ChildCare Action Project: Christian Analysis of American Culture (CAP)
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Entertainment Media Analysis Report

MAR02598
The Waterboy (1998), PG-13
CAP Score: 60, CAP ID: 0.93

Thomas A. Carder
CAP President


Executive Summary/Commentary
Findings/Scoring
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY/COMMENTARY:

Waterboy (1998) was every bit a PG-13 movie as any other; just as much a value-modification threat as any other. As usual for PG-13 movies, use of the three/four letter word vocabulary saturated the script. Sexual material freckled the choreography like rocky mountain spotted fever. There was even a suggestion to commit suicide. Cheerleaders drinking and getting drunk, male posterior nudity (up close), and "What mamma don't know won't hurt her" set the stage for lowering the threshold of acceptability and inhibition. Masochism (pain by pulling on body rings through a man's nipples), a girl trying to seduce a disadvantaged young man with tease of nudity and suggestive language, and fondling of a womans' breast rained out what could have been an enjoyable entertainment picnic. A manipulating mother and yelling at a mother by a son flushed part of the score down the tubes. Vulgar sexual conversation, homosexual suggestion, and the ghosting of female anatomy through her upper garment locked in the unacceptable nature of Waterboy.




FINDINGS/SCORING: Waterboy (1998) CAP Thermometers

Wanton Violence/Crime (W) found no programming warranting the loss of points in the intermediate or maximum levels.

Impunity/Hate (I)(1) lost points in the maximum level once due to the use of the most foul of the three/four letter word vocabulary.

Sex/Homosexuality (S) found material warranting the loss of points in tbe intermediate level twice due to a male fondling the left (clothed) breast of a female, and masochism by pain by tugging on body rings through male nipples.

Drugs/Alcohol (D) found no programming warranting the loss of points in the intermediate or maximum levels.

Offense to God (O)(2) found no programming warranting the loss of points in the intermediate or maximum levels.

Murder/Suicide (M)(3) found no programming warranting the loss of points in the intermediate or maximum levels.

Additional examples of inappropriate programming warranting loss of points in the minimum level included

  • 33 uses of the three/four letter word vocabulary
  • suggestion to commit suicide
  • sexual innuendo (multiple)
  • consumption of alcohol by and drunkenness of several young women three times
  • swapping genital protectors
  • bully tactics/meanness toward a disadvantaged young man repeatedly
  • male nudity, up close view of rear male private parts
  • Three Stooges style of eye poking (which led to eye damage of youth)
  • sexual reference to male organ repeatedly
  • female anatomy ghosting through upper garment repeatedly
  • homosexual suggestion twice
  • vulgar sexual conversation
  • attemps to seduce, female of disadvantaged male, with hidden nudity
  • sexual enticement
  • the use of God's name in vain without the four letter expeltive
  • transvestism (light and comical, but transvestism nonetheless)
  • at least three examples of "What mamma don't know won't hurt her"

    In accordance with the numeric comparative baseline database of the CAP Entertainment Media Analysis Model, Waterboy (1998) presented programming equivalent to R-rated programming in Impunity/Hate and Sex/Homosexuality. The movie was equivalent to PG-rated programming in Wanton Violence/Crime, and was equivalent to G-rated programming in Drugs/Alcohol, Offense to God, and Murder/Suicide. Waterboy is equivalent to 33% R-rated programming, 17% PG-rated programming, and 50% G-rated programming.


    (1) As noted in CAP Special Report-001, "Investigation Area and Scoring Trend," of the six CAP Investigation Areas, Impunity/Hate was the strongest presence in all four movie classifications. It has a strong revelation about the entertainment media.

    (2) The use of the three/four letter word vocabulary without God's name is incorporated into the Impunity/Hate Investigation Area. The use of God's name with or without the three/four letter word vocabulary is incorporated into the Offense to God Investigation Area. There is no duplication. As required of the Holy Scriptures, unless God's name is used with reverence to His glory and praise, its use is considered in vain, whether literal or euphemistic.

    (3) Only portrayal of successful murder or suicide are incorporated into Murder/Suicide. Presentation of attempts to commit murder or suicide, deaths by police action, and deaths by war are incorporated into Wanton Violence/Crime.



    Please remember we believe that if even one of the six Investigation Area scores for a movie is equivalent to the CAP comparative baseline database scoring range for R, PG-13, or PG material, the entire movie should be regarded as so rated.  For example, if only Wanton Violence/Crime earns a score equivalent to R but all other Investigation Areas earn a score equivalent to G, THERE IS R-RATED MATERIAL IN THE MOVIE AND YOUR KIDS WILL SEE IT AND HEAR IT IF THEY WATCH THE MOVIE!




    Additional reviews of this movie may be located at "Movie Review Query Engine at Telerama."




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    In the name of Jesus:
    Lord, Master, Teacher, Savior, God.

    Thomas A. Carder
    President
    ChildCare Action Project: Christian Analysis of American Culture (CAP)

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