Speech & Debate (2017) User Reviews

Occasionally Entertaining, But Empty Teen Film

[molemandavid · 6/10 · 4 August 2017]

Speech & Debate seems like it wants to go for the jugular and say something profound about small town teen life, but every time it gets close, it chickens out and settles for dull clichés.

The cast certainly seems game. Our three teen leads are appealing, charming, and a joy to watch, but the pedestrian script doesn't do them any favors. It wants to have something to say about gay issues, teen pregnancy, pedophilia, religion, detached parents, and overly moralistic school boards, but it never digs into one of them below the surface and the whole film becomes sort of like a light episode of Glee.

This is not to say that Speech & Debate is without amusing moments, but the laughs aren't big enough to function as a comedy and the drama isn't real or powerful enough to function as a drama. Speech & Debate just sort of...is. In its goal to be inoffensive, light, and watchable for all audiences, it no longer has any bite.

This is a Netflix pick at best.

Outcasts speak out

[wrxsti54 · 6/10 · 18 July 2020]

I watched this movie mostly to catch up on Liam James since his standout performance in "The Way Way Back". It is a humorous take on how three high school kids are rejected by the school board, teachers and then students at small town Oregon high school for their strong positions on things: Sarah Steele as Diwata Jones who is a natural drama/musical actress is rejected for the lead part in a school musical because she insists removed lines and scenes about teen pregnancy are restored, Liam James as Solomon Merrick who is an unassuming but intrepid reporter on the school paper who wants to report on the scandal of a teacher dismissed for child sex abuse but is silenced and Austin McKenzie as Howie Hawthorne a gay recent transferee from liberal Portland to a conservative Salem who wants to set up a Gay Straight Alliance at the school but is thwarted.

The three try to find voices for their rejected passions in the school Speech and Debate Club with mixed results. The movie climaxes with a compelling song and dance routine at the School Board's open mike night with a somewhat satisfying conclusion for the three upperclass students.

The plot did jump around a bit but the acting was good not great. I do find Hollywood's tendency to use youthful looking young adult actors playing teenagers to be annoying as it robs the movie of adolescent authenticity. Austin McKenzie was 23 playing an 18 year old, Sarah Steele was 28 ridiculously also playing a Senior and even Liam James (who was a very young looking 20 year old) was playing a Junior, these are all grown adults and they bring poise, maturity and on stage professionalism that is less evident with what an actual 17 or 18 year old actor still be in high school would be like. Looking young just isn't enough and when you're trying to cover quite heavy topics like teen pregnancy, censorship of young voices and how gay students cope in small town high schools, the movie's makers would've done the story lines more justice if they had used actors who really were still in the trenches of high school to best portray issues like these.

Low ratings are unfair

[casperenkelaar · 7/10 · 18 March 2021]

I see people who gave it a low rating because it isn't representative of real speech and debate clubs. That's true but the movie is about totally different themes. It's about adults refusing to acknowledge real issues and ignoring teens who are literally shouting to be heard. I think the movie did a great job at portraying this. I think the characters are fun and loveable as well.

An enjoyable portrayal of teenage life

[Gordon-11 · 8 May 2017]

This film tells the story of three teenagers in high school, who try to fit in and to find themselves in a conservative town where their voices are not heard by adults. They choose to form a speech and debate club to make their voices heard.

"Speech & Debate" is a good teenage film, that convincingly tells realistic teenage troubles. People can easily relate to the topics shown in the film, such as school censorship, bullying and general social awkwardness during teenage years. The girl, Diwata, seems not a nice person to start with, but she is in fact confident, assertive, supportive and caring. I like the three teenagers in the film, and I like the positivity on the story. I enjoyed it.

Teenage confusions and issues

[mohdshafiulhaque · 6/10 · 22 April 2017]

Over all, the movie, directed by Dan Harris and featuring name actors like Kal Penn and Janeane Garofalo in small roles, has a focus problem that leaves its humorous moments obscured and its intentions hazy. Based on a 2008 off-Broadway play, this movie seems determined to cover every issue of concern for teenagers under the sun, and then some. Adult hypocrisy, teachers who are sexual predators, fuddy-duddy school boards, homophobia, internet hate and humiliation, bullying, teen pregnancy, underage drinking, freedom of speech, the difficulties in being a gay teenager new to a small town -- these are all addressed. While these characters are not saints -- they binge-drink and get sloppily drunk, talk of having unprotected sex, and have anonymous sex with adults in a nearby park -- they are also shown to be works in progress who find ways to stay true to themselves and to learn from their mistakes, despite the double-standards of the adults and the snubs from their peers.

Coming out ... to speak

[kosmasp · 7/10 · 23 February 2018]

Sometimes you are not able to get into a debate. For kids this is not something new. And when I say kids, I mean teens. While many do try to have fun during that period, that doesn't mean that some kids are more mature and have things that bother them, that they want to talk about. Now to some this may seem trivial and I reckon considering the latest mass shooting at a school, you could very well argue that point.

But it is not just about petty things, it is about the general state of not being able to listen to the person sitting next or opposite to you. When our main actor is trying to change something in his school, he's being shut down. He's being told to go and do something else. Like join an existing club. One that no one pays attention to anyway. So the solution is to keep one quiet. And while I see one other reviewer being angry about the title of the movie, be aware that there is more to this. And even if you feel the movie has missled you, that doesn't mean it has bad intentions or has bad acting in it. It is a slow burner and therefor hard to swallow at times, adding to the teen drama and missunderstandings. But it also has some merits to it, that I hope you can see and also hope they will be able to get you to think about other people too - because that is the message - Debate, but don't forget to listen

Neither a comedy nor a drama

[blackbeagle-33579 · 1/10 · 12 May 2019]

It's teen TV. Also you have to read half the movie because it's via texting. Because that's what all the cool kids do. Basically it's about turning the debate team into a gay musical.

The movie centers around the same 3 teen archetypes we see in every teen movie.

[mollymm-82798 · 5/10 · 14 June 2017]

As an active competitor in speech and debate, I was thrilled to see a movie that I thought would explore the ins and outs of the forensics world! However, I was extremely disappointed to see that, in a movie titled Speech & Debate, with most descriptions and summaries claiming it to be about speech and debate, there was actually very little speech and debate in the movie. Furthermore, it only highlighted 3 events out of all the popular, fun events on the national circuit. But, lack of forensics aside, the movie still isn't great. Diwata's pregnancy scare was predictable, the characters don't get much retribution for their mistakes, and it has a strong trying-too-hard vibe in its attempts to show the struggles of modern teenagers.

As a speech and debater...

[shadowspirit-33303 · 1/10 · 6 July 2017]

What is this? This is not at all what speech is like. This is a ploy for money. This is overly dramatic (even for a DI) and please...what about OI, Expos, OPP, TI, Extemp, HI, and all the other events? No, speech is not some musical where we dance around naked. It's a lot more prestigious than that and this movie makes it into a joke. It is simply filled with Plot lines that have been done before over and over... Rachel Corrie did not get run over for this.

Pretty awesome show

[vinienair · 9/10 · 25 July 2017]

I really like coming of age movies so I googled for some and stumbled upon this one. The summary really won me over but I wanted to do some investigating before I proceeded to watch it. I got some mixed reviews and was skeptical. However, after watching it, I was blown away. I loved it. Although it wasn't 10/10 for me and I am no movie expert, the way the movie was made and the originality of the characters despite having clichéd labels was on-point. I felt a sense of relief when I finished watching it which is always awesome. So please go and watch it.

So Inaccurate

[isabellaocanas · 1/10 · 23 January 2018]

Honestly if I could give this movie zero stars I would. As someone who has competed in speech and debate for the past three years this is the most inaccurate representation of what speech and debate is. First of all the movie only dedicated 8% of the entire hour and a half to the actual speech and debate tournament. Second when looking at the events, in dramatic interpretation THAT IS NOT HOW YOU POP IN BETWEEN CHARACTERS. And there is literally no such thing as persuasive speaking or group interpretation But there is duo interpretation which i compete in so i should know just as well as the people who made this move that YOU CAN'T TOUCH OR LOOK AT YOUR PARTNER. I don't even think anyone who helped make this movie even knows what speech and debate is. This is the worst movie ever. That is all. Thank u.

Blatantly Disrespectful

[codydsmith-41894 · 1/10 · 23 January 2018]

Speech & Debate is the kind of movie so incompetent that it's title fails to deliver on what this movie actually is. A Better title would've been Misunderstood(?) Teens and the Several Town Hall Meetings. To begin, the majority of the film isn't even about speech and debate and literally half of the categories are made up. And the climax of the movie isn't about them attempting to win a tournament, it's just more stupid teen drama. The acting is fairly terrible and the entire premise is flimsy with the plot being...well i couldn't really tell you. Stuff happens but none of it really matters. This movie is the definition of a disgrace and I'm sad it exist because it could have been so much more interesting. A true waste of time for all involved and a disgusting interpretation of what Speech and Debate actually is. The only thing this movie will ever be good for is an HI at a real Speech Tournament If 0/10 was possible, I would.

As a debater

[rileyfitz-40417 · 1/10 · 23 October 2017]

This is not at all an accurate representation of what it is like to be apart of a speech and debate team. I was so excited, seeing as though debate does not get a lot of media. This was an awful portrayal of that community. If you are going to make a movie about something. make sure it is somewhat accurate. They turned the first debate movie into a crappy typical high school movie with a below average plot line, scaring anyone else in Hollywood from making a debate movie that would be accurate and entertaining.

So snoringly boring

[skpn123 · 1/10 · 4 December 2018]

Just couldn't finish this movie even when it is background to my work. I need something to keep me awake not put me to sleep

Fun coming of age movie

[fojin-49848 · 10/10 · 6 January 2019]

I thought this was a great movie with a fun and entertaining cast! It made me laugh, kept me entertained, and the story was cute.

Ehh

[snowman-97743 · 3/10 · 23 May 2019]

Gonna be honest only watched this because Austin McKenzie was attractive

Fun movie!! :D

[lillypoplisa · 8/10 · 22 August 2017]

I really enjoyed this movie!! :D It was only rated one and a half stars for me on Netflix but I don't know why because it was totally my kind of movie!! The only reason that I've rated it 8/10 stars on here is because it lacked the romance that it made me expect :D It's a really fun filled movie though - especially if you enjoy songs about crap sandwiches :'D

A delightful, uncompromising film that raises a beautiful flag....

[RosanaBotafogo · 9/10 · 20 June 2021]

It was so cult, until it turned into a slapstick, teenagers falling drunk and drugged into swindling, it misrepresented what would be a light and fun film about smart young liberals and militating for sexual freedom, single mothers and the like, the speech & debate he almost got lost... But he recovered brilliantly, that final musical, saved him, it was what I expected from these young "troublemakers" and reactionaries... A delightful, uncompromising film that raises a beautiful flag....

Thinking about: Liam James

[yusufpiskin · 8/10 · 27 December 2019]

Nerds, come get your jush!!!!!! High school is such a strange institution where adults are responsible for nurturing your dreams and yet gatekeep them infuriatingly. This trio of an awkward journalism guy, a bone-deep theatre kid, and a newcomer queer are told NOPE at every turn but they never stop never stopping!!!!! If you were any of those things yourself in high school, you gotta watch this. It pokes at your soul and reminds you to keep dancing until your dreams materialize. The dialogue is witty, the comedy is sharp, and Kal Penn wears a suit! It's a big fat slice of nerd life and they just get know-it-all high school extracurricular culture so so right.

Don't get me started on the cameos. I have no idea how this movie gave us Lin-Manuel Miranda on a VHS dressed as a genie and didn't get more attention. That's like gotta be lifted from a fanfic somewhere. And that wasn't even my favorite cameo!

(End of movie spoiler) Kristin mfing Chenoweth laid down a track for this!!!!!!!! Nurse!!!!!!!!!!!!

Teens coming of Age

[agberterdoo · 8/10 · 17 September 2018]

If you are coming to see a movie about debate then this is not a movie for you. The main focus of the film is about the three teens that make up the debate team and their struggles. I love how light hearted and funny this film is, and how the kids form a great bond with one another!

Very fun movie

[gulovesmusic · 8/10 · 21 March 2020]

It's a very entertaining movie all over. The acting was good made some interest points and above else it was really fun I got a smile for almoste the entire lenght! Really recomend