Shredderman Rules (2007)

Nolan Byrd is a scrawny and shy 9th grader who, like all the other kids, is bullied by Bubba Bixby. Nolan, who has a particular knack with technology, decides to catch Bubba in action.

Director:

Savage Steve Holland

Writers:

Russell Marcus, Wendelin Van Draanen (book)

Stars:

Devon Werkheiser, Tim Meadows, Daniel Roebuck

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Devon Werkheiser	...	Nolan Byrd
Tim Meadows	...	Mr. Green
Daniel Roebuck	...	Bob Bixby
Andrew Caldwell	...	Alvin 'Bubba' Bixby
Dave Coulier	...	Dad
Clare Carey	...	Mom
Francia Raisa	...	Isabel (as Francia Almendarez)
Marisa Guterman	...	Miriam
Mindy Sterling	...	Dr. Sheila Voss
Curtis Armstrong	...	Mayor Izzo
Kendre Berry	...	Max
Julianna McCarthy	...	Grandma
Justin Lee	...	Todd
Alexandra Krosney	...	Tina
Chad W. Smathers	...	Randy (as Chad Smathers)

Storyline

Based on the kids' book series written by Wendelin Van Draanen comes "Shredderman Rules." Nolan Byrd (Devon Werkheiser) is a scrawny and shy 9th grader who, like all the other kids, is bullied by Bubba Bixby (Andrew Caldwell). When their teacher, Mr. Green ('Tim Meadows (I)'), allows the students to do a computer project, Nolan, who has a particular knack with technology, decides to catch Bubba in action. Several other books have followed.

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Plot Keywords:

student | teacher | wedgie | family relationships | wheelchair pushed downstairs | 

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Taglines:

He had to create a hero to become a hero.

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Genres:

Comedy | Family

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Certificate:

TV-Y7

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 June 2007 (USA)

Also Known As:

Atomember

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Rocart Inc.

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the Shredderman and Shreddergirl dream sequence, the car take-off and turn-around in the air is identical to that of the flying Delorean in Back to the Future (1985) and Back to the Future Part II (1989).

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Quotes

Isabel: [repeated Line] Nolan Byrd, you are so WEIRD!

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Connections

References King Kong (1933)

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Soundtracks

Walkin' on the Sun
Performed by Smashmouth

User Reviews

Not really that ingenious

Growing up and doing acting, as a profession is not always the easiest thing for certain people. There have been plenty of stories time and again of various child actors who hit it big in one film and completely botched it when they hit their double digits. For cases like these, some have recovered, while others never made it (alive even). It's a sad day to see youth like this head down the wrong path. There's no excuse for it. There is still hope though, especially when looking at Nickelodeon's school-friendly TV show Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide. Starring a truckload of child actors, when looking up the cast and where they are now, it's nice to see several of them have gone on made a name for themselves. More importantly the lead character Ned Bigby played Devon Werkheiser, has been the front runner of all them. Coming out with two extended play acoustic albums, jump starting his own youtube series called Devon's Life Survival Guide and continuing to play in movies, Werkheiser has not slowed down.

Slowly letting go of his schoolboy Ned Bigby image, Werkheiser began with this TV movie after the series ended. Here Werkheiser plays Nolan Byrd, a nerdy kid who follows all the rules. He studies hard, doesn't bother anyone and has had a crush on a girl named Isabel (Francia Raisa) since he was little and met her at a lake they both liked. Now, Byrd is harassed by school bully Alvin "Bubba" Bixby (Andrew Caldwell), the son of crooked wealthy town sewage owner Bob Bixby (Daniel Roebuck). When being assigned in class by his history teacher Mr. Green (Tim Meadows) to bring an important situation to light, Byrd decides to create an alias known as "Shredderman" who reveals all of Bubba's wrong doings. Written by Russell Marcus and based on a book by Wendelin Van Draanen, this middle/high school comedy isn't that clever. It is a TV movie so that does limit it's budget and resources, but everything comes off as just very generic among all other things. Savage Steve Holland who has headed other Nickelodeon movies also directed the film.

What writer Russell Marcus doesn't understand is how overused all the school tropes that are shown in this feature and how exaggerated they are. Bullying is still a very serious issue when it comes to school but the way it's displayed here doesn't feel that relevant in today's time. Do bullied kids even get "atomic wedgies" or "fish hooked" anymore? If anything, cyber-bullying feels like more of a thing now. Besides, with these particular humiliations, surely someone from the faculty would see this and would not stand for it. Yet this is a continuous thing at this school at least. This leads into the next point - consequences. Sure there are moments where someone will get what's coming to them but it's all contrived due to plot convenience. Any other time that it's due, it will never show its face. How does a student gain access to old personal digital video files? And if they were, what makes them think they can get away with it? There is such a thing as digital tracking and that can go a long way.

Story wise there's nothing to ride home about either. Making the typical school stereotypes even more generic are the clichés that come with them. The fact that Nolan Byrd acts weird around the girl he likes and his crush not understanding him has been done numerous times before. It's also quite obvious to how it'll end too unfortunately. The story doesn't even try to develop them in a way that'll have its audience feel any other way towards it. It's that straightforward. However even with these problems, the film isn't garbage to sit through. All actors perform their roles the way they should play them; no matter how cliché they may be. Shining among all these actors is Devon Werkheiser for his likability as an actor and his ability to work with whatever he's given. Francia Raisa as his love interest is all right but her character's actions only prove to influence Nolan Byrd's motivational choices. There's also another girl named Miriam (Marisa Guterman) who also likes Byrd, but of course the same can't be said.

Miriam is a socially awkward character and written to be continually disliked by her classmates. Wouldn't it have been nicer to have them accept her more? But no. On a side note Daniel Roebuck also resembles that of a cousin to Donald Trump, it's very odd. Plus Tim Meadows plays a super-relaxed teacher (which I don't know how he could've been hired) and Dave Coulier as Byrd Sr. The cinematography by William D. Barber, who normally serves as a camera operator works fine here. Knowing that it was a TV movie but had the look of something a little more than that was fine. There are some special effects shots though that weren't needed and they weren't that good. The music by Paul Doucette was okay too featuring a piano theme for Byrd and other instruments like organ and snare drum. Since it is a TV production, expecting an official release of the music would require too much money. So for what it's worth, Doucette's music is fine where it is being only in the film itself. It has its moments but nothing worth remembering.

Unfortunately the cast of likable actors, music and decent camera-work isn't enough to make this school bully story relevant in today's world. There are a lot of clichés in its story and characters that out date it rather than making it close to today's culture.