Let's be realistic.

Did you people see the same film I saw?

Better Late Then Never

A lot of perfectly good film show their cards early, establish a unique premise and let the audience explore a topic at a leisurely pace, without much in terms of surprise. this film is not one of those films.

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.

In my opinion, Shredderman Rules! lived up to all of the potential that the commercials tried to convey to the viewers. It may not be the deepest, most thought provoking movie, but you'll be laughing your head off either way.Devon Werkheiser did amazing as Nolan Byrd, though I may be biased because I thought he was amazing in Ned's Declassified. His character did remind me of Ned, but I think that Werkheiser brought different elements to Nolan that differentiated the character from Ned. He did amazing in subtly changing Nolan from an major geek into someone with self-confidence. I have to admit, his random dance scenes are my favorite.I wasn't extremely fond of the character Isabel. Francia Almendarez is a good actress, and in my opinion, she did the best job possible portraying the character. I think it may have added to the movie if Isabel had been a bit less flighty. I was irritated when she would constantly flip back and forth between supporting and not supporting Shredderman. That particular problem could be attributed to the writers, though. I did, however, love the way she said "Yo!" to get his attention in the end. As well as the continuous line of "Nolan Byrd, you are so weird!"Andrew Caldwell was also hilarious. I think that he did an outstanding job conveying the non-conventional bully. All I really have to say is that the way he said his lines always had me laughing.As for the other characters, I thought Tim Meadows (Mr. Green), Daniel Roebuck (Bob Bixby), Mindy Sterling (Dr. Voss), Dave Coulier (Mr. Byrd), Alexandra Krosney (Tina), and Marisa Guterman (Miriam) did well. All of the quirky tendencies added to the comedy. I do wish, though, that the characters had been a little more developed. However, I understand that Nick can only do so much with two hours.Overall, I immensely enjoyed this movie. The cast was very well chosen, and the lines and random dance moves always had me smiling, if not laughing. The positive message sent to the viewers will always be a classic, as well as the happy ending. I don't think it would've been the same for me if Nolan hadn't gotten the girl in the end. Make sure you're prepared for extremely cheesy computer animation. But hey, it adds to the charm. ;]

Devon Werkheiser was HILARIOUS in this! This movie has entirely hilarious scenes. I JUST finished watching this movie and this is an awesome and the best movie ever. If they make a TV series, it would be my favorite! I recommend this film A lot! My favorite scene is when he dances and makes his inventions. I will start to read the book now! Devon and his co-stars were AWESOME! My favorite character was Nolan Byrd. The way it ended was HILARIOUS! Nolan finally asks Isabel on a date to the pond and he is freaking out doing all these things! She says YO! and says yes.Nolan is all happy and walks away for his new days and adventures as...SHREDDERMAN!

Devon Werkheiser plays the very Ned-Like Noland Byrd/Shredderman, in a school that is very much like James K. Polk Middle School. The only missing links in this story are Moze and Cookie. Susie's character is played by a young lady who looks just like Susie, but is not the same person.The whole thing seems to be part of a Devon Werkheiser promo weekend in which he is joined by Cookie and Moze, but Susie and the Shredderman female costar is absent (HMM). For some reason, Amanda Cosgrove and some other Nick-Stars join the "party." Cookie has a few lines in the canned viewing party, but Moze and Amanda keep silent. Must be a contractual thing.Overall, without spoiling the plot, this was a funny movie without being overly sappy. It is somewhat predictable--any Nick or Diz teen movie is--but the plot skips through unscathed by blurred lines, but full of holes.Good movie for teens or those of us who work with them for a living.