And “Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life” has it pretty well when it comes to tweenage comedies. The film has a witty script and a bold comic spirit that evokes unexpected laughs from a standard story about the suburban college rebellion. CBS Films distributed the film as part of its partnership agreement with Lionsgate. The film also included a guerrilla marketing technique in which CBS representatives traveled to elementary and middle schools in the United States to hang posters and hold screenings. [13] On social media, the film received several messages from Patterson and stars Riggle and Graham, and RelishMix reported that the film caught the attention of fans of the book, compared to Diary of a Wimpy Kid. [13] Commercials for the film began airing on September 6, 2016; The film was released on the weekend of the 9th. October was the fifth-highest investment in television advertising at $3.9 million, with 14 ads aired 761 times across 26 networks, for a total of $14.6 million in television spending. [14] On October 4, the Entertainment Weekly website exclusively published the Post-It Notes scene. [15] MIDDLE SCHOOL: THE WORST YEARS OF MY LIFE is based on the book by bestselling author and publisher James Patterson. The focus is on Rafe Katchadorian (Griffin Gluck), who just started at another new college after being expelled from several others. Rafe`s only true friend is Leo (Thomas Barbusca), a former BFF who also finds himself in his new school.
It is led by Principal Dwight (Andrew Daly), who gives each student a textbook with arbitrary rules. Rafe finds solace in his beloved diary, where he keeps his doodles, drawings, and thoughts, but he is confiscated and destroyed (in a bucket of acid!). The next day, Rafe and Leo create a Rules mission for everyone to publicly “shred” the school rules, one by one. Meanwhile, Rafe and her brave younger sister Georgia (Alexa Nisenson) must face the two-faced boyfriend of their single mother (Lauren Graham), Carl (Rob Riggle). He`s a type of artist who always scribbles in his sketchbook, an escape from his problems at home, including mama (Lauren Graham, still Lorelai Gilmore) Bozo from a friend (Rob Riggle, hilarious as an obnoxious doofus). Rafael “Rafe” Khatchadorian, a transfer student, lives in a middle-class home with his mother Jules, his rebellious younger sister Georgia, and Jules` lazy and child-hating friend Carl, nicknamed Bear. Rafe has a hyperactive imagination and is very passionate about his artistic talent. Rafe can`t wait to start his first day at hills village middle school, but things don`t go the way he hopes when he discovers that principal Ken Dwight and assistant principal Ida Stricker are very cruel and much worse than the bullies. After Dwight destroys Rafe`s sketchbook by throwing it into a bucket full of acid, Rafe and his imaginary friend Leo (his late younger brother who died of cancer) have the idea of starting a massive “riot” to confront Principal Dwight and Stricker and break all the rules of the rulebook. They throw several pranks at Principal Dwight, Stricker, and school staff, including putting sticky notes throughout the school, filling the teacher`s living room with plastic balls, dyeing Principal Dwight`s hair, and turning the school`s trophy case into an aquarium.
He calls this plan “Operation Rules Are`t For Everyone” or R.A.F.E. One thing this children`s movie has to offer? A funny sidecast. In addition to the child actors, Andy Daly, Lauren Graham and Rob Riggle play.
