Cheats (film)

Last updated
Cheats
Cheats FilmPoster.jpeg
Directed byAndrew Gurland
Written byAndrew Gurland
Produced by Chris Bender
J.C. Spink
A. J. Dix
Starring Martin Starr
Matthew Lawrence
Trevor Fehrman
Elden Henson
Mary Tyler Moore
Cinematography Fred Murphy
Edited byTroy T. Takaki
Music by Mark Mothersbaugh
Distributed by New Line Cinema
Release date
  • September 20, 2002 (2002-09-20)
Running time
86 min.
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Cheats is a 2002 American comedy film about four friends that have been cheating their way through high school, and have to face new challenges to avoid getting caught before going to college. The lead roles are played by Trevor Fehrman, Matthew Lawrence, and Mary Tyler Moore.

Contents

The original title of the movie was Cheaters but was thought that likely to be confused with the 2000 movie Cheaters starring Jeff Daniels.

Plot

Since kindergarten, Handsome Davis and Sammy Green have been stealing teachers' test answer keys to cheat on tests. By the time they're in middle school, they regularly have a classmate named Evan Rosengarten do their homework for them, and they pay Evan with hardcore porn videos that Handsome steals from his dad's collection. This ends when Evan's mom finds out that Handsome gave her son a bestiality tape, though Handsome counts on his dad being too ashamed to press the issue.

In high school, they expand their cheating operation by partnering with Victor Barone and Jon Applebee (the latter being their expert crib sheet maker), getting a copy of the janitor's master key, and trading answers to other classmates for money and favors. Principal Stark finds out the key was stolen and publicly announces that she's having all the school's locks changed. Handsome insists on stealing something to let their customers know they're still in business, and they end up offering Teddy Blue a chance to see the school psychologist's file on her; during the break-in, Applebee tries to call off the operation because he desperately doesn't want any of his teammates to read his own psychological file. They are caught by the janitor because of Applebee's hesitation, but manage to lie their way out of it.

Physics teacher Mr. Harkin is about to give an incredibly difficult midterm exam, and to steal his answer key, Handsome fakes confiding in Harkin about being sexually confused while Victor copies his answer key. Victor tells Handsome that they should cut ties with Applebee entirely, but Handsome gets him to settle on only excluding Applebee from the upcoming physics midterm. They eventually reconcile, but tensions remain high between Victor and Applebee. Sammy starts getting a smart, upstanding classmate named Julie Merkel to tutor him, and tells Handsome that he doesn't want to cheat on tests anymore, but Handsome convinces Sammy to keep participating. Handsome, Sammy and Victor cheat on the physics midterm, after which Harkin pulls the three of them aside to accuse them of cheating. Handsome denies cheating in a dramatic rant, during which he pulls off his shirt. Harkin believes him, while Sammy and Victor are reprimanded by Principal Stark.

World history teacher Mrs. Herman, nicknamed "the grade book" for keeping a meticulous written record of her students' daily behaviors, is about to give her class their final exam. Julie, resentful for being waitlisted by Tufts University and having to compete with cheaters for good grades, convinces the other girls to stop giving their notes to the boys. Sammy decides to exclude himself from cheating on the history final. Victor takes his frustration out on Harmon's adopted sons with a cruel prank phone call, but is convinced by Handsome to apologize to them and recruit their help in stealing their mother's answer key. Victor and Handsome nickname them "Greedy" and "Horny" for demanding $400 and a date with a girl they both have a crush on. Victor receives the answer key from them, and the crew of six - Handsome, Victor, Applebee, and three new accomplices - forsake crib sheets in favor of making up an obscene song to help them memorize the answers. Principal Stark is convinced that Sammy and Victor have turned over a new leaf, and decides not to punish them after all.

Towards the end of their senior year, Mrs. Herman uses her grade book as leverage against her students while they're seeking college admissions, spurring Handsome and Victor to steal and destroy her grade book. The collective punishments given to the class, and lack of grading data jeopardizing their final grades, threatens to turn Handsome's and Victor's classmates against them. Principal Stark receives an anonymous letter that blames Victor alone for stealing the grade book, and Stark trusts Sammy - a founding member of the student court - to confirm Victor's guilt. Handsome, Victor and Sammy (now working as a double agent to help his friends) suspect Applebee wrote the letter, and having to prevent anyone from Herman's class from naming them on their upcoming video depositions. Handsome tries to intimidate Julie by convincing her that students will chant "Julie is a rat" during their graduation ceremony. Victor goes overboard in trying to intimidate Applebee, causing Applebee to immediately testify that Victor is guilty.

Sammy is able to offer Victor a plea bargain, in which he retakes world history at summer school to still get his diploma. Victor reveals Handsome's involvement in his guilty plea. Sammy offers Handsome the same plea bargain, which Handsome ultimately accepts. At graduation, Handsome apologizes to Applebee for having looked at his psychological profile earlier in the year, which stated that Applebee has a crooked penis. Mr. Harkin gives Handsome an achievement award in physics, to the crowd's shock - while narrating to the viewer, Handsome insists that he truly did pass the physics midterm without cheating, despite his pattern of doing so elsewhere. The crowd mocks Handsome by chanting "cheated on the midterm", to which Handsome happily shrugs. As the credits roll, it's revealed that Mrs. Herman's adopted sons wrote the anonymous letter to get revenge on Victor, Victor himself was also adopted, Sammy tried to have sex with Julie in her sleep, Mr. Harkin taught Handsome and Victor's summer school class, and that they wore skimpy clothing to try to ensure themselves A-grades, suggesting that Mr. Harkin himself is gay.

Release

The film was scheduled to be released in 2001, but was delayed until September 20, 2002. It was released on DVD and VHS in 2003.

Documentary

On the DVD edition there is an 18-minute documentary, showing people on whose real life events the story is based, more than 10 years earlier. [1] The real Jonathan Applebee refused to take part in the special feature documentary based on the actual Cheats, so his name had to be censored whenever used.

Main cast

Related Research Articles

<i>The Pacifier</i> 2005 film by Adam Shankman

The Pacifier is a 2005 American family action comedy film directed by Adam Shankman, written by Thomas Lennon and Robert Ben Garant and stars Vin Diesel. After a failed rescue mission, Navy SEAL Shane Wolfe is assigned as babysitter to the dead man's family.

<i>Mr. & Mrs. Smith</i> (2005 film) 2005 film by Doug Liman

Mr. & Mrs. Smith is a 2005 American romantic action comedy film directed by Doug Liman and written by Simon Kinberg. The film stars Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie as a bored upper middle class married couple surprised to learn that they are assassins belonging to competing agencies, and that they have been assigned to kill each other. Besides being a box office hit, Mr. & Mrs. Smith also established Pitt and Jolie's personal relationship.

<i>Sammy Keyes</i> Sammy Keyes is a novel.

Sammy Keyes is a series of mystery novels written by Wendelin Van Draanen for children aged 10–16. The series focuses on Sammy's adventures as an amateur sleuth. The books, which are narrated in the first-person perspective by Sammy, involve detective fiction as well as comedy. Sammy begins her adventures in the first book as a seventh-grader, and the series ends when she completes the eighth grade. The series ran for eighteen books.

<i>The Clue of the Black Keys</i> Nancy Drew 28, published 1951

The Clue of the Black Keys is the twenty-eighth volume in the Nancy Drew mystery series. It was first published in 1951 under the pseudonym Carolyn Keene. The actual authors were ghostwriters Wilhelmina Rankin and Harriet Stratemeyer Adams.

<i>Wayside School Is Falling Down</i> 1989 childrens novel by Louis Sachar

Wayside School is Falling Down is a 1989 children's, dark comedy, short story cycle, novel by American author Louis Sachar, and the second book in his Wayside School series. Like its predecessor, it contains 30 chapters, although some chapters are interconnected in a more narrative form rather than as separate stories, as is the case for its predecessor. The title comes from the title of the favorite song of one character, Kathy, in the tune of 'London Bridge Is Falling Down', during the course of the book. The novel revolves around three main storylines: first is the introduction of a new student, Benjamin Nushmutt, while another involves Miss Zarves, the teacher of the nonexistent 19th-floor class. The third and final story-line, told in the final chapter of the book, ends in a cliffhanger.

<i>Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?</i> (American game show) American quiz game show

Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader? is an American quiz game show. It originally aired on Fox where it was hosted by Jeff Foxworthy. It is produced by Mark Burnett. The show premiered as a three-day special which began on February 27, 2007, with the first two shows each a half-hour in length. Regular one-hour episodes began airing Thursdays from March 1 through May 10, and the first season continued with new episodes beginning May 31. Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? was picked up for the 2007–08 season, which began on September 6, 2007, and aired in the same timeslot. Following the end of the original run of the primetime version on September 18, 2009, a first-run syndicated version of the show ran from September 2009 to May 2011, with Foxworthy returning as host. On May 26, 2015, the program returned to Fox for a new, 4th season, with Foxworthy, again, returning as host. On February 14, 2019, it was announced that the program would be revived on Nickelodeon with new host John Cena, airing from June 10 to November 3, 2019.

<i>JumpStart Adventures 4th Grade: Haunted Island</i> 1996 video game

JumpStart Adventures 4th Grade: Haunted Island is a personal computer game in Knowledge Adventure's JumpStart series of educational software intended to teach a fourth grade curriculum. The game was released on December 2, 1996.

<i>Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?</i> (Australian game show) Australian game show

Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader? is an Australian quiz show produced by Roving Enterprises that debuted on Network Ten on 26 September 2007. It is hosted by popular TV personality Rove McManus. Filming for the show commenced on 11 September 2007 at Global Television Studios in Forest Hill.

Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader? is a game show franchise, that was co-created, and produced, by Mark Burnett, based on the game created by Howard Stern, for The Howard Stern Show. Adult contestants answer questions, as if they came from an elementary grade school quiz. The original U.S. version debuted on the Fox Broadcasting network on February 27, 2007, with host Jeff Foxworthy, airing on Fox until 2009, as a syndicated TV series, between 2009 and 2011, and then revived on Fox in 2015, and again on Nickelodeon in 2019, with new host, John Cena. The Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader? format, has since been replicated in several other countries, some versions under the same title, and some under modified ones.

<i>Are You Smarter than a 10 Year Old?</i> (British game show) Television series

Are You Smarter than a/Your 10 Year Old? is a British quiz show which aired on Sky 1 from 2007 to 2010. There were two editions, one broadcast weekly in primetime, hosted by Noel Edmonds and a daily version, originally hosted by Dick and Dom and later by Damian Williams. The show welcomes adult contestants, who attempt to answer ten questions taken from primary school textbooks, two from each school year from ages 6 to 10. Each correct answer increases the amount of money the player banks; a maximum cash prize of £250,000 in primetime and £50,000 in daytime can be won.

<i>The Pit</i> (1981 film) 1981 Canadian film

The Pit is a 1981 Canadian horror film starring Sammy Snyders and Jeannie Elias. Although it is a Canadian production, it was actually filmed in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin.The pit itself was filmed in Waupun WI

<i>Havana Widows</i> 1933 film

Havana Widows is a 1933 American pre-Code comedy film directed by Ray Enright, starring Joan Blondell and Glenda Farrell. It was released by Warner Bros. on November 18, 1933. Two chorus girls travel to Havana in search of rich husbands. Their target is Deacon Jones, a self-appointed moralist who cannot drink without getting drunk.

<i>Blond Cheat</i> 1938 film by Joseph Santley

Blond Cheat is a 1938 romantic comedy film directed by Joseph Santley and starring Joan Fontaine, Derrick De Marney, and Cecil Kellaway. The film was produced by William Sistrom, and originally released by RKO Radio Pictures. The original story is by Aladar Lazlo. The screenplay is by Harry Segall, Charles Kaufman, Paul Yawitz, and Viola Brothers Shore. The tagline for the movie was: "A happy blend of blackmail, robbery, treachery, and love!"

Das Haus Anubis is a television program produced jointly by Belgian broadcaster Studio 100 and Nickelodeon Germany. The first remake of Het Huis Anubis aired in The Netherlands and Belgium. Another English remake called House of Anubis aired in 2011. With a seven-figure production budget, it is one of Nickelodeon's largest in-house productions, and the first German daily soap opera specifically aimed at older children. From 29 September 2009 to 4 May 2012, the show had been running both on children's channel Nick, and season 1 on music channel VIVA. Das Haus Anubis is aimed at children twelve years old and above, and is the German remake of the successful Dutch television programme, Het Huis Anubis. This 2006-2009 series was one of the most successful children's series in the Benelux countries.

<i>Bad Teacher</i> 2011 film by Jake Kasdan

Bad Teacher is a 2011 American comedy film directed by Jake Kasdan from a screenplay by Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky. Starring Cameron Diaz, Justin Timberlake, Lucy Punch, John Michael Higgins and Jason Segel, the film tells the story of a lazy middle school teacher who hates her job, her students, and her co-workers but returns to teaching after her wealthy fiancé dumps her. Bad Teacher was released in the United States on June 24, 2011, by Columbia Pictures. It grossed $216.2 million.

<i>Amateur Crook</i> 1937 film by Sam Katzman

Amateur Crook is a 1937 American romantic comedy film directed by Sam Katzman.

That's Cunning! Shijo Saidai no Sakusen? is a 1996 comedy film directed by Hiroshi Sugawara. It stars Tatsuya Yamaguchi and Namie Amuro.

<i>The Gifted</i> (Thai TV series) 2018 Thai television series

The Gifted is a 2018 Thai television series starring Korapat Kirdpan (Nanon), Wachirawit Ruangwiwat (Chimon), Apichaya Thongkham (Lilly), Harit Cheewagaroon (Sing), Ramida Jiranorraphat (Jane), Atthaphan Phunsawat (Gun), Pattadon Janngeon (Fiat), Napasorn Weerayuttvilai (Puimek), Chatchawit Techarukpong(Victor) Geoff Garcia (Cardi) and Chayapol Jutamas (AJ) & Chayakorn Jutamas (JJ). Based on the 2015 short film The Gifted and the novel The Gifted by Dhammarong Sermrittirong (SandOtnim), the series follows a low-class student who is accelerated to an elite, secretive program where students are trained to discover and develop their supernatural abilities.

The Prank is a 2022 American comedy horror film directed by Maureen Bharoocha and written by Rebecca Flinn-White and Zak White. It stars Rita Moreno, Connor Kalopsis, and Ramona Young. The plot follows two students who falsely accuse their teacher of murder because she threatened to fail them. The film premiered at South by Southwest on March 13, 2022.

References

  1. "DVD Verdict Review - Cheats". www.dvdverdict.com. Archived from the original on 2003-10-11.