Cheats (film)
Cheats is a 2002 American comedy film about four friends that have been cheating their way through high school, and have to face new challenges to avoid getting caught before going to college. The lead roles are played by Trevor Fehrman, Matthew Lawrence, and Mary Tyler Moore.
| Cheats | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Andrew Gurland |
| Produced by | Chris Bender J.C. Spink A. J. Dix |
| Written by | Andrew Gurland |
| Starring | Martin Starr Matthew Lawrence Trevor Fehrman Elden Henson Mary Tyler Moore |
| Music by | Mark Mothersbaugh |
| Cinematography | Fred Murphy |
| Edited by | Troy T. Takaki |
| Distributed by | New Line Cinema |
Release date |
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Running time | 86 min. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The original name of the movie was Cheaters but was that thought likely to be confused with the 2000 movie Cheaters starring Jeff Daniels.
Plot
While other kids at the elite North Point Academy spend countless hours studying, Handsome Davis sees it as nothing more than a system of control over one's mind. That's why Handsome and his three best friends, Sammy, Victor and the cribsheet genius Applebee, have banded together and found ways to cheat on their tests all through their school years. Everything had been going along smoothly until the gang entered their final year of high school and the stakes were upped by the school's principal, Mrs. Stark. If they get caught cheating again Stark will make a note in their permanent records and possibly kill their chances of getting into college. But can Handsome convince his pals to pull off one last great cheat with him, outsmarting Stark and the system, even if it means possibly destroying their friendships?
Release
It was supposed to be released in 2001, but was delayed until September 20, 2002. It was released on DVD and VHS in 2003.
Documentary
On the DVD edition there is an 18-minute documentary, showing people on whose real life events the story is based, more than 10 years earlier.[1] The real Jonathan Applebee refused to take part in the special feature documentary based on the actual Cheats, so his name had to be censored whenever used.
Main cast
- Trevor Fehrman as Handsome Davis
- Elden Henson as Sammy Green
- Matthew Lawrence as Victor Barone
- Martin Starr as Jonathan Applebee
- Mary Tyler Moore as Mrs. Stark, Principal, North Point Academy
- Maggie Lawson as Julie Merkel
- Babz Chula as Mrs. Rosengarden
- David Krumholtz as Evan Rosengarden
- Dixon Cohee as Greedy Herman
- Griffin Dunne as Mr. Davis, Handsome's father
- Morris Panych as Mr. Alex Harkin
- Will Sanderson as Rexler
- Jewel Staite as Teddy Blue
- Bill Switzer as Garret
- Tseng Chang as Marty
- Barbara Tyson as Mrs. Herman
- Kathryn Anderson as 2nd Grade Teacher
- Brett Kelly as Young Sammy
- Casey Dubois as Handsome (2nd Grade / Kindergarten)
- Leonie Haworth as Julie (2nd Grade)