THE MUSICAL
A bitter teacher plans to get revenge through the school play.
Should You Watch It?
This one is worth the wait for home. The storyline offers some smart lessons for viewers, but the overall message stems from anger and frustration. A middle school teacher loses his hope and perspective after learning that the woman he loves now dates the school principal. The story tries to find humor in Doug's situation, but his bitterness takes much of the fun out of it.
One troubling message encourages kids to lie and suggests that "it's okay to lie if it's for the right reasons." Doug also tells his students their dreams don't matter because "the machine," meaning the people in charge, will ruin their lives anyway. That cynical outlook undercuts the story's more positive lessons.
The treatment of the tragedy of 9/11 also raises serious concerns, as the story uses it as a joke and turns it into a school play. Light violence includes arguments, kids with cardboard guns, a cardboard tank, and a recreation of a plane crashing into the World Trade Center. Some profanity also appears. With its cynical messages, questionable humor, and treatment of a national tragedy, this one belongs on the home viewing list instead.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESDoug teaches middle school and loves Abigail, the art teacher. Although Doug and Abigail used to date, they took a break over the summer. When the school year resumes, Doug hopes for a second chance with Abigail. However, Abigail tells Doug that she now dates the school principal. This news causes Doug to spiral out of control, allowing his anger to drive his actions. Fueled by resentment, Doug decides to stage a school play reenacting 9/11 to get back at the principal.
Is It Any Good?
Two stars because despite the steady pace throughout, the anger and bitterness drive the narrative, and viewers may feel disconnected from the plot. Craft-wise, the movie is sharp: the pacing stays tight, the script is strong, and the storyline follows a teacher experiencing a mental breakdown in real time. Although Doug cares about his students, he cares more about revenge. This situation pulls quality and content in opposite directions. A well-built story about a man who lies, teaches his students to lie, and stages a 9/11 tragedy as a punchline cannot receive a grade based solely on craft but must consider the message beyond the craft.
The Worldview
A strong Romantic worldview drives this story. Doug appears as a simple man who wants only to stay with Abigail, but she chooses principle over him, and everyone else pays the price. Anger and envy toward Abigail and Principal Brady guide his every move, and the story trusts his instinct over the authority that denies him what he wants.
The pattern deepens when a fellowship in New York falls through, and the school denies him the opportunity. Doug then turns his resentment into a play that mocks 9/11, a real tragedy that killed thousands of people.
The story tries to earn sympathy for Doug, but his anger leaves the viewer cold instead.
Doug genuinely cares for his students, yet his emotions overtake him, and he fills their heads with harsh, false lessons. He tells his students that it's "okay to lie if it's for the right reasons." In one angry outburst, Doug tells his students their dreams don't matter.
Violence stays minimal, limited to two arguments between teachers and students. The finale reenacts the events of 9/11 with cardboard cutouts of buildings, a plane, guns, and a tank. A movie that excuses cruelty as heartbreak teaches nothing of value.
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements
A strong Romantic worldview as the main character's girlfriend breaks up with him and is guided by his anger to make everyone else pay
Foul Language
Eight total profanities, seven "f" words, three obscenities which include: “Perverts,” “JC,” and “P*ssed”
Violence
Mild violence with two arguments between two students and two teachers, the play reenacts 9/11 using cardboard cutouts
Sex
Discussions of sexual topics like the principle giving a character the best sex of her life, while another can’t make a woman “orgasm”
Nudity
Upper male nudity when the main character is in the bathroom
Alcohol Use
The main character goes to a bar and gets drunk twice
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse
A character smokes cigarettes throughout;
Miscellaneous Immorality
Characters behave poorly and are encouraged to lie. Doug is a bad mentor who teaches his students the wrong thing to do, mention of a boy and his parents being divorced.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Doug says, “it’s okay to lie if it’s for the right reasons.” Do you agree? What does God’s Word say about this idea? Colossians 3:9
Doug tells his students their dreams don’t matter because “the machine” will ruin their lives anyway. Why is this such a dangerous lie to tell young people? What hope does Scripture offer instead? Jeremiah 29:11
Doug’s whole story is set in motion by anger and heartbreak over a lost relationship. What does unchecked anger cost him, and what does the Bible warn about letting anger take root? Ephesians 4:26
The movie turns a national tragedy into a joke to get revenge on someone Doug resents. Why might it be wrong to mock suffering, even in fiction? How should Christians respond when they’re wronged, instead of plotting revenge? Romans 12:17-19
The Final Word
THE MUSICAL aims for a funny, light-hearted theatrical romp but falls short in nearly every way. The movie lacks real comedy and instead carries a persistent thread of anger throughout. Doug cares about his students, but he guides them with the wrong lessons instead of the right ones. Parents of older teens should still exercise caution: strong profanity fills the movie, and a tragic moment in history gets mocked onscreen. Real tragedy deserves better than a punchline.
