Line #8 YMMV/MeanCreek


1	* DiagnosedByTheAudience: George says he has a learning disability and he can't read words right, which hints at dyslexia. He also displays some characteristics of autism.
2	* JerkassWoobie:
3	** George, a misunderstood kid with a learning disability and no clue how to function socially.
4	** Also Marty who has a dead father, a useless mother and a bastard older brother.
5	* JustHereForGodzilla: There are many who watch this movie simply to see [[Series/DrakeAndJosh Josh Nichols]] cursing up a storm.
6	* MemeticMutation:
7	** For those who're used to Josh Peck's performance in the Creator/{{Nickelodeon}} TV series ''Series/DrakeAndJosh'', it's impossible to see George without overlapping him with Josh's character in that one. This leads to many, many bits of unintentional hilarity, such as regarding this film as the grand finale of ''Drake & Josh'', or chattering quotes like "Only one person to blame... MEGAN!".
8	** Also, the "bring on the penis" scene being presented completely out of context.
9	* MoralEventHorizon:
10	** [[spoiler: George's death]] doesn't cross it, that was just an accident. However Marty crosses it when he makes them [[spoiler: bury the body and pretend it never happened]] as well as threatening them not to come clean. Granted, it was because Marty was scared he and the others would be thrown in prison and that no one would believe them, but still.
11	** George also arguably crosses it when he starts taunting Marty about his father's suicide.
12	* {{Narm}}:
13	** George's ClusterFBomb rant, ''especially'' to ''Series/DrakeAndJosh'' fans, may seem extremely over-the-top and hard to take seriously.
14	** Borders on NarmCharm for the exact same reasons.
15	* NightmareFuel: [[spoiler:George's death]] is likely to haunt the viewer(s) for a long time, especially with the high levels of natural fears. [[spoiler:Seeing him struggling to stay afloat and screaming for help is really jarring to watch, especially since the rest of the kids on the boat just stand there and watch in horror...]]
16	* RetroactiveRecognition:
17	** Creator/JoshPeck, very soon to become the funnyman on kids' show ''Series/DrakeAndJosh'', stars as George. His performance, especially his ClusterFBomb rant, can be incredibly jarring to teenagers nowadays.
18	** We also get a young Creator/RyanKelley before he starred in ''Film/Ben10AlienSwarm'' and ''Series/TeenWolf''.
19	* SignatureScene: The scene where George cusses everyone out on the boat.
20	* SpiritualSuccessor: Has a strong ''Film/StandByMe'' vibe with the young buddy trip in the majestic outdoors and with Marty going completely postal if someone says a word against his probably mental father.
21	* StrawmanHasAPoint: George does have a reason to be annoyed at Sam playing with his video camera, considering how expensive they were in 2004 before smartphones existed. Of course that doesn't justify beating him up.
22	* TearJerker:
23	** [[spoiler:George's death]], especially with Millie's reaction really driving it home.
24	** [[http://www.impawards.com/2004/posters/mean_creek.jpg This]] film poster does a great job at capturing the movie's gloomy, sad mood.
25	* WhatDoYouMeanItsNotForKids: Despite the young cast, the film is clearly not intended for a young audience as is obvious by the R-rating, frequent profanity and in general family-unfriendly behavior. Despite all this, reports are that it managed to get shown in quite a few high school and even religion classes.

Context YMMV / MeanCreek