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For other uses, see Kids in America.

Kids in America is a 2005 film directed by Josh Stolberg. It was written by Andrew Shaifer and Josh Stolberg. The film is inspired by real events.

Cast

• Gregory Smith – Holden Donovan
• Stephanie Sherrin – Charlotte Pratt
• Chris Morris – Chuck McGinn
• Caitlin Wachs – Katie Carmichael
• Nicole Camille Richie – Kelly Stepford
• Samantha Mathis – Jennifer Rose
• Julie Bowen – Principal Weller
• Malik Yoba – Will Drucker
• Alex Anfanger– Lawrence Reitzer

Synopsis

Based on real events, Kids In America is a teen dramedy about a diverse group of high school kids who band together to peacefully protest their principal's draconian infringement on their freedom of speech. Boasting an impressive cast of both established stars and new talent, "Kids" tackles such issues as sex education, freedom of speech, and responsibilities of peaceful protesting.

Holden Donovan (Gregory Smith) is fed up with Principal Weller (Julie Bowen) who goes to great lengths to stop the students from exercising their right to free expression. She expels a young woman for passing out condoms and advocating safe sex on national “safe sex” day and suspends two boys who were kissing in the hallway. Meanwhile, she is running for the Superintendent of their school district, which will give her a chance to practice her brand of administration beyond Booker High School.

The students have an ally in Mr. Drucker (Malik Yoba) one of their teachers who encourages them to fight for their rights. He pays a price for his leadership and is fired by Principal Weller. He decides to use his dismissal to make a change of his own, by producing a documentary chronicling the experiences of students who are faced with similar issues.

As the story unfolds, Donovan befriends a group of kids including love interest Charlotte (Stephanie Sherrin), Lawrence, Chuck, Walanda, Emily and Katie. Together they organize the student body to take on Weller and make real change at Booker High.

Trivia

• During the end credits, Holden explains that in 1941, the film You're in the Army Now boasts the longest onscreen kiss - 3 minutes and 5 seconds. Charlotte replies, "Are you ready ... to rewrite a little bit of film history?" They then kiss, while the end credits roll, for 5 minutes and 57 seconds. (DVD version)

Soundtrack

The movie contains the following songs:

• "Bonnie Taylor Shakedown" - hellogoodbye
• Freedom Ain't Free" - Crystal Celeste Grant and Steve Kim
• "False Alarm" - The Hometeam
• "Hands 2 tha Pump" - Da Digger
• "You Are My Friend" - Brownskin
• "Welcome to My World" - Nerf Herder
• "Race Cars" - Allister
• "Change the World" - An Angle
• "It Ain't Right" - Ilona
• "Remembering Britt" - Day at the Fair
• "Sesame Smeshame" - The Early November
• "Anthem" - Trevor Hall
• "Sunday in the Public Restroom with George" - Rand Singer, Alex Anfanger and Chris Morris
• "Symphony" - I Am the Avalanche
• "She Rules the School" - Daniel Cieral
• "I Want You" - James Blunt
• "If You Were Here" - Thompson Twins
• "Moving in Stereo" - The Cars
• "Exit, Emergency" - Houston Calls
• "My Sleep Pattern Changed" - The Early November
• "Knights of the Island Counter" - David Melillo
• "Letters to Summer" - The Track Record
• "U and Left Turns" - Socratic
• "Bad" - Ilona
• "The Bad Touch" - The Bloodhound Gang
• "Sydney" - Halifax
• "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" - R.E.M.
• "Somewhere on Fullerton" - Allister
• "One More Won't Hurt" - Houston Calls
• "All Our Words" - Long Since Forgotten
• "Summertime" - Brother Love

Notably absent from the film's soundtrack is Kim Wilde's 1980s pop hit "Kids in America".

External links

• Official site
• Kids in America at the Internet Movie Database