X
- 2017
- PG-13
- Vertical Entertainment
- 1 h 45 m
- 2017
- PG-13
- Vertical Entertainment
- 1 h 45 m
Summary Frustrated by the hypocrisy they see in their parents, teachers, and the entire school board, an unlikely trio set out to find a common truth and make their voices heard as they revive a defunct school club and take on the world.
Directed By: Dan Harris
Written By: Stephen Karam
- 2017
- PG-13
- Vertical Entertainment
- 1 h 45 m
- 2017
- PG-13
- Vertical Entertainment
- 1 h 45 m
Speech & Debate
46
User Score
Available after 4 ratings
tbd
Where to Watch
Summary Frustrated by the hypocrisy they see in their parents, teachers, and the entire school board, an unlikely trio set out to find a common truth and make their voices heard as they revive a defunct school club and take on the world.
Directed By: Dan Harris
Written By: Stephen Karam
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 5 Critic Reviews
46
20% Positive
1 Review
1 Review
80% Mixed
4 Reviews
4 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 5 Critic Reviews
46
20% Positive
1 Review
1 Review
80% Mixed
4 Reviews
4 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Although the story, which feels a tad past its expiration date, never digs too deeply into its central issues (hypocrisy, loneliness, censorship, finding one’s voice), Dan Harris’ peppy direction and nimble turns by the film’s young leads prevail.
Though energetically shot and blessed with some appealing performances (including winningly strange cameos for theater darlings Lin-Manuel Miranda and Darren Criss), Speech & Debate never manages to make a convincing case for itself.
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.
The film’s stage origins, and a cameo appearance by Lin-Manuel Miranda, may be of interest to theater buffs, but everyone else will be left wondering what all the fuss was about.
Director Dan Harris (Imaginary Heroes) structures Speech & Debate like a musical comedy that's building up to a cathartic final number, but scene after scene just falls flat.
User Reviews
There are no user reviews yet. Be the first to add a review.
