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Speech & Debate

Speech & Debate

Comedy · Drama · 2017

Frustrated by the hypocrisy they see in their parents, teachers, and the entire school board, an unlikely trio set out to find a common truth and make their voices heard as they revive a defunct school club and take on the world.

Movie details

Speech & Debate

“Life is a stage. Find your voice. Change the world.”

2017 Comedy · Drama 1h 45m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

5.9 / 10

Community rating

Frustrated by the hypocrisy they see in their parents, teachers, and the entire school board, an unlikely trio set out to find a common truth and make their voices heard as they revive a defunct school club and take on the world.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Speech & Debate?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Dan Harris

Written by

Stephen Karam

Liam James

Liam James

Solomon

Sarah Steele

Sarah Steele

Diwata

Austin P. McKenzie

Austin P. McKenzie

Howie

Janeane Garofalo

Janeane Garofalo

Marie

Kal Penn

Kal Penn

James

Roger Bart

Roger Bart

Principal Bellingham

Wendi McLendon-Covey

Wendi McLendon-Covey

Joan

Court is in session

Put Speech & Debate on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Sentimental Softie

“Sincerity is not manipulation.”

The film risks embarrassment to make emotion communal, and that openness is harder than fashionable detachment.

The prosecution The Cool Ironist

“The strings are showing.”

Every cue tells you exactly what to feel and when, leaving sentiment to do the work character should have done.