DVD Movie Rating for: Cheats aka Cheaters

Rating for Cheats aka Cheaters : 1 out of 5 stars

Movie Plot of: Cheats aka Cheaters

Cheats aka Cheaters follows a group of four friends as they lie, steal and cheat their way through an unjust school system. Handsome Davis (Trevor Fehrman) is the ring-leader and group strategist. Along with Sammy (Elden Henson), Victor (Matthew Lawrence) and Applebee/the crib master (Martin Starr), the guy who writes crazy small, these four avowed rebels have elevated cheating to an art-form. For them it has become an empowering act of vindication in the face of academic tyranny and the ever-looming specter of failing grades

DVD Production Details of: Cheats aka Cheaters

Starring: Trevor Fehrman, Elden Henson
Director: Andrew Gurland
Format: Widescreen, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound
Aspect Ratio(s): 1.85:1
Audio Encoding: Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround, DTS 5.1
Rated:
Studio: New Line Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: March 18, 2003
Run Time: 86

DVD Extra Bonus Features

The Real Cheats: This 18-minute documentary reunites (almost) all of the real cheaters that inspired the characters in the film. It's a somewhat interesting feature, but 18 minutes started to seem like a long time to watch these people revisit their high school days. Clips from the film and/or behind-the-scenes of the film are added in on occasion.

Also: 3 deleted scenes and trailers for "Drop Dead Gorgeous", "Sugar and Spice" and "Little Nicky".

Cast of the movie: Cheats aka Cheaters

• Kathryn Anderson .... 2nd Grade Teacher
• Babs Chula .... Mrs. Rosengarden (as Babz Chula)
• Dixon Cohee .... Greedy Herman
• Casey Dubois .... Handsome (2nd Grade/Kindergarten)
• Griffin Dunne .... Mr. Davis, Handsome's Father
• Trevor Fehrman .... Handsome Davis
• Leonie Haworth .... Julie (2nd Grade)
• Brandy Heidrick .... Hot Girl #1
• Elden Henson .... Sammy Green
• Parker Jay .... Student (as P.J. Johal)
• Brett Kelly .... Young Sammy
• David Krumholtz .... Evan Rosengarden
• Matthew Lawrence .... Victor Barone
• Maggie Lawson .... Julie Merkel
• Mary Tyler Moore .... Mrs. Stark, Principal North Point Academy
• Eliza Murbach .... Noga
• Lachlan Murdoch .... Horny Herman, Greedy's Brother
• Douglas Newell .... Proctor
• Morris Panych .... Mr. Alex Harkin, Math Teacher
• Will Sanderson .... Rexler the Jock
• Tania Saulnier .... Hot Girl #2
• Bethoe Shirkoff .... Grandmother
• Jared Van Snellenberg .... Shapiro the Note Taker
• Shayn Solberg .... Lebo
• Jewel Staite .... Teddy Blue the Curser
• Martin Starr .... Jonathan Jacob Applebee the Crib Master
• Lisa Jayne Stewart .... Kindergarten Teacher
• Bill Switzer .... Garret
• Ingrid Torrance .... Marla, Stark's Secretary
• Chang Tseng .... Marty the Janitor
• Barbara Tyson .... Mrs. Herman the 'Grade Book'
• Rachel Victoria .... Tough Girl
• Jay Brazeau .... Dr. Fox (uncredited)
• Marcus Hondro .... Homeless Guy (uncredited)
• Andrew Johnston .... Dr. Newman (uncredited)
• Aaron Joseph .... Kid (uncredited)
• Miriam Smith .... Nurse (uncredited)
• Jane Sowerby .... Woman (uncredited)

Photo Gallery of the movie: Cheats aka Cheaters

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Reviews of the movie: Cheats aka Cheaters

Usually, when studios send movies direct-to-video (or, even worse, straight-to-cable), it's not a good sign. In the case of New Line, however, things seem different. Some of the studio's direct-to-video titles (such as "Happy Campers", "Sleeping Dictionary" or "Dinner Rush", although "Rush" did get a minor theatrical release) have turned out to be unseen gems. "Cheats", a funny and witty teen comedy, is another example of a film direct-to-video film from the studio that deserves a bigger audience.

The film (not to be confused with the very good HBO docu-drama "Cheaters") stars Trevor Fehrman and Elden Henson as best friends Handsome Davis and Sammy Green. Both of them share a remarkable hatred for everything about school, and manage to perfect the art of cheating through every grade up to their jump to high school. Once they reach high school, they're united with Victor (Matthew Lawrence) and Jonathan (Martin Starr). With the talents of all four, they've perfected the art of cheating, using Jonathan to make remarkably tiny crib sheets and stealing the janitor's keys to get access to any room in the school. Trying to get them all thrown clear out of the school is principal Stark (Mary Tyler Moore).

Cheating has become an enormous problem in our school system, with papers being available on the internet for purchase and a general change in attitude towards the practice. "Cheats" doesn't have a great deal of plot and its plot is rather familiar, but I liked the way that it presented the negative aspects of cheating. In this case, how it causes potential future problems with getting into a college and how it can break up friendships. On the other hand, I liked aspects of how the film showed cheating - how the friends talked their way out of it, the mechnanics of their plans and eventually, how the girls made a stand not to give up their notes for free.

While not all of the jokes in Andrew Gurland's screenplay go over well, the cast does manage to sell them fairly well. Trevor Fehrman, who seems to be a combination of "That 70's Show"'s Topher Grace and Ron Livingston's "Office Space" character, does carry the movie well. Henson, Lawrence and Starr offer good supporting efforts, too. Ace cinematographer Fred Murphy ("October Sky", "Mothman Prophecies") gives the low-budget film's visuals strong energy, too.

Overall, this certainly isn't a movie without some faults, but it's sharper and funnier than most of the teen comedies that hit theaters over the past year. Worth a rental consideration from those in the age group.

Cheats aka Cheaters The DVD

VIDEO: "Cheats" is presented by New Line Home Entertainment in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. The picture quality isn't quite up to the usual standards from the studio, but the presentation is still more than satisfactory. Sharpness and detail remained respectable throughout the film, although a few scenes here and there did look slightly softer by comparison.

A few other minor flaws were scattered about, but nothing too terrible. I spotted a few noticable specks on the print used in a handful of scenes, but nothing too sizable. Minimal edge enhancement was also seen, but compression artifacts were absent. The film's color palette remained fairly low-key, but the transfer presented the look of the film in a way that appeared accurate.

SOUND: "Cheats" is presented by New Line in Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1. A comedy that takes place indoors for the most part, this is a typical "comedy" soundtrack that mainly comes from the front speakers. The surrounds do kick in on a couple of occasions for the music or very slight ambience, but their use will likely go unnoticed by many. Audio quality was satisfactory, with clear music and dialogue. As one might expect, given the material, the Dolby Digital and DTS soundtracks sounded similar.