Post by StevePulaski on Jul 17, 2011 21:33:40 GMT -5
Kay Panabaker and Emily Osmet in Cyberbully.
Rating: ★★★
One has to admire Cyberbully for its ambition to stop such a hateful and demeaning form of bullying that has now become sadly something to address by parents. But one also has to recognize that this will not delete cyberbullying. ABC Family and Seventeen Magazine hope this will "delete digital drama," but it won't. Bullying, of all forms, will still exist even though this realistic film was made. It is inevitable.
Cyberbullying is one of the many unnecessary things in this world, and sadly, it exists. I applaud the fact ABC Family wanted to delete the drama that happens online by creating this movie, but the fact is that is impossible. There is no way to stop it. If someone who bullies online watches this they will probably say something like; "what a loser, this movie is so gay" rather than take a lesson from it. Very few will, but many won't.
During the movie, various commercials like SocialShield and even a "Stomp the Bullying" ad with Emily Osment as the spokesperson appeared urging viewers to call a hotline if they themselves or someone they know is being bullied online. At least ABC Family is making an honest and fair attempt to address an issue that needs to be addressed.
Cyberbully focuses on a teenage girl named Taylor Hillbridge (Osment). She is a normal girl, aspiring journalist (close to home right there), and lives with her brother and single mother (Rowan). Taylor gets a laptop for her birthday and makes an account on the social-networking site Clickster. Soon, her brother hacks her account, as a joke, and posts slanderous comments much to her dismay. That is the trigger effect to much more online bullying from her peers and more unnecessary stress.
Meanwhile, as this worsens, Taylor's mom tries to get a law made making cyberbullying illegal. The quest isn't going so well, but a determined mom with a struggling teen isn't likely to give up any time soon.
ABC Family hasn't necessarily made the best TV movies recently (can't forget - they made Mean Girls 2), but this one stands out for its message and its acting. It truly is a shame that so much garbage goes to theaters now and this honest and open film can't get picked up for a wide release. Both Osment and Rowan do a very good job, and this could very well be Osment's breakout movie role.
The film's ending isn't the Hollywood ending I expected. It's very sincere and honest, much like the rest of the film. I think this film is in someway related to the Megan Meier incident, but don't quote me on that for I'm unsure. The Megan Meier Foundation was credited at the end, but I'm sure they just funded money to the film. Cyberbully is a must see film, but it isn't a brilliant film. For ABC Family standards, it's Oscar worthy. For film standards, I can see this being overlooked and forgotten in a few years. One of the few times I pray I'm wrong.
Starring: Emily Osment, Kelly Rowan, and Kay Parabaker. Directed by: Charles Binamé.