MIDDLE SCHOOL: THE WORST YEARS OF MY LIFE

First thing’s first: for those not in the know, Middle School is years 7 and 8, meaning the characters of ‘Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life’ are too young to be involved in sex, drugs or rock and roll, and too old to involve puppets or talking animals. Basically, it’s a small, niche market that almost seems made up, and yet here we are. Also, this movie is based on a book series so for this film in particular - so even though its title involves the word “years”, the events actually only take place over a few short months.

Rafe Katchadorian (Griffin Gluck, ‘Why Him?’) is starting a new school after being expelled from his last one. He’s a good kid but dealing with his absent father and the recent death of his brother, Rafe has retreated into his own world of cartoons that he obsessively draws day and night and imagines come to life. There’s also his mum’s (Lauren Graham) evil boyfriend Bear (Rob Riggle), a major douche who Rafe and his sister Georgia (Alexa Nisenson) actively try to ruin. Luckily Rafe has his best friend Leo (Thomas Barbusca) by his side. But when Rafe comes face-to-face with the oppressive head of his new school, Principal Dwight, with his iron fist and his epic book of rules, the pair don’t see eye-to-eye. Rafe makes it his mission to break every one of those rules and jeopardise the results of Principal Dwight’s precious BLAAR test - a standardised test that ensures the school’s top ranking.