New Line Cinema | Release Date: August 25, 2006
4.7
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Mixed or average reviews based on 26 Ratings
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6
MarkB.Oct 9, 2006
The big question that nobody asks is, How do the worms feel about this? They're crawling along through the moist dirt, innocent as can be...and then suddenly they're brutally ripped away from their families and communities and The big question that nobody asks is, How do the worms feel about this? They're crawling along through the moist dirt, innocent as can be...and then suddenly they're brutally ripped away from their families and communities and forced to become the main ingredient in omelets, milkshakes and pasta dishes solely because two fourth-graders just can't get along. If you've ever gone fishing in your life, chances are you won't give this a first much less a second thought, but if worms could go to the movies (or even see, for that matter) this would be their equivalent of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. [***SPOILERS***] Writer-director Bob Dolman, adapting Thomas Rockwell's children's novel about a squeamish new kid in the neighborhood who's forced to choke down 10 night crawlers in one day, is no stranger to amphibian abuse: he wrote the classic WKRP episode in which Herb Tarlek accidentally spray-paint his daughter's pet frog to death. His film is frequently silly, overdone, forced and, of course, childish (a potentially interesting subplot which counterpoints the young hero's abuse at school with his dad's trial by fire at the office gets short shrift early on so the movie can devote more time to the greasy kid stuff), but parents who have grown weary of films like "The Ant Bully Becomes Everyone's Hero By Going Over the Hedge in the Barnyard During Open Season" might relish being dragged to a kiddie film featuring real live nonanimated human beings for a change. As a director, Dolman is an extremely laissez-faire schoolteacher; the boys all overact and he lets them, so it's up to the girls to save the day. SCTV's great comedienne Andrea Martin is so lovable as a loopy schoolteacher that you wish she had a lot more screen time, and Hallie Kate Eisenberg (Beautiful, Paulie), as a sympathetic classmate who, despite being a girl and therefore relegated to the sidelines, is easily the coolest and smartest member of this fourth grade class, is a real natural; she truly listens to her fellow performers and her reaction shots are a joy to watch. Even in those forgettable Disney movies Jodie Foster made in the 1970s before Taxi Driver rocketed her into the spotlight, you could definitely see that she was Headed For Big Things; Eisenberg has that same potential. If you want it, here it is, come and get it! Expand
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4
Tss5078Mar 16, 2014
When I watch films like this, I am looking for three things. I hope to find some young talent, before anyone else knows who they are, a unique story, and a funny scene or two. Unfortunately, the story here is quite disgusting and thereWhen I watch films like this, I am looking for three things. I hope to find some young talent, before anyone else knows who they are, a unique story, and a funny scene or two. Unfortunately, the story here is quite disgusting and there weren't any stand out performances, but there was a really funny scene, where the nerdy kid gets caught playing dance dance revolution. The story begins when a new kid named Billy (Luke Benward) moves to town. The other kids immediately try to intimidate him, by replacing his lunch with a bag of worms. To their surprise, in defiance, Billy eats the worms and gains their respect. One thing leads to another and eventually a very disgusting competition is born. The film is based on a very popular children's book and that's really who this film was intended for. Occasionally, you get some surprises out of a film like this, but as I said earlier, there really wasn't any stand out talent here. I didn't find any young actors/actresses that I could start following from the beginning of their career, but the kids weren't bad either. They seemed to have a lot of fun with the strange story and ultimately I think kids will probably really enjoy it. As for us adults, there really isn't anything here for us to watch and I may never eat gummy worms ever again. Expand
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