IMDb Rating

last updated: 2024-10-26Update data

Commonsensemedia Rating

last updated: 2024-10-26Update data

Black people have made a lot of progress, but nowhere near enough. It's time to wake up to the problems of racial injustice not just at home, but also around the world. Higher education has a lot of built-in problems, both academically and socially. Lots of issues raised or discussed, especially about divesting from South Africa before the end of apartheid, the hierarchies and rivalries of light-skinned versus dark-skinned African Americans, campus activism, fraternities and hazing, sex, and more.

Most characters model both good and bad behavior, or are basically good people with character flaws. Dap is an activist fighting for change, but he's also extremely judgmental and stubborn. Julian is clearly a horrible person who enjoys humiliating and manipulating people. Half-Pint is a good model of perseverance and endurance, but does something disturbing and wrong to get into a fraternity. Women are often pitted against each other. Rachel is a good model of integrity, Black empowerment, and standing up for herself, but struggles with her decision to pledge a sorority. Jane's naivete makes her a doormat and a victim.

A man manipulates his girlfriend into proving her love by agreeing to have sex with another man. She clearly doesn't want to, but agrees to go through with it, tearfully. The other man kisses her on the cheek and she's repulsed, then he starts to undress. Nothing else is shown, but later the other man says he's no longer a virgin. A major part of the story is an attempt to pledge a fraternity with hazing, bullying, and verbal abuse. None of it's life threatening, and is mainly meant to humiliate and test endurance. A scene where the pledges are paddled in the behind is played for comedy. A few quick fights between groups show punches being thrown, pushing, and shoving. A man catcalls to a woman pedestrian from his car. Some still photos in the opening credits show Civil-Rights era violence but no gore.

A man is fully nude from the side and in the dark so no sensitive parts are clearly seen. A few scenes show college students, mostly seniors, kissing with tongue, caressing, and undressing. Sex is simulated under covers. One scene shows a lot of licking on the chest and top of the head. Hand gestures imitate masturbation. A fraternity leader makes it clear that he won't admit virgins into the fraternity. A background shows stylized nude female statues.

"F--k," "p---y," "s--t," "bulls--t," "motherf--kers," "t-ts," "f-g," "goddammit," "damn," "ass," "butt," "boning," and "scrotum face." Racist name calling includes the "N" word, "pickaninny," "jigaboo," "tar baby," and "high yellow." One song in a dance number pits the "Jigaboos" against the "Wannabes" (want to be light skinned or white), and the end credits list the actors by those group names. Another dance number's song is called "Da Butt."

A neon Coors sign and a Red Stripe banner decorate a dorm room wall. A scene takes place in a Kentucky Fried Chicken. A Shasta can and a Gatorade bottle are visible.

A college student drinks from a tankard at a school dance. One ironic reference to smoking crack. Some background smoking at a school dance.