Review - Bully

STOP! See this movie! ACT!

Bullying is a real problem that schools, parents and kids across the US are dealing with on a daily basis. Despite programs that are in place to discourage bullying, it is still a problem that exists whenever the bully can be outside of anyone’s eyes.

Bully takes us on a journey through some situations that have confronted kids across the country. Sadly, Bully also takes us to meet parents who are struggling to pick up the pieces after some of the bullying has led to troubling resolutions.

Bully (NR) -  In theaters NOW

In the film we are introduced to a couple of great kids, being bullied in different ways.

There is Alex, a Midwestern kid, that is just trying to get to school and learn. But the trip is filled with a bully on the bus that Alex “believes” is just playing with him when he threatens his life. He also gets routinely punched, jabbed, and talked down to by everyone.

There’s Kelby, a teen in the middle of the Bible belt dealing with a town that doesn’t want to accept the fact that she is gay. Students and adults alike routinely criticize Kelby and her friends for not fitting in to their ideals.

We meet Ja’Maya who had cracked after being bullied routinely and regularly. She took her mother’s gun on the school bus and was ready to solve the situation before being captured.

And we meet parents who have suffered the ultimate price with the loss of their child. Normally well adjusted and fun-loving kids that couldn’t take the constant abuse at the hands of bullies.

These are the situations that exist in the country. Why? Why is this acceptable? Why is it happening? And why can’t we, as a community, stand up and make a difference?

Controversy surrounded Bully well before I had a chance to see it. The original R rating for language (5 “F” words early in the film) was holding it back from a wider audience. But the Weinstein folks decided to roll with it in an unrated form and bring it out as it was created. And of course, all documentaries should be more on the unrated side.

Bully casts a light on a problem that has existed for generations, bullying. The stories it tells will put tears in your eyes and a fire in your belly. If you have children you will want to make doubly sure that this is not going on for them, today, where they go to school.

It is such an important film that I will go out on a limb and say ANYONE who works with children on a regular basis should see this film. I believe it’s less important for the kids to see it as they live this stuff every day. But the parents, teachers, principals, school bus drivers, day care workers, administrators and politicians need to watch this to see how we damage today’s youth by not sticking up for them, and not the bullies.

This isn’t a perfect film, by any means, I have problems with the focus of some of the stories and lack of coverage of the fact that bullying is not limited to what is said or done to someone while they are face to face. I also believe some of these stories are not expanded adequately. I think Kelby’s story in particular doesn’t show, visually, the bullying that she has received.

But with a couple minor gripes, this is a film that I think adults should see. STOP what you are doing for 2 hours. SEE THIS MOVIE and talk about it with your kids, other parents, and those who care for your kids. And by all means ACT if you can find a way to make a difference, and you CAN make a difference to help tomorrow’s generation of leaders now.

B+

Bully

Weinstein

Director: Lee Hirsch

Cast: Alex, Ja’Maya, Kelby, David Long, Tina Long

Rating: Not Rated – contains 5 occurrences of the “F” word early in the film, but not much else if you are deciding whether or not to let your kids see it.

Runtime: 1 hour 39 minutes