Inspirational drama has language, violence, drug references.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Language
a lot
Lots of profanity, including "bastards," "hell," "s--t," "bulls--t," "ass," "a--hole," "f--k," "damn," and "bitch." Use of racial epithets, such as "spic" on one occasion, and Black characters use the "N" word numerous times.
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Lots of fighting, with shoving, punching, kicking. A character has their head slammed against the floor, resulting in bloody injury and being taken away on a stretcher. Other fights include injury to the face. A knife is used to threaten, a gun is briefly shown, and an item is thrown through a window. Verbal bullying of staff and students by the principal, including public humiliation. A student has her shirt ripped off, and she's pushed topless into a hall (nothing sensitive is shown).
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Great strength can be found in hope. There's always potential for change. However, it is also suggested that intimidation and bullying get results and that it's OK to sacrifice a few to save the majority.
Diverse Representations
some
The film shows the inequalities of the school system in a lower socioeconomic area. The main character is a Black man shown to be respected for his work in turning the school around, even if his approach proves controversial. Derogatory comments are made about families on welfare. Depiction of a single Black teen mother who's addicted to drugs is stereotypical. A White character uses the word "savages" toward predominantly Black teens, while another makes the offensive remark, "I thought you people didn't like chains."
Joe Clark is passionate and has good intentions, but he uses bullying and intimidation to get results, humiliating those around him and showing great arrogance in his own views. He disregards the experiences of most people, though he shows great empathy toward a few individuals, and his actions do create positive change at the school.
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Lean on Me is based on the true story of a teacher's crusade to reform a violent high school. It has many inspiring moments, but the main character's tactics are often questionable. There's lots of swearing, including "f--k" and "s--t," as well as use of racial epithets, bullying, and humiliating language. Fights in the school result in bloody injuries to the face, and a knife and gun are shown, though they don't cause physical harm. Drug deals are seen, and there is a reference to smoking crack. A character has her shirt ripped off, but she covers her breasts with her arms. There is mention of teen pregnancy. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
If you’re checking reviews on a site like this, your child’s school is likely pretty safe. It takes parent, teacher, and student involvement to foster the right kind of environment to support active learning. This film provides great examples of why the whole community needs to pitch in.
In terms of loose attitudes and teaching/support styles, this can be considered a period piece. The principal uses tough love with young adults who need to learn boundaries.
There is violence and swearing, but they are used to depict the sorry state the school system and area were in at the time. The film can be used to foster a great conversation on how practices have changed over time, an explanation of zero-tolerance policies, and what it means to take responsibility for your own life and decisions. The message that we can all turn out lives around rings just as true today, even though circumstances may vary.
I wanted to watch this movie because I liked Morgan Freeman as Easy Reader on THE ELECTRIC COMPANY; therefore, I thought that I'd like him here too. He was even better as Principal Joe Clark. Clark's tactics were questionable and sometimes confusing, but his intentions were neither questionable nor confusing. His intentions were good. An excellent time for parents to show their teens the difference between tactics and intentions. Regardless of what one thinks of his tactics, violence at the school went down while test scores went up. Moreover, even when Clark received complaints from parents and got in trouble with the law, others, particularly the students, supported him. An excellent opportunity for parents that even the most controversial behavior is sometimes not without support.
What's the Story?
In LEAN ON ME, principal Joe Clark (Morgan Freeman) is called in to reform a decaying inner-city school, buckling under the weight of crime and failing test scores. Adopting a take-no-prisoners approach to clean things up, Clark runs afoul of community members, authorities, teachers, and students, using boorish, humiliating tactics to get results. But can his radical methods turn Eastside High around before the state steps in?
This high-energy portrayal of a true story will hold viewers' attention with its terrific performances -- particularly from Freeman, who is dazzling as the temperamental Clark. It certainly makes Lean on Me a compelling watch, but inspiration turns to discomfort at points when Clark appears as out of control as the school he's trying to reform -- which sets the film apart from more polished, cookie-cutter examples that can lose complexity in their attempt to portray heroism.
Some subplots are left a little unexplored, but serve more as a means of showing a much-needed softer side to Clark, such as the troubles of his student Kaneesha (an empathetic and very watchable Karen Malina White). Overall, the movie balances its inspiring message with enough gray areas to raise important questions about whether the ends always justify the means.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the advantages and limitations of using films like Lean on Me to dramatize real stories. Can movies tell a true story in ways that other media, such as books or podcasts, can't? Do you always know what's taken directly from life and what's been added for dramatic effect?
Discuss the character of Joe Clark. What do you think about his intentions versus his methods of reaching his goal? How does the ambiguity and complexity of his character affect the film and its messages?
Often in films, a character goes on a journey of change. Did you see a change in Clark during the movie? Do any characters around him experience their own changes?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
suggesting a diversity update.
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
