Director: Steve Carr
Starring: Griffin Gluck, Lauren Graham, Alexa Nisenson, Andy Daly, Rob Riggle,Thomas Barbusca, Retta, Adam Pally, Jacob Hopkins
Distributor: Roadshow Films
Runtime: 92 mins. Reviewed in Jan 2017

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Rating notes: Mild themes and coarse language

It might be more than a bit of a shock for those who read James Patterson’s popular thrillers to find his name associated with this film, on which he serves as one of the executive producers. But, it is a screen version of one of his many collaborations, written for younger audiences.

With this said, older audiences may find it something of a trying experience to sit through. On the other hand, quite number of bloggers have use the unexpected word “endearing” to describe it.

Our hero, Rafe (Griffin Gluck) is a 12-year-old who has been in all kinds of trouble at different schools and is now being sent to the last one possible by his loving but exasperated mother, Lauren Graham. They and the little sister, Georgia, are still grieving the death of Eric, younger than Rafe, who has had a terminal illness and has died (not stopping him reappearing in his brother’s fantasies, collaborating with him and egging him on).

There is an impossible headmaster, full of himself (even full if that were possible), played to the hilt by Andy Daly, who is a prissy enforcer of the rules, enshrined in a book which he liberally hands out. His vice principal shares his rule-bound perspective and is a formidable-looking lady.

Things go badly for Rafe, especially when his book of drawings (of the graphic novel type) is handed around at the assembly to everybody’s laughter. The principal burdens his book. What else is a spirited young lad to do in such a situation – write down a list of the rules, determined to break every one of them before the external exam sitting, an enormous project of elaborate pranks, which take up the most part of the film.

Other characters include the mother’s potential boyfriend, Rob Riggle, an absolutely full of himself twit – who also, of course, gets the prank treatment. There is a sympathetic teacher who encourages his students to think – but who gets fired by the school principal. There is also an enterprising little girl who campaigns to be on a committee (with Rafe defying conventions and standing up and applauding her campaign speech), who comes to the rescue at the end, along with a put upon janitor, to expose the headmaster and get prank issue revenge.

So, if you like this kind of thing… A young audience might enjoy 90 minutes of vicarious rebellion (which one reviewer referred to as learning to be creative!) But, probably, woe betide, should they try to put any of these pranks into practice!