Chumscrubber, The MPAA Rating: R Entertainment: +1 Content: -3

In this so-called comedic drama, while the adult neighbors of a neat, upperclass community superficially socialize, their teenagers are buying, selling and consuming drugs. Dean (Jamie Bell) finds the kids chief supplier and schoolmate, Troy, in his room, dead, apparently a suicide victim. Dean becomes the target of classmates, led by Billy (Justin Chatwin), desperate to access Troys drugs. Billy decides to hold hostage Deans little brother but mistakenly kidnaps Charlie Bratley (Thomas Curtis), whose mother (Rita Wilson) is too preoccupied with her plans to marry the mayor (Ralph Fiennes) to notice hes missing. Meanwhile, Troys mother (Glenn Close) calls neighbors to reassure them she doesnt blame them for her sons death. Deans father (William Fichtner), an author of self-help books, sees his sons experience of finding his friends body as a choice item for a new book.

Chumscrubber refers to a popular action video game featuring a headless hero, implying that the dead Troy is somehow a hero. Unable to communicate with their self-absorbed parents or each other, the floundering teenagers turn to drugs as their escape. Deans shock at finding his best friend dead makes him withdraw, pretending total indifference. His fathers solution is to give him a bottle of antidepressants. As Billy threatens to kill his hostage, he brandishes a knife that ends up injuring both Billy and Charlie. Crystal (Camilla Belle), Billys girlfriend, tries to diffuse the volatile situation by comforting young Charlie and befriending Dean. Frequent obscenities and profanity spew out of the mouths of all. While the drug use is portrayed in a negative way, the parents are the target of a mean-spirited attack on middle-class America, and no solution is offered.

Preview Reviewer: Mary Draughon
Distributor: Newmarket