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Poster for The Battle of Shaker Heights

The Battle of Shaker Heights

When you're 17, every day is war.

2003 · 1h 19m · PG-13 Comedy, Drama, Romance
Directed by Kyle Rankin , Efram Potelle

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Overview

A quirky teen with a penchant for war reenactments, Kelly Ernswiler obsesses over military tactics with his buddy Bart. The school bully is one of Kelly's regular headaches, and he also has to deal with a frustrating situation at home, where his father is a recovering drug addict. Kelly's life gets even more complicated when he falls for Tabby, Bart's pretty and soon-to-be-wed older sister.

Director and cast

Critics on Rotten Tomatoes

Top critics, in their words

All reviews
39%
Tomatometer
Rotten

After the movie scored poorly at a test screening, Miramax vice president Rick Schwartz bullied directors Efram Potelle and Kyle Rankin into playing up the comedic elements and soft-pedaling the family drama.

J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader
Fresh

For most of its length it coasts by with above-average charm and a solid grasp of messy adolescent emotions.

Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune
Rotten

The film is well-acted and looks good, but it's so inconsequential and bland that you wonder what was it about the script that made anyone think it would make an interesting movie.

Eric Harrison, Houston Chronicle
Rotten

Cinematic mush.

Robert Denerstein, Denver Rocky Mountain News
Fresh

It's too much going on, but I think that as was the case with Stolen Summer, the actors rise above the material and make it worth seeing.

Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper

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