanda is a black militant, Katie is a cheerleader. Still the young actors are likable enough to overcome their pigeonholes and the story gives them a mission and uniting purpose that helps them at least rise slightly above the typical natures of their characters.
Directed by first timer Josh Stolberg, Kids In America struggles in its structure and plotting. The film plays a little too loose and could use a steadier hand behind the camera. A director with a strong visual sense and a feel for the flow of a narrative might have corralled the film's many ideas into a slightly more coherent and true film structure.
Case in point in terms of problems with the structure of Kids In America is a very good idea that misses in its execution. In developing the romance between Holden and Charlotte the kids act out their favorite movie kisses. The kisses, including reenactments from Say Anything, Sixteen Candles and Fast Times At Ridgemont High, happen in a quickly executed four minute series of scenes and is then disposed of. A more veteran writer and director likely would have developed this idea better and rather than make it a throwaway gag, return to it a few times in developing the relationship between Holden and Charlotte.
That said, what Stolberg and his co-writer and producer Josh Shaiffer lack in narrative chops they make up for it with a strong dedication to the story they are telling and the ambition to take on a number of hot button issues and still have a good time with it all. The issues in Kids In America --free speech, safe sex, privacy, homosexuality-- are treated seriously but the characters remain fun loving teenagers with raging hormones and energy to burn.
Kids In America is a call to arms to teens who have seemingly grown more apathetic and uninvolved every year. In high school I was suspended for a day for wearing a Beavis and Butthead t-shirt. This did not exactly turn into a major demonstration but a few of us did take over the school radio station in protest and won the sympathy of many students, if not the teachers and administrators who suspended me a second time.
In this day and age, however, with far more serious issues, like the growing number of gay students coming out in high school and the continuing erosions of privacy and freedom that have stemmed from the Columbine high school shootings in 1999, students should have something more on their minds than t-shirts. It seems however that kids today-- oh God I feel old just writing that-- kids today seem less and less involved.
At least that is what I initially thought. After discovering Kids In America is based on a collective of true stories (none of the characters are real but the issues and events are), my opinion of this generation and its leaders has changed somewhat and I see there may be hope yet for a new generation of activists and believers. The film's credits feature testimonials from real kids who are working to change the way things are done in their schools and neighborhoods. The film's website also features links to many teen blog sites where activist teens are telling their stories and meeting other activists that could someday become a powerful network of people of passion.
This tiny movie may not be accomplished enough artistically to deserve the kind of dramatic weight that these real life issues give it, but given the lack of ambition of most Hollywood movies, I can't fault a film that has such passion. In a year dominated by awful mainstream entertainment that is melting the minds of many teens, a movie like Kids In America is a welcome respite from the mindlessness.
