Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that The Secret Lives of Dorks is a high school comedy that trades on all the classic teen clique cliches. There are the jocks, the cheerleaders, the stoners, and, of course, the titular dorks. Plenty of obvious jokes are made at the expense of each social group -- the dumb football player, the ditzy cheerleaders, the socially awkward nerds -- and there's some swearing ("s--t," "ass," etc.), a few crude sexual references, and some kissing, as well as plenty of physical jokes, including flatulence and accidental groping.

Sexual Content

Guys discuss girls frequently and make references to their appearances ("she's hot"), and there are a few discussions about fooling around, including talk of reaching "second base." In a very uncomfortable conversation with a date's parents, a teenage boy ends up discussing both the girl's breasts and her mother's breasts. A girl is shown in a skimpy bathing suit in a fantasy sequence. Some kissing, and one scene takes place at a male stripper show. Accidental groping.

Violence

High school bullies threaten other students, and there's some pushing and shoving.

Language

Language includes "s--t," "butt," and "ass."

Social Behavior

Amid the crude content is the fact that Payton eventually learns to be comfortable with his identity as a self-proclaimed dork -- and realizes that other people will like him just the way he is.

Consumerism

Many references to well-known comic book heroes, including Spider-Man and Superman. A football-loving dad is obsessed with former NFL coach Mike Ditka, who makes a few brief appearances.

Drugs / Tobacco / Alcohol

One clique behaves like stoners.