P.U.N.K.S (1999)

Overrated and overhyped

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

Despite being made sometime in the late 1990's, P.U.N.K.S. looks and feels at least ten years older (a curious music video montage featuring the kids in "Risky Business" Ray Bans causing mayhem on a miniature golf course is straight out of the '80s; a curiouser ZZ Top tribute was likely lost on P.U.N.K.S.'s intended audience). The cinematography is muddy and the sound is washed-out, giving it that undesirable Saturday afternoon UPN quality. In one scene it's painfully obvious that the filmmakers couldn't afford the rights to the Katrina and the Waves song "Walking on Sunshine," so they cobbled their own variation together instead.Typically, kids movies are allowed to get away with more because, hey, kids are stupid! This film is no exception. The adult characters (both good guys and bad) are all buffoons, a chain of various impossibilities move the plot along, and the laws of physics need not apply.But most troubling of all is the film's underlying message: the electronic muscular enhancer device that the kids steal and utilize is, for all intents and purposes, a steroid. However, the morality of using using such a device (to defeat various antagonists) is never questioned in any way, making it a sort of pro-performance-enhancing drugs movie. How odd.And before I lose this thought: The idea of using stun guns repeatedly on adults for laughs is pretty disturbing.Hebephiles will enjoy seeing a young Jessica Alba in various outfits. But even I--I mean, they will be bored by the majority of this overlong film, which should have ended twenty minutes before it actually does.This would have benefited from a DVD commentary track of some sort wherein the makers explained their intentions--or freely and unashamedly admitted that this was just "product." Perhaps such commentary could have been provided by a gaffer or a key grip.

When i saw the trailer for this movie i thought it looked like such a stupid film. But after seeing it i was totally suprised by the result. It may not make much sense but it was very enjoyable just like movies should be. I mean it had pretty bad acting and a pretty bad story but atleast you don't leave the movie thinking that you just wasted two hours of your life. So if you want to see a funny enjoyable movie, with the young but still hott jessica alba, johnny tsunami, and that kid from the big green, then here's a good one for you. This movie is not bad and it will suprise you if you think it is. And don't expect to be confused at any point in the movie...

Okay, I got to say, I did love this movie. I know that it's been criticized but I liked it alot. I thought that Brandon Baker was *ADORABLE* in it and Jessica Alba has become one of my current favorite actresses and she's good in my book along with Kristen Kruek. But it's a good kids movie, something that my little brothers might enjoy, so it has my approval

First and foremost, if any adults see this movie they will criticize it. But it's not for them, it's was made for kids, and kids alone. I personally thought that it was a really good movie, with an average over exaggerated plot (but it was good!), and a really great cast! I do recommend this movie, mostly to kids 12 and under, though, because of it's wide choice in characters, and the usual good guy, bad guy thing it's got going on. Take my word for it, it's a very fun movie :)