Amusing but odd comedy, giving the queen of oddness (Shirley MacLaine) the only chance to direct herself, let alone anyone else. She's playing her usual grumpy old woman (with hideous fright wig), the paternal grandmother of the title character (Alex D. Linzl, an odd ten year old who doesn't fit in, constantly in trouble with the mother superior (Kathy Bates) of his catholic school, even though he's the one being bullied. His divorced mother (Stacey Halprin) is like Mimi from "The Drew Carey Show", except three times the size, a bit hard to take until you get to know her, with a heart as big as she is. Dad Gary Sinise is upset when Bruno shows up for the school spelling bee wearing a toga style dress, and this creates conflict, only having the chance of being resolved when MacLaine and Halprin join forces to teach him to defend himself so he can go onto win the spelling bee and head to Rome to meet the pope.
A bit of catholic bashing seems to be a bit politically motivated with an anti-religious bias, but there are some very funny moments that give a new meaning to "Sister Act", especially the friendship between Lenz and the fake gun toting Kiami Davael, a young black girl who comes to his defense while he's being bullied and ends up becoming his only friend of the same age. There are the use of a few slurs here, but they are mainly present to make a point about how everyone is unique in their own way and deserves to be able to express themselves. It also gives a good argument against the ridiculousness of bullying and gives Bruno, dressed as Queen Elizabeth, the opportunity to beat up ons of the bullies. Sweet in nature outside of being a bit heavy handed, it won't make conservative audiences happy, but then again, it wasn't made for them.
A bit of catholic bashing seems to be a bit politically motivated with an anti-religious bias, but there are some very funny moments that give a new meaning to "Sister Act", especially the friendship between Lenz and the fake gun toting Kiami Davael, a young black girl who comes to his defense while he's being bullied and ends up becoming his only friend of the same age. There are the use of a few slurs here, but they are mainly present to make a point about how everyone is unique in their own way and deserves to be able to express themselves. It also gives a good argument against the ridiculousness of bullying and gives Bruno, dressed as Queen Elizabeth, the opportunity to beat up ons of the bullies. Sweet in nature outside of being a bit heavy handed, it won't make conservative audiences happy, but then again, it wasn't made for them.