MPAA Rating: for some sexual material

Moral Rating:

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Moviemaking Quality:

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Primary Audience:

Teenage girls

Genre:

Comedy

Length:

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Year of Release:

2006

USA Release:

March 17, 2006 (wide)

Relevant Issues

“Everybody has a secret… Duke wants Olivia who likes Sebastian who is really Viola whose brother is dating Monique so she hates Olivia who’s with Duke to make Sebastian jealous who is really Viola who’s crushing on Duke who thinks she’s a guy…”

Producer’s Synopsis: “Viola Johnson (Amanda Bynes) had her own good reasons for disguising herself as her twin brother Sebastian (James Kirk) and enrolling in his place at his new boarding school, Illyria Prep. She was counting on Sebastian being AWOL from school as he tried to break into the music scene in London. What she didn’t count on was falling in love with her hot roommate, Duke (Channing Tatum), who in turn only has eyes for the beautiful Olivia (Laura Ramsey).

Making matters worse, Olivia is starting to fall for Sebastian, who—for reasons Olivia couldn’t begin to guess—appears to be the sensitive type of guy she’d always dreamed of meeting. If things weren’t complicated enough, the real Sebastian has come back from London two days earlier than expected and arrives on campus having no clue that he’s been replaced… by his own twin sister.”

Positive - A preposterous take on Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” only transported to American high school and with Bend It Like Beckham thrown in for good measure. This film had every right to be a stinker, but it’s so well done as to be highly enjoyable. One can have reservations about a few crude moments, but otherwise one could recommend it to those who want an undemanding evening out with a bag of popcorn.
My Ratings: Average / 3
—D A Littlewood, age 58

Neutral - I think this movie is intended for those 16 years of age or older. My reasons for this are as follows:

1. close ups of teenagers kissing (showing saliva/tongue exchange) This was a bit too much even for me
2. Many uses of cuss words/foul language
3. Many sexual references of men/women by people in the movie
4. Viola being in men’s locker room and seeing opposite sex in nude
5. Viola slapping ex-boyfriend was inappropriate. It wouldn’t have been funny if it was a boy slapping his ex-girlfriend. Other ways of handling those situations
6. Viola and brother Sebastian exposing themselves in front of thousands of people at the end of the movie to prove their genders.

While the movie did have it’s clean and funny parts. The movie had more than I expected. Viola is a character to be seen as a sweet, funny and kind hearted young woman. This being said, I thought the movie was trying to say “sweet, kind hearted young women can cuss and show their breasts to the world, but it’s ok because she’s funny.” Just be careful of the influence this movie can have on young kids.
My Ratings: Offensive / 3
—Anna, age 23

Positive - To start, a little about myself, I am a conservative Southern Baptist with a teenage daughter. I took notes as I watched the movie and noted anything that I thought could possibly offend some individuals.…

Main Movie Characters:
Viola - “just wants to play soccer”
Sebastien - Viola’s twin brother
Duke - Viola’s school dorm roommate (while she is pretending to be a boy)
Monique - Sebastien’s girlfriend/ex-girlfriend
Olivia - school mate
There are other central characters. I tried to list the basics, hopefully, without revealing the story.

The movie begins with a soccer game on the beach, where Viola’s boyfriend commends her playing skills and tells Viola that she is as good a player or better than some of the boys on the boys soccer team. Then when the school cuts the girls soccer team and the boys team and coaches refuse to let the girls try out for that team, watch out, for the hi-jinks to begin.

Morality: I took notes as I watched the movie, and I have listed every thing that I took note of. You may or may not find these offensive; I tried to list everything that I thought MIGHT offend some individuals or groups. Bear with me, this list is extensive. Let me say that overall, on a standard of today’s movies, it was much cleaner than many; the one primary objection was the use of God’s name in vain several times in the movie: instances are noted in the following list.

1. When you decide to watch this movie, you know already, that there is/will be a lot of deception involved (girl pretending to be boy, lying, etc.)
2. The movie starts with a soccer game being played on the beach - kids dressed in beach attire (shorts, girls wearing bikini tops, etc.) There is one scene where Viola stumbles backwards w/ her boyfriend tumbling down on top of her and one long look, kiss.
3. Near the beginning of the movie, when the girls team confronts the boys team and the coach, Viola (Byne) yells “You are so full of ---” At that exact moment the coach blows the whistle and you don’t hear the word, though you know what was implied.
4. Monique and Viola literally “bump” into each other and Monique comments about Viola’s lack of curves. As Monique walks away, Viola makes a comment about Monique calling 1-800-bi-atch (pronounced kinda like that).
5. Viola’s mother makes comments to Viola about her boyfriend being handsome, rugged, chiseled, etc.
6. Viola’s brother Sebastien asks her to lie or cover for him as he sneaks out. She tries to talk him out of it, and makes a remark about him getting kicked out of his last school for skipping.
7. Comment made about Viola’s ability to become a guy - “except for voice, mannerisms, BREASTS”
8. Lying to parents
9. Attempt to get into principal’s file cabinet
10. 2 students collided and were down on floor picking up books and principal opens door and makes a comment about opposite sex and sexual tension (he does go on to say abstinence is key)
11. A girl was leaned over a counter, and the guys were looking at her posterior - one made a comment about booty
12. In restaurant, lady dressed in mini skirt, heels, and half shirt (mid-drift exposed), walks up and grabs, leans in close, seductively, …as she walks away, he pats her on the but
13. Same restaurant as above,woman comes in and says to a guy who approaches her “Girls with an a -- like mine, don’t talk to boys with faces like yours”
14. As the guys see this other boy as a chic magnet, one makes a comment “officially my idol now”
15. In the boys locker room, a guy takes off his towel, right in front of her (You don’t really see flesh)
16. Hit in the privates w/ a soccer ball, and uses God’s name in vain, “O for the Love of --”
17. Kissing both - fight breaks out & a woman yells out about it being a kid’s carnival and she used God’s name in vain (d-- it)
18. Question asked - Which would you rather see naked? followed by a conversation which ends saying if you tell any one “I’ll kick your a -- ”
19. Girl trying to make guy jealous, rubbing against him, etc.
20. In a restaurant booth, kissing neck
21. Use of God’s name in vain - O my ___ followed by God’s name..
22. 1 girl does admit she is using someone and knows its wrong - in the same scene, 2 or 3 girls fighting in the restroom
23. At a game, “What the Hell am I doing here?” comment
24. Someone tells a boy to prove his manhood and he drops his pants on the soccer field in the big game. All you see is bottom part of his legs from knees down.
25. Same big soccer game, Another girl asked to prove, she raises her shirt. All you see is her back w/ shirt covered - no real flesh. Comment in audience about this game having more nudity than most.
26. Guy upset, angry yelled to girl “You Suck!”
27. Toward the end school nerd and soccer player kiss, make some weird noises, kinda fall down to field

SPIRITUAL ISSUES: The girls soccer team could have gone to a rival school and joined the soccer team there, if their own school could not or would not offer the activities they were most interested in. Then there would not have been the deception involved. Psalm 101:7 says “He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight.” The Lord teaches us that we are to trust him in all things, and in Romans 8:28 that all things will work together for good to them who love God, who are called according to his purpose.

One secondary storyline in this movie was Viola’s mother trying to turn her into a debutante, a girl, rather than the soccer-player tomboy that she was. In the end, she did her parents proud: she honored and respected her mother by going to the debutante event, dressed very nice, even paused to mouth the words to her parents, “I love you both very much.” It would be so much better for us all if we could just trust the Lord to work out our issues in His time; instead so many times we try to fix it ourselves. Proverbs 3:5-6 says “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” Other passages that tell us that when we are concerned about something, to take it to the Lord in prayer, such as this one found in Philippians 4:6 “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” If you have an issue and you want the Lord to resolve it, wouldn’t it be wise to take it TO HIM?

Overall my opinion of the movie was favourable. My strongest objection was the breaking of the 3rd Commandment, in the use of our precious Lord’s name in vain, several times during this movie. (If my notes are accurate, there are 3 occurrences.)

I recommend that parents who take children or teens to see this movie talk to their children about poor choices. The girl was allowed to play on the opponent soccer team, which did not discriminate by gender. The team could have gone to the rivalry school and tried out for the team there, without all the deceit and lies. Isn’t deception a big part of how sin came into the world?

…For those of you who are like me and want the perfect “fairy-tale” ending, this movie does have a fairy-tale ending. We can know that in life, no matter what our circumstances, no matter what we are going through, if we belong to CHRIST, if we have received HIM as our Saviour, then one day, we too, will have “the PERFECT” ending; but it will be just “The BEGINNING.” The beginning of a beautiful eternity with HIM.

If you haven’t yet prayed to receive Christ as your Saviour, I urge you to take a moment to do that right now. It’s as easy as ABC - Admit you are a sinner and need Christ in your life. Believe Jesus was God’s Son, that He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, and died on the cross to pay the price for your sins, but the best part - On the third day, God Raised Him from the dead, so that we serve a living Lord! Confess your sins to HIM, ask for His forgiveness, and Commit your life, body, heart, and soul to HIM forevermore.

If you would like to ask Christ to be your Saviour, to forgive your sins, and to be Lord of your life, you can say a prayer similar to this one.

Dear Lord, I know that I am a sinner. I believe that Jesus died for me, to pay the price for my sins. I believe that you shed your blood, died on the cross for me and rose again from the dead. I repent and turn away from my sins. I need you Jesus. I am asking you to come into my heart, to forgive me of my sins and to be my personal Lord and Saviour from this day forward. Please help me to live my life for you and to follow you. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen.

Prayer Of Salvation - A conversation with God where we confess our sin and profess faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. A prayer of salvation is simply talking to God. You can do that anywhere; you can do that right where you are. You don’t have to use those exact words. All you have to do is pray, ask the Lord to forgive your sins and to be Lord of your life. His Word tells us in John 6:37 “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” If you come to Jesus, in repentance, and receive HIM as Lord and Saviour, he will not cast you out. Romans 10:13 tells us “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

If you need to make that decision, I urge you to do so very soon. If you have made that decision already, I rejoice in your salvation and look forward to seeing you in Heaven, “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” It will be more wonderful than anything we have ever or could ever hope to see, better than anything we have ever heard or could hear, and greater by far than anything we could imagine in our hearts - I look forward and hope to see you all there. May the Lord bless and Keep you until that time.… Most of all, thanks to the Lord for all that He has done for us, a debt we could never repay, now wiped clean - Thank You Jesus !!!
My Ratings: Average / 3
—Melisa Pollock, age 34

Positive - Ok, so this movie will never be up for any Oscars. I went to the theater with rather low expectations and as the film actually began, I sat there thinking, “here we go, another stupid teen movie.” I’m not saying that it wasn’t stupid at times or obviously aimed at teens, but the fact is, I really DID laugh a lot! Some of the scenes had me gasping for breath after laughing my head off. Amanda B. is so corny that you may not be able to imagine watching her for a whole movie. She dresses like a boy, trying to fit into a male culture, but the result is a hammed up, pretty hilarious version of Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night.” Some of the character’s names are even the same. I also really liked the way one of the main guy characters stuck up for the dignity of girls by saying that other guys shouldn’t speak disrespectfully about them. He said that I wanted a relationship where it wasn’t all physical, but also a mutual attraction to the other persons personality. I thought that was pretty darn cool!

Language really wasn’t that bad, and I really wouldn’t have a problem with my 10 year old sister watching 90% of it. So, if you’re looking for a fun, choke on your popcorn, laughing movie, this one is great.
My Ratings: Better than Average / 2
—Amy Gilles, age 18

Neutral - She’s the Man is the sort of movie that young girls will flock to, to see Amanda Bynes portray yet another variation of her typical “cute girl meets conflict, rises above it AND gets the hunky guy” characters. Is it, however, a movie we want our daughters to be influenced by?

The basic plot involves our heroine moving into a guys’ dorm and pretending to be a guy. This entails her having to go to the showers and be around naked college boys, having to put up with a girl who has a crush on her (the poor girl doesn’t know that our heroine is actually also a girl). There is a scene where, to prove she is a girl, our heroine must bare her chest in front of a stadium of people. Her brother pulls down his own pants.

Don’t get me wrong. Most people who see these scenes won’t think twice about them and might think I’m being a prude, but it makes me wonder: how depraved can entertainment get? What ever happened to wit? Are our brains so dumbed down by cheap TV that we want our movies to incorporate the same thoughtless and uninspired plots and humor?

She’s the Man is funny, granted, but it portrays a girl who has no respect for biblical womanhood and cares little for anything but kissing the hot guy that, in the end, we all know she will end up with because, come on!- It’s an Amanda Bynes movie. And nothing more.
My Ratings: Average / 3
—Willows_Shadow, age 16

Negative - I saw She’s the Man with a few friends last night and hated it! I didn’t go expecting a 100% perfect Christian movie, but what I got was horrible! The commercials made the movie seem like the majority of the movie would be about soccer, but only a small percentage was. Some of it was funny, but not enough to make up for all the sex parts. At the end, the girl had to lift up her shirt to prove her gender and her brother had to pull down his pants. They didn’t show anything, but that was still very wrong. I would wait until this movie comes out on DVD so you can skip the sex parts and not waist a 8.00 dollars on it.
My Ratings: Offensive / 3
—Katie Simpson, age 14

Negative - I attended this movie with 4 of my friends, two 14 year old girls, a 15 year old boy and a 17 year old boy. There were definitely some “uncomfortable” spots during the movie. Especially during parts where the boys in the movie would remark on how hot a girl was, what a nice butt she had, checking her out, your typical (inappropriate and mainly non-spiritual) teenage boy behavior. It was awkward being a girl seeing the movie with boys — to see the boys on TV degrading girls in that way. I’m not bashing the boys only; the girls often remarked on how “hot” other boys are, implying that it only matters what’s on the outside. Also some immodesty was shown at the beginning, which was also awkward seeing as I was with boys. Some of the jokes in the movie were fairly dirty, and I was embarrassed myself to hear them, and even more so that my friends were there.

Yes, there were some funny characters in the movie. Some funny situations that weren’t immoral or inappropriate, simply silly humor. However, I believe the immoral depictions of many of the characters outweighed the “quality” of this film. If I could go back, I wouldn’t have let the 14 year old girls or the 15 year old boy see it. My friend (17 year old boy) could “handle” it, however he shouldn’t have had to. Upon conversation of the movie, he said “I guess I could say it was funny, but I’d have to lower my morals to think that.”
My Ratings: Offensive / 3
—Alice, age 18

Neutral - She’s the Man didn’t particularly impress, but keep in mind… that I’m not a romantic. The basic plot is that the character Viola stands in place of her brother Sebastian at his college for the sake of her girl’s soccer team that’ve been cut off by the school board. Throughout the humorous process, she learns that not all guys are of the physical mind and begins to hearken her heart to one particular in the dorm room.

Fairly clean and overall tons of fun, this movie will enlighten and surprise every mother and daughter of its story. I give it a thumb and a half.
My Ratings: Better than Average / 4
—The Writer, age 16

Positive - I thought this movie was cute. It told you to follow your dreams at whatever cost. Which is what people should do. Now there were parts that didn’t need to be in there but just don’t take your kids to go see it. It’s a teen and adult film. No Kids. Simple. leave the kids at home and go enjoy a movie. And don’t get offended over every little thing.…
My Ratings: Good / 2
—Anna, age 16

Positive - I went to this movie for my birthday, seeing the commercials, it looked good. It was a very good movie!! It wasn’t a “bad” movie besides a scene when Sebastian (the real Sebastian) pulls down his pants and when Viola lifts up her shirt. Occasionally, there is a swear word here and there, but there wasn’t too many. I highly recommend it to teenagers; it was a really funny movie. My friends and I laughed through the whole movie. I am hoping to see this movie again this weekend!!
My Ratings: Average / 4
—Meagan, age 16

Positive - I saw this movie with my 4 of my friends, 2 girls, and 3 guys. I did feel a bit uncomfortable during some of the funny scenes, just because I was with guys. Like when Viola (as Sebastian) has tampons in her bag and gets caught with them by some of the guys. She panics, and demonstrates how she uses them for nosebleeds. I would have gone and seen it just with my girl friends if I had known some of the content. The movie wasn’t a bad movie overall. I enjoyed it and thought it was very funny and cute. I laughed throughout the whole movie! I liked it when Duke tells “Sebastian” that “there’s more to girls than just the physical stuff.” The language isn’t too bad, an occasional swear word now and then, but not that much. Overall, this movie is more of a chick flick and is not for kids, but more for teens. Great movie!
My Ratings: Average / 4
—Angie, age 15

Positive - I really liked this movie! It was cute and very funny, most of the time. There was a few parts that were not for young kids though. This is a great film for teens, but definitely not for 10 and under. Overall, it was wonderful!
My Ratings: Average / 2
—ELizabeth Mcdonald, age 13

Positive - This movie did have some inappropriate parts in it. There’s no getting around the fact that it did. However, I think teens, probably ages 14 or 15 and older, can handle it. People who know that they should not go home and do these things, like lying, deceiving, etc. are probably okay to see this movie. It was funny, and very well-made. There is hardly any “bad” or inappropriate content, except the scene at the end, which has been mentioned, when Viola lifts up her shirt and Sebastian pulls down his pants. That is one of the scenes in this movie that make it get bad reviews, but I think overall it was a good movie, not overloaded with bad things, as some people say.
My Ratings: Better than Average / 4
—Lisa, age 17

Positive - …I know a lot of people found this film very offensive, but I have to say I found it the complete opposite! Basically it was just a bit of fun! If I had to pick one thing that I thought was the most offensive it would probably have been when Sebastian pulls down his pants and when Viola pulls up her shirt! But even then you don’t see anything! I honestly don’t understand what the big deal is because I went to see this with a 16year old and we both laughed and laughed all the way through it! I only picked up on one time that someone took the Lord’s name in vain and the rest of the time I think I was too busy enjoying the rest of the film to notice! Overall, this is one of the best films I’ve seen this year! I recommend it to everybody!
My Ratings: Excellent! / 5
—Frankee, age 12

Positive - This movie is hysterical! I loved it! I would definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good laugh. Cause you will have a good laugh! The only thing that maybe you wouldn’t want to see is the face that two of the characters show themselves to prove there are the gender they say they are. The girl the upper deck and the guy the lower deck, although you do not see anything at all.
My Ratings: Excellent! / 5
—Stephanie, age 13

Positive - I went to see this film with my sister, and I found it absolutely hilarious. If you want a laugh-a-minute, light- hearted movie, then this is perfect. Would recommend it to anyone, but particularly for teenage girls. Nothing that would cause too much offence.
My Ratings: Better than Average / 1
—Jo, age 16

Positive - This is the best movie ever made! It was so enjoyable. It was a movie were you could go and cry your eyes out… from laughing! I am a big soccer fan, and, if I were Viola, I would of done the same thing to be able to play soccer. I can't recommend this movie to certain ages, because I don't know how mature or immature your kids are. If you think they are mature enough to laugh at some woman-related laughter (no innuendo), bring them. I'm telling you, this is the best movie so far in the history of the world.
My Ratings: Excellent! / 5
—Stephanie, age 13

Positive - I think this movie was great. It was funny, enjoyable and entertaining, I wouldn't say any part of it wasn't actually good. I think at my age this film is suitable for people of my age. I loved every part of the movie and I think If you haven't seen it and your round about my age, then I would recommend you watch it.
My Ratings: Better than Average / 4
—Radha Nehra, age 12

Positive - I loved this movie. I thought it was really funny. I could watch this movie over and over again!! Me and my friends all loved this movie. It is one of my favorite movies, and I watch a lot of movies!! I highly recommend this movie!
My Ratings: Better than Average / 5
—Carla, age 12

Positive - I loved this movie. My sister and I went to see it in the theaters, and we could not stop laughing. It was hilarious!! Amanda Bynes put on an amazing performance. The plot was great—insane—but great, and very entertaining. This movie was crude at parts though, but rather cleaner than I thought it would be for a teen movie. The humor overrides the foulness in this film. Overall, a great feel-good movie! But as the rating states, no kids under 13, please!
My Ratings: Better than Average / 4
—Amy, age 16