How to Eat Fried Worms (2006)

User Rating:

5.2/10   

Director:

Bob Dolman

Writers (WGA):

Bob Dolman (screenplay)
Thomas Rockwell (novel)

Release Date:

25 August 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Family

Tagline:

New town. New friends. New menu.

Plot:

During the first day of his new school year, a fifth grade boy squares off against a bully and winds up accepting a dare that could change the balance of power within the class. |

Plot Keywords:

New School | Bully | School | Underdog | Contest

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Luke Benward	...	Billy
Hallie Kate Eisenberg	...	Erika
Adam Hicks	...	Joe
Austin Rogers	...	Adam
Alexander Gould	...	Twitch
Ryan Malgarini	...	Benjy
Philip Bolden	...	Bradley (as Philip Daniel Bolden)
Clint Howard	...	Uncle Ed
Ty Panitz	...	Woody
James Rebhorn	...	Boiler Head
Tom Cavanagh	...	Dad
Kimberly Williams-Paisley	...	Mom
Andrew Gillingham	...	Techno Mouth
Blake Garrett	...	Plug
Alexander Agate	...	Donny
Andrea Martin	...	Mrs. Bommley
David Bewley	...	Rob Simon
Simone White	...	Woody's Teacher
Nick Krause	...	Nigel
Jo Ann Farabee	...	Bait Shop Lady
Karen Wacker	...	Rob Simon's Wife
Tom Brainard	...	Security Guard
Tim Mateer	...	Convenience Store Clerk
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Zachary Flores
Stayce Smith	...	County Club Member (as Stacey Smith)
Benjamin Bryan	...	Kid (voice) (uncredited)
Chloe Gunther Chung	...	Mean Girl (uncredited)
Dan Eggleston	...	Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
Glori Renee Euwer	...	Waitress (uncredited)
Sammy Harte	...	School teacher (uncredited)
Amy Soto	...	Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
Angela Ware	...	Jogger (uncredited)

Directed by
Bob Dolman

Writing credits (WGA)
Bob Dolman		(screenplay)
Thomas Rockwell		(novel)

Produced by
Cale Boyter	....	co-producer
Shareena Carlson	....	animation producer
Michael Disco	....	co-producer
Bob Dolman	....	co-producer
Toby Emmerich	....	executive producer
K.C. Hodenfield	....	associate producer
Mark Johnson	....	producer
Philip Steuer	....	producer
Tom Williams	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Mark Mothersbaugh
Robert Mothersbaugh		(as Bob Mothersbaugh)

Cinematography by
Richard Rutkowski

Film Editing by
Janice Hampton
Frederick Wardell

Casting by
Stephanie Corsalini

Production Design by
Caty Maxey

Art Direction by
John Frick

Set Decoration by
Carla Curry

Costume Design by
Kathy Kiatta

Makeup Department
Becki Drake	....	key makeup artist
Melissa Forney	....	department head hair (as Melissa D. Forney)
Darylin Nagy	....	makeup department head
Charmaine Richards	....	additional hair stylist
Melizah Schmidt	....	key hair stylist

Production Management
Richard E. Chapla Jr.	....	unit production manager
Douglas Jones	....	executive in charge of production
Graham Stumpf	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Doug Carter	....	second second assistant director
K.C. Hodenfield	....	first assistant director
Daniel J. Shaw	....	first assistant director: re-shoots

Art Department
Sara Aronson	....	property production assistant
Amy Bell	....	assistant property master
Brad Blei	....	set dresser
Mark Lambert Bristol	....	storyboard artist
Monique Champagne	....	set decorating buyer: reshoots
Lance Cheatham	....	set dresser
Dwayne Grady	....	property master
Juliet Guimont	....	scenic artist
Mark Hanks	....	set dresser
Joshua Wayne Johnson	....	art department production assistant
Ellen Lampl	....	prop graphics
Garcia L. Sonia	....	stand-by painter
Joe McCusker	....	construction coordinator
Jorge Paris	....	art department coordinator
Darren Patnode	....	on-set dresser
Jeff Poss	....	sculptor
Scott A. Reeder	....	props
Steve Sawhill	....	set dresser
Phil Shirey	....	lead man
Corissa Smith	....	scenic artist
Gabriella Villarreal	....	key buyer
Robert R. Wonson	....	set dresser
Koen Wooten	....	props

Sound Department
Ethan Andrus	....	production sound mixer
Paul Aulicino	....	sound editor
Nerses Gezalyan	....	sound mixer
Tony Lamberti	....	sound re-recording mixer
Ben Lazard	....	boom operator: additional photography
Benjamin Lowry	....	sound mixer: additional photography
Bryan Pennington	....	consultant: Dolby film sound
Bruce Stambler	....	supervising sound editor
Tom Sturgis	....	boom operator
Becky Sullivan	....	supervising sound editor
Orest Sushko	....	sound re-recording mixer
Eric Thompson	....	adr mixer
Tami Treadwell	....	adr recordist
Greg Zimmerman	....	adr recordist

Special Effects by
Craig Byrom	....	special effects foreman
Everett Byrom III	....	special effects coordinator
Stanford Gilbert	....	special effects technician
Marcus LaPorte	....	mold maker

Visual Effects by
Diane Caliva	....	post-production supervisor: The Orphanage
Michael Hutchinson	....	HD manager: The Orphanage
Stephen Jennings	....	animatic artist
Ryan A. Parker	....	animator: "Lil Growl Reaper" (as Ryan Parker)
Carl Walters	....	editorial supervisor: The Orphanage

Stunts
Jeff Schwan	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Troy Anderson	....	lighting technician
Roger Basquette	....	digital video assist operator
Kelly Bogdan	....	second assistant camera: additional photography
Patrick B. Coate	....	daily second assistant camera
Wes Dixon	....	electrician: re-shoots
John Eschberger	....	grip
Robert Hicks	....	key grip
Chip Huntington	....	grip
Edison Jackson	....	best boy electric
David McGill	....	Steadicam operator
Todd McMullen	....	camera operator
Todd McMullen	....	director of photography: second unit
Edward A. Navarro	....	rigging electrician
Trevor Nelson	....	additional second assistant camera
Clayton Null	....	electrician: additional photography
Heather Page	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Frank Parrish	....	second assistant camera
James H Razo	....	remote camera technician
Van Redin	....	still photographer
Robert Rendon	....	assistant camera
Phillip Renke	....	best boy rigging grip
Donis Rhoden	....	best boy grip
Peter Simonite	....	first assistant camera
Pete Stockton	....	company grip
Greg Travis	....	grip
Jesse Wolter	....	grip

Animation Department
Genndy Tartakovsky	....	animation supervisor
Genndy Tartakovsky	....	layout artist

Casting Department
Victoria Acosta	....	extras casting coordinator
Charley Medigovich	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Nyima Johnston	....	costumer
Leeann Radeka	....	key costumer
Stephanie A. Steel	....	set costumer
Yvonne Wilburn	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Dana Silverman	....	post-production assistant
Stuart Sperling	....	first assistant editor: avid
Lee Wimer	....	color timer

Music Department
Christine Bergren	....	music clearance
Lindsay Fellows	....	music supervisor
Stephen Lotwis	....	music editor
Ernie Mannix	....	music editor
Ralph Sall	....	soundtrack album producer
Lodge Worster	....	assistant music editor

Transportation Department
Ryan Bickling	....	background driver
Charles Coulter	....	driver
Greg Faucett	....	transportation coordinator
Russell E. Scott	....	picture cars/driver

Other crew
Mustafa Abdul-Wahid	....	assistant: Mr. Dolman
John Arszyla	....	medic
Toni Atterbury	....	unit publicist
Cassandra Barbour	....	rights and clearances
Melissa Bernstein	....	assistant: Mr. Johnson
Ryan Bickling	....	stand-in
Taylor Black	....	production assistant
Mary Beth Chambers	....	production coordinator: additional photography (as Mary Beth Meadows)
Michael Clossin	....	assistant to cast
John P. Crowley	....	location manager
Evan Feuerman	....	assistant post-production accountant
Tiffany Fraser	....	post-production accountant
Shellie Gillespie	....	assistant: Mr. Dolman
Kayse Goodell	....	production assistant
Gina Grande	....	script supervisor
Matthew K. Grigsby	....	production accountant
Jeff Gross	....	production resources
Julian Haddad	....	stand-in
Chris M. Jackson	....	assistant production coordinator
Andrea Johnson	....	office production assistant: additional photography
Cohl Klop	....	adr voice
Bill Lanier	....	assistant: Mr. Steuer
Kandis Longan	....	production assistant
Shane Mallory	....	production assistant
Mindy Miller	....	stand-in: Ms. Williams-Paisley
Molly Murray	....	first assistant accountant
Tara Reimers	....	assistant to cast
Cole Rogers	....	photo double
Cole Rogers	....	stand-in
Laura Sevier	....	rights and clearances
M.K. Shaw	....	payroll accountant
Brett P. Smith	....	second assistant accountant
Max Sturgeon	....	production assistant
Danny Sutedja	....	intern
Lauren Swearingen	....	production supervisor
Raigen Thornton	....	key paramedic
Karen Wacker	....	production coordinator
Monica Walters	....	assistant location manager
Kiri Weatherby	....	stand-in
Daniel Villagomez	....	credits administrator (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Gran Via
• New Line Cinema
• Walden Media

Distributors

• New Line Cinema (2006) (USA) (theatrical)
• Alliance Atlantis Home Video (2006) (Canada) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2007) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2007) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Distribution Company (2007) (Argentina) (all media)
• FS Film Oy (2007) (Finland) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2007) (Switzerland) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2007) (Germany) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Pacific Title (opticals)

Other Companies

• Big Easy Studio Rentals  transportation equipment (uncredited)
• Bulletproof Recording Company  soundtrack (as Bulletproof Records)
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera car
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes, dollies and remote camera systems
• Entertainment Clearances  rights and clearances
• Orbit Digital  Avids
• Wilshire Stages, The  ADR recording facility

MPAA:

Rated PG for mild bullying and some crude humor.

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Malaysia:(Banned) | USA:PG (certificate #42231) | Singapore:PG | Argentina:Atp | Finland:K-7 | Australia:PG | Germany:6 | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Austin, Texas, USA

Company:

Gran Via

Trivia:

Most of the days the movie were shot were at 95-100 Fahrenheit, and most of the cast and crew were hot and sweaty. Because of this, at the end of the day, everybody would swim in the water hole, which was used in the last half of the movie.

Goofs:

Continuity: Handwriting of "Billy Forrester" on the blackboard changes between scenes.

Quotes:

Billy: Get away Erika, you big giant.
[all the other guys make noises in the background, while Erika storms away, clearly upset]

Movie Connections:

Version of "CBS Storybreak: How to Eat Fried Worms (#1.4)" (1985)

Soundtrack:

Gone

Fried Worms is delicious!

It's a strange feeling to sit alone in a theater occupied by parents and their rollicking kids. I felt like instead of a movie ticket, I should have been given a NAMBLA membership.

Based upon Thomas Rockwell's respected Book, How To Eat Fried Worms starts like any children's story: moving to a new town. The new kid, fifth grader Billy Forrester was once popular, but has to start anew. Making friends is never easy, especially when the only prospect is Poindexter Adam. Or Erica, who at 4 1/2 feet, is a giant.

Further complicating things is Joe the bully. His freckled face and sleeveless shirts are daunting. He antagonizes kids with the Death Ring: a Crackerjack ring that is rumored to kill you if you're punched with it. But not immediately. No, the death ring unleashes a poison that kills you in the eight grade.

Joe and his axis of evil welcome Billy by smuggling a handful of slimy worms into his thermos. Once discovered, Billy plays it cool, swearing that he eats worms all the time. Then he throws them at Joe's face. Ewww! To win them over, Billy reluctantly bets that he can eat 10 worms. Fried, boiled, marinated in hot sauce, squashed and spread on a peanut butter sandwich. Each meal is dubbed an exotic name like the "Radioactive Slime Delight," in which the kids finally live out their dream of microwaving a living organism.

If you've ever met me, you'll know that I have an uncontrollably hearty laugh. I felt like a creep erupting at a toddler whining that his "dilly dick" hurts. But Fried Worms is wonderfully disgusting. Like a G-rated Farrelly brothers film, it is both vomitous and delightful.

Writer/director Bob Dolman is also a savvy storyteller. To raise the stakes the worms must be consumed by 7 pm. In addition Billy holds a dark secret: he has an ultra-sensitive stomach.

Dolman also has a keen sense of perspective. With such accuracy, he draws on children's insecurities and tendency to exaggerate mundane dilemmas.

If you were to hyperbolize this movie the way kids do their quandaries, you will see that it is essentially about war. Freedom-fighter and freedom-hater use pubescent boys as pawns in proxy wars, only to learn a valuable lesson in unity. International leaders can learn a thing or two about global peacekeeping from Fried Worms.

At the end of the film, I was comforted when two chaperoning mothers behind me, looked at each other with befuddlement and agreed, "That was a great movie." Great, now I won't have to register myself in any lawful databases.