New Guy, The MPAA Rating: PG-13 Entertainment: +2 1/2 Content: -3

High school can be an agonizing time in a young persons life, particularly when theyre targets for pranks by popular bullies. Dizzy Gillespie Harrison (DJ Qualls) knows from experience, but thinks his senior year will be different. In this improbable tale, a school infraction earns him a short stay in the local prison unit. Luther (Eddie Griffith), a long-term prisoner, befriends Dizzy and teaches him how to change his image. Wanting a fresh start in a new school, Dizzy gets expelled from Rocky Creek High and enters East Highlands as Gil Harris. Using what he learned from Luther, Gil quickly gains popularity in the new setting and even helps motive the losing football team into a winning year. But the championship game against Rocky Creek could expose his embarrassing past. Older teens and young adults will recognize some of the humorous truths in both school and business as Dizzy learns the ins and outs of being THE NEW GUY.

Although the film tries hard to be likable and delivers some good messages, it is also filled with objectionable material typical of teen-oriented comedies. At Rocky Creek, Dizzy is often the target for pranks and a noticeable arousal earns a painful injury. A gospel choir sings in a mall and the leader talks about abstinence being hip. Dizzy, however, grabs the microphone and parodies evangelistic style preaching while telling about his sexual frustrations. This minor disturbance earns his first stay in the local prison where he meets Luther. Recognizing similar experiences in high school, Luther teaches Dizzy how to act tough, including kicking a guys crotch to win a fight. One of the prisoners is a transvestite, whose picture Dizzy later uses as his girlfriend to impress guys. In the new school, Dizzys new tough guy image attracts propositions from girls, including an offer to make out and take our clothes off from a popular cheerleader with a promiscuous reputation. The offer is inadvertently rejected by a fall off a roof. Trying to get expelled from Rocky Creek, Dizzy videos the principle on the commode, complete with sounds. Dizzys father (Lyle Lovett) shows support for his son, but misunderstands Dizzys actions as indications of drug use. After denying his friends in front of a new girlfriend, Dizzy later apologizes and uses his new popularity to make positive changes in the school, including inspiring the students to treat others better. When confronted by his embarrassing past, his new friends support Dizzy. He even learns that the most popular people have overcome embarrassing pasts. Unfortunately, the positive messages are mixed with crude sexual material, vulgar language and inappropriate moderate violence.

Preview Reviewer: Paul Bicking
Distributor: Columbia Pictures, 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232