That's What I Am (2011)

60% of critics liked it
(20 reviews)
69% of users liked it
(1,041 ratings)

Set in California against the backdrop of the mid-sixties, That's What I Am is a coming-of-age story that follows 12-year-old Andy Nichol (Chase Ellison), a bright student who, like most kids his age, will do anything to avoid conflict for fear of suffering overwhelming ridicule and punishment from… More Set in California against the backdrop of the mid-sixties, That's What I Am is a coming-of-age story that follows 12-year-old Andy Nichol (Chase Ellison), a bright student who, like most kids his age, will do anything to avoid conflict for fear of suffering overwhelming ridicule and punishment from his junior high school peers. Everyone's favorite teacher, Mr. Simon (Ed Harris), pairs Andy with the school's biggest outcast and social pariah, Stanley aka "Big G" (Alexander Walters), on a critical school project. Sporting thick orange hair, a head too big for his body and ears too big for his head, "Big G" has been the object of ridicule since grade school. Before long, Andy will learn that there was truly a method behind Mr. Simon's madness as to why he teamed these two up. After a dramatic incident in the schoolyard, teachers and parents rethink their roles in school and society. Principal Kelner (Amy Madigan) suspends a school bully for brutally beating up a female classmate. The vindictive father of the bully makes Mr. Simon the target of a malicious rumor about his sexuality, causing Mr. Simon to question his calling as an educator and mentor to his students. When Andy watches "Big G" fearlessly confront the school bully about the incident, a series of events are triggered. Much to Andy's surprise, he learns that "Big G" is a brilliant, kind, tolerant human being, who as more dignity than anyone Andy has ever encountered. Big G personifies Mr. Simon's four word answer on how to obtain world peace: HUMAN DIGNITY + COMPASSION = PEACE. -- (c)Samuel Goldwyn Films

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 41 min.
Directed By: Michael Pavone
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: Apr 29, 2011 Limited
On DVD: May 16, 2011
Studio: Samuel Goldwyn Films

Critic Reviews

Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor
Since a large portion of the film is taken up with the theme of school bullying, it may have some contemporary relevance, but good intentions do not always a good movie make.
Lou Lumenick, New York Post
An entertaining, well-made plea for tolerance...
Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times
A forgettable title and a barely there theatrical release don't do justice to the captivating and nostalgic coming-of-age dramedy "That's What I Am"...
Stephen Holden, New York Times
Mr. Harris's depiction of a saintly, soft-spoken, bow-tie-wearing middle-school teacher lends the movie a moral weight it probably couldn't have summoned had another actor played the role.
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel
There's just enough script for a good cast to run with. Harris and Madigan lift the whole enterprise just by being who and what they are -- great actors.
Rex Reed, New York Observer
Nothing turns out as you might expect, and the plot twists provide unexpected suspense.
Carrie R. Wheadon, Common Sense Media
Message movie about tolerance has a few mature themes.
Ed Whitfield, What Culture
That's What I Am isn't a movie, sadly, it's an unreconstructed piece of television and one that's suffused with the values of the US networked shows of yesteryear.
Brent Simon, Shockya.com
It means to be an earnest, uplifting family film, but the movie evinces a fitful attention span, and director Mike Pavone never comes up with a way to successfully stitch together all its disparate, capital-I issues.
Jesse Cataldo, Slant Magazine
The latest (and by far most sneaky) attempt to slip one of its wrestlers into multiplexes, WWE Films' That's What I Am is surprisingly low on testosterone.
Ian Freer, Empire Magazine
Charming but conventionally plotted, it's a gentle ride that's lit up by compelling turns from Harris and Ellison.
Fred Topel, Screen Junkies
WWE Films went really highbrow with their latest movie... This is WWE's take on Gandhi!... Truly touching, which is not something I could say about 12 Rounds or The Condemned.
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com
[VIDEO] ...an awkwardly plotted drama that doesn't satisfactorily resolve the prickly social conditions it professes to explore.
Fr. Chris Carpenter, Movie Dearest
A charming, inspirational indie (with a terrific performance by Ed Harris)...upholding such time-honored principles as tolerance, human dignity and compassion.
David Noh, Film Journal International
What we learn here is that bullying is definitely, but definitely, a bad thing. Sadly, so is this film.
Alison Willmore, AV Club
A placard preceding the film's title card assures that it's "inspired by true events," but the note is unnecessary, given the limpness of the narrative arcs. Who would make up such an anticlimactic story?
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
An emotionally affecting coming-of-age drama set in the 1960s about the importance of the many splendored virtue of respect.
Stephen Garrett, Time Out New York
Lessons are learned, bullies get their comeuppance, and every Wonder Years plot device is trotted out for maximum and-I-was-never-the-same-again nostalgia.

Read all 18 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Cynthia S

Dignity plus compassion equals peace is the message of this really enjoyable, nice little movie. As an added bonus, this was very Wonder Years-ish, complete with author narration. A good, solid story with interesting characters, and chock full of some very talented children. Ed Harris… More
Dignity plus compassion equals peace is the message of this really enjoyable, nice little movie. As an added bonus, this was very Wonder Years-ish, complete with author narration. A good, solid story with interesting characters, and chock full of some very talented children. Ed Harris was, of course, fantastic! He adds a little special something to everything he is in...
Bobby H

"That's what I am" reminds me a bit of a cheesy wonder years rip off. The narration, the time period, the girl - and while I do say cheesy - I also must have to say, it worked magnificently! The movie had some great meaning behind it being released during WWE's… More
"That's what I am" reminds me a bit of a cheesy wonder years rip off. The narration, the time period, the girl - and while I do say cheesy - I also must have to say, it worked magnificently! The movie had some great meaning behind it being released during WWE's waging of war on bullies while it is slightly exaggerated at points it reminds us how cruel children and humanity in general can be to those who seem a bit different then the rest of us. We all have our unique personalities, and one thing we should generally exercise is, "Tolerance" , if nothing else. This movie reminds us of being tolerant of differences and showing signs of human dignity that is hard to come by anymore. A great flick! And an awesome 'heel' performance by Randy Orton.
♥˩ƳИИ &

Cast: Ed Harris, Molly Parker, Randy Orton, Amy Madigan, Mia Rose Frampton, Chase Ellison, Alexander Walters, Daniel Roebuck, Sean Michael Cunningham, Cameron Deane Stewart Director: Michael Pavone Summary: A 12-year-old boy is convinced he's been pushed toward social… More
Cast: Ed Harris, Molly Parker, Randy Orton, Amy Madigan, Mia Rose Frampton, Chase Ellison, Alexander Walters, Daniel Roebuck, Sean Michael Cunningham, Cameron Deane Stewart Director: Michael Pavone Summary: A 12-year-old boy is convinced he's been pushed toward social suicide when his teacher pairs him up for a project with the school's biggest reject. But the boys form an unexpected bond when bullies turn their attention to an unlikely target. My Thoughts: "Another film from the WWE which features one of their wrestler's, Randy Orton. His part in the film was small, which made room for real actor's to shine. I have a bit of a pet peeve with wrestler's acting. Not many or if any are very good. BUT... This has to be the best movie the WWE has put out. Ed Harris. That's all I need to say as to what made me want to see this film. He is a favorite of mine and is a brilliant actor. The story is something everyone should see. Especially kids/teenagers. The film could be a great learning experience for them and some adults. It's really great of the WWE to put a light on issues kids are dealing with today with bullying. Like I said before, it's a movie you should watch with your kids if you have them, or just watch it because it's a good film."
Lee K

Well i guess if you continue doing something eventually you will get better at it. Now i dont know if its either the cast hired on here or the WWE writers like i said are just getting better at it? Needless to say it was the best movie i have seen by the WWE as of yet. Actually it… More
Well i guess if you continue doing something eventually you will get better at it. Now i dont know if its either the cast hired on here or the WWE writers like i said are just getting better at it? Needless to say it was the best movie i have seen by the WWE as of yet. Actually it should be one i would suggest school's to aqquire a copy of to show to their different class full of children as its portrays a great message on how to handle certain topics that unfortunatly rear their ugly heads from time and time again. Homosexuality, bullyism and all pregidous against them. Now myself being a huge fan of the WWE's wrestling end of things i was brilliantly surpised by Randy Orton's role in this (even though if it is 5-10mins in total) film. I have seen Dwayne Johnson in the WWE's first feature Walking Tall, I even gave Cena a bit of credit for last year's Legendary but just watching Orton onscreen and he just looked so natural doing it. I know there is a certain amount of acting in wrestling however they are not the best of actors however Randy seems like if he wanted to seriously think of another career if he ever got seriously injured he could quite definatly rely on acting to foot the bills. After some school bullies cannot get to their intended targets in school they take it upon themselves and make a compliant to their parents about the sexuality of their teacher Mr. Simon (Ed Harris) this causes a a parent in general who is much like his son to complain to the principal. So as you see the storyline just doesnt sit with the kids as the adults get a learning lesson throughout as well. Good family sitdown movie!