Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life (film) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Middle School:The Worst Years of My Life |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Steve Carr |
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| Music by | Jeff Cardoni |
| Cinematography | Julio Macat |
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| Release date(s) | October 7, 2016 |
| Running time | 92 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $8.5 million |
| Money made | $23 million |
Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life is a 2016 American live-action/animated family comedy film directed by Steve Carr and written by Chris Bowman, Hubbel Palmer and Kara Holden, based on the 2011 novel of the same name by James Patterson and Chris Tebbetts.
The film stars Griffin Gluck, Lauren Graham, Rob Riggle, Isabela Moner, Retta, Thomas Barbusca, Andy Daly, and Adam Pally. It follows Rafael "Rafe" Khatchadorian, a middle school student played by Gluck, who sets out to break every one of the many rules made by his domineering principal.
Lionsgate released the film on October 7, 2016. It received mixed reviews and grossed over $23 million. A sequel is in development.
Contents
Plot
Transfer student Rafe Khatchadorian has an overactive imagination and is very passionate about his artistic talent and lives in a middle-class home with his mother Jules, his rebellious younger sister Georgia, and Jules's lazy, child-hating boyfriend (later fiancé) Bear. Rafe cannot wait to start his first day at Hills Village Middle School, but it does not go as he hopes when he finds out that Principal Dwight, and most of the teachers at the school, are very cruel and much worse than the bullies.
After Dwight destroys Rafe's sketchbook by throwing it into a bucket full of acid, Rafe and his best friend Leo come up with an idea to start a massive "insurrection" to go up against Principal Dwight, breaking every rule in the rule book. They unleash several pranks on Principal Dwight and the school staff, including putting sticky notes all over the school, filling Gus the janitor's closet with plastic balls, dyeing Principal Dwight's hair pink, and turning the school's trophy case into a fish tank.
As the annual B.L.A.A.R. test is coming up, Dwight sees an opportunity to eliminate Rafe's class from the test. Rafe, and the whole class, are suspended for the pranks the day before the B.L.A.A.R. In addition, Rafe's teacher Mr. Teller is fired as Principal Dwight suspects his involvement. Dwight then offers Rafe a deal to let his class take the fall and he'll be the only one not suspended.
However, Rafe deliberately sets off the sprinkler system, and Dwight immediately expels him. It is revealed that Leo is actually Rafe's younger brother who died from cancer he imagines whenever he feels lonely. Jeanne Galleta, Rafe's love interest, shows him that Dwight created an alibi by putting fake evidence in their lockers in order to stop their class from taking the B.L.A.A.R.
Rafe devises a plan to stop the B.L.A.A.R. test and expose Dwight along with Jeanne, Georgia, and his suspended class. The next day, Teller and Superintendent Hwang watch the evidence and decide to press charges on Dwight. As he walks out he is pranked with green hair dye in his hat. Principal Dwight is fired and arrested, Jules breaks up with Bear after finding out his true nature, and Rafe says goodbye to imaginary Leo, sharing a kiss with Jeanne which breaks rule #86, no public displays of affection, thus completing operation R.A.F.E. as Leo watches from his imaginary UFO.
Cast
- Griffin Gluck as Rafael "Rafe" Khatchadorian, a rule-breaking but well-meaning middle schooler and aspiring cartoonist who attends Hills Village Middle School.
- Lauren Graham as Julie "Jules" Khatchadorian, Rafe's mother.
- Rob Riggle as Carl "Bear", Jules' immature and child-hating boyfriend/fiancé who tries to send Rafe to military school, but ends up getting dumped by Jules when she sees his true self as a "self-centered jerk".
- Thomas Barbusca as Leonardo "Leo" Khatchadorian, Rafe's imaginary best friend and late real younger brother who passed away from cancer.
- Andy Daly as Principal Kenneth "Ken" Dwight, the strict and exceedingly vain principal of Hills Village Middle School who is obsessed with the B.L.A.A.R. Testing and becomes Rafe's main goal of revenge.
- Adam Pally as Mr. Teller, Rafe's friendly and fun-loving English teacher who dislikes Dwight and Stricker's antics.
- Retta as Ida Stricker, the stern vice-principal of Hills Village Middle School and Principal Dwight's accomplice.
- Jacob Hopkins as Miller "the Killer", a large school bully who targets Rafe, but later joins his plan to battle Dwight.
- Alexa Nisenson as Georgia Khatchadorian, Rafe's smart younger sister.
- Isabela Moner as Jeanne Galletta, the intelligent president of the AV club and Rafe's love interest who helps him in his plan.
- Efren Ramirez as Gus, the disgruntled janitor who later joins Rafe's plan to get revenge on Dwight.
- Isabella Amara as Heidi
- James A. Patterson as James, a restaurant manager at an Italian restaurant where Bear proposes to Jules on her birthday.
- Gemma Forbes as Dana, a waitress at Dave and Buster's.
- Jessi Goei as Bella, a phone addictive girl who joins Rafe's plan to get revenge on Dwight.
- Luke Hardeman as Shon, one of Teller’s students who joins Rafe's plans of revenge.
- Angela Oh as Superintendent Hwang, the superintendent of the school district that Hills Village Middle School is in.
Animation voices provided by Jeremy Culhane, Stephen Kearin, Tom Kenny, Mike Matzdorf, Michael Rapaport, and Jacob Vargas.
Accolades
Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life was nominated for Best Animated Special Production at the 44th Annie Awards.
Potential sequel
On October 3, 2016, Patterson announced that he is developing a sequel to the film.
