Barnes & Noble

The gags in How to Eat Fried Worms are more culinary than comical -- you do not want to see this movie either directly before or after eating. Thomas Rockwell's enduring 1973 book is given the Fear Factor treatment as new kid Billy (Luke Benward) makes a stomach-churning bet with the school bully, Joe (Adam Hicks) and his cowed lackeys. Billy accepts Joe's challenge to eat 10 worms in one day (it was 15 worms in 15 days in the book), served up in increasingly nauseating recipes with such exotic names as the Greasy Brown Toad Bloater Special, Peanut Butter & Worm Jam Sandwich, Worm à la Mud, and "Barfmellow." Kids should definitely not try this at home (particularly the worm-in-the-microwave entree). "Boys are so weird," observes Erika (Hallie Kate), a too-tall girl who befriends Billy. As the day unfolds, Billy earns the respect of his tormentors, who, one by one, switch allegiances and cheer him on. Some things are best left to the imagination, but in between courses, How to Eat Fried Worms serves up digestible lessons about friendship, fitting in, and adjustment. Our compliments to the chef, director Bob Dolman: The performances and dialogue feel natural; the sense of Saturday afternoon mischief is infectious; and gratuitous profanity is off the menu. Donald Liebenson

All Movie Guide

The new kid at school faces up to the school bully by taking on a challenge no one has the guts to try in this family-oriented comedy. Billy (Luke Benward) is an 11-year-old boy whose folks have just moved to a new town and is facing the terror of his first day at a new school. It doesn't take long for Billy to run afoul of Joe (Adam Hicks), the school bully, who finds the live bait Billy brought with him and throws it in his face, asking Billy if he eats worms for lunch. Billy tries to gross out Joe by saying yes, he eats worms on a regular basis, and Joe calls his bluff by challenging him to eat ten worms in front of the student body. Billy takes the bet, and suddenly becomes something of a celebrity at school as the first kid to stand up to Joe. Billy also discovers he's caught the eye of Erika (Hallie Kate Eisenberg), a cute girl in his class, but can he actually eat the worms without losing his lunch? With the help of a handful of new friends, Billy preps for the big contest by learning how to eat as much gross stuff as he can, and he gains an unexpected ally in hot-headed Principal Burdock (James Rebhorn). Based on the popular children's book by Thomas Rockwell, How to Eat Fried Worms also features Tom Cavanagh, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, and Clint Howard. Mark Deming

Product Details

• UPC: 794043105531
• Source: NEW LINE HOME VIDEO
• Region Code: 1
• Time: 1:24:00
• Sales Rank: 13,546

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