Rushmore MPAA Rating: R Entertainment: +2 Content: -2 1/2

Max Fischer (Jason Schwartzman), a 15-year-old student at an exclusive private school, seems to control professors, fellow students and a wealthy executive. Max is a thorn in the side of headmaster Dr. Guggenheim (Brian Cox), who must cope with the teenagers aggressive attempts to run Rushmore Academy. Although Max is failing, he is founder and president of many school clubs, writes and directs school plays, and even hires a contractor to build an aquarium on the schools baseball diamond. The aquarium is financed by Mr. Blume (Bill Murray), a millionaire who befriends Max and soon becomes his rival. Max thinks the aquarium will win the affection of Miss Cross (Olivia Williams), the first grade teacher. But Mr. Blume and Miss Cross fall in love, and Max is expelled from Rushmore, shattering his lofty dreams. This bizarre comedy draws surprisingly few laughs as these three lonely characters struggle with their own private demons. The plot may be too unbelievable for mainstream audiences to identify with.

Max uses aggressive, rude behavior and frequent lies to cover his insecurities. Maxs one enduring close relationship is with his father, whos always there for his son. Miss Crosss kindness sends false messages to Max, who becomes very possessive of her. He insults her date, spies on her and Mr. Blume, and tells Mr. Blumes wife about his affair with Miss Cross. Maxs severe vindictiveness causes Miss Cross to lose her job and destroys her relationship with Mr. Blume. Mr. Blumes teenage twin sons, the school hoodlums, curse and insult their father. RUSHMORE has no sex, but the students frequently make suggestive remarks about genitals and other crude references to sexual behavior. Six s words and 7 f words, plus several other obscenities and four regular profanities foul the dialogue. Teenagers frequent lying, vindictive behavior, cursing, smoking and drinking treated humorously, along with adults allowing such behavior, makes this a movie for discerning viewers to avoid.

Preview Reviewer: Mary Draughon
Distributor: Touchstone Pictures, Walt Disney Co., 500 S. Buena Vista, Burbank, CA 91521