Can Humor Beat a Bully?

What do Mel Brooks, Charlie Chaplin, Jack Benny and Tina Fey have in common? They all know how powerful humor can be to defang bullies. Brooks, Chaplin and Benny all did movies that skewered the 20th Century's biggest bully, Adolf Hitler!  Mel Brooks said, "With comedy, we can rob Hitler of his posthumous power"  And Tina Fey's 'Mean Girls' did a wonderful job of exposing female anxiety and bullying in high school.

Now there's a new family movie that takes on the issue of bullying.  'How to Beat a Bully' uses humor to switch things up on the bullies and give the "new kid in town" a new way to survive their attacks. The feature length comedy was launched on Google Play just in time for October's National Bullying Prevention Month.

The story revolves around a 12-year-old boy who moves to a new town and gets picked on by school bullies. In order to protect himself he fibs and tells the bullies his dad is a hit man for the mob! At first no one believes him, but through a series of misunderstandings, soon the whole town thinks it's true.  That's because his dad is an insurance man who keeps telling people they need "protection" and to take out a "contract"  When the rumor spreads to real mobsters, they capture the dad, who they think is horning in on their territory.  Ultimately, the kid and his friends have to save his dad from the mob.  In the process, they realize the value of being buddies instead of bullies.

Screenwriters Marilyn Anderson and Richard Rossner felt that a clever, fun story could help open conversations about this serious topic in a gentler way than many of the serious and disturbing bully stories that are out there.  They also found that when the topic of bullying comes up, almost everyone has a personal story of how they were bullied.  Anderson was bullied in high school. She said, "A tough girl used to hit me every time I walked down the hall. I put that in the movie as something that had happened to the mom. " Co-writer Rossner used his childhood experience when kids used to call him "melonhead"  That's in the film, too.  They indicated these things hurt them as kids, but now they are using it to provide fun and laughter to others.  "It shows that you can get through these difficult times, and come out for the better"

Many comedians recount how humor helped them survive their elementary and high school years, so it seemed natural to make a movie for the Middle School set that uses humor to bring home the message that it's better to be friends, than bullies. One important aspect of the film is that the humor is equally funny for adults, as well as kids.  Parents will enjoy watching this movie along with their children.

"It's great to see the reaction we're getting to this film.  It seems to be striking a chord in a very positive way," Rossner said.

The Dove Foundation approved film was just released in time for October's National Bullying Prevention month, and can now be rented or purchased through Google Play.  It will also be available on iTunes, Amazon, Vudu, DVD and other platforms soon.

Photos and additional information on request.  Actors, writers and producers available for interviews.