(intense music)
(rock music)
(upbeat music)
- (chuckles) Hey, that tickles.
Watch where you're sticking that pencil.
Hey, hold the phone.
Nick, whatcha doing?
Talk about losing your head.
Hey, that is not me.
Okay, stop kidding around.
Oh, ow, no, not the hair, no!
What is this?
I look like a, like a game show host.
- Lighten up, McGee.
We're in junior high now.
Gotta get a new look, make a statement, be hip.
- Hip, schmip, I got Elvis hair.
Change it back.
- Okay.
- What's getting into you, kid?
- What're you talking about?
- Ever since you started hanging around
with that Rex guy at school,
you've been acting different.
- That's because Rex Rogers,
who happens to be the coolest guy at Eastfield Junior High,
is gonna show me what's cool.
In fact, he's coming over in a few.
- In a few what?
- A few, you know, minutes.
- If you ask me,
old Rex is a little too cool for his own good.
(McGee screams)
- All I know is if you wanna be someone in junior high
you've gotta be like Rex Rogers.
(door thuds)
(upbeat music)
- Dude, how's the blow-dryer?
- Hey, Rexster, styling big time.
- Cool, hey, what's with all this kid junk?
This place looks like Mr. Rogers Neighborhood.
Doodles,
very uncool Nick.
- [McGee] (scoffs) Who's he calling a doodle?
- Huh, men judge by the outward appearance,
cool.
- What, let me see that.
Men judge by the outward appearance,
but the Lord looks at a man's thoughts and intentions.
(chuckles) That rooster missed the whole point.
- Oh, I was just boxing up all this old stuff
for the, you know, the dump.
- Hey, Nick, Nick,
your Junior Ranger magazine came in the mail.
I hope you don't mind
I cut the recipe for the raccoon cookies.
- You know, I hate to see you rush out,
but uh, I think it's time for your four o'clock feeding.
- [Jamie] (gasps) But.
- [Nick] What a drag.
- Yeah, totally juvenile.
(guitar chord)
- Why don't we study for that U.S. history test?
- Hey, bag the books, dude.
What's to study?
Christopher Columbus checked this place out, now we're here.
- Well, we could comb our hair.
- Excellent, you're catching on, dude.
(upbeat music)
- [Mom] Nick, Rex, dinner!
- [Nick] I guess this will have to wait.
(upbeat music)
- [Mom] Hi, hon.
- Sarah, Sarah, did you ask the other players?
- No, Jamie, you can't be our tennis team mascot.
Anyway, why would you wanna be a mascot for a team
that has exactly zero wins this century?
- Oh, lost again, huh?
- I'll say, I don't know why they call it love
when you don't score any points.
It's more like total humiliation.
- [Rex] Hey, Mrs. M.
- Hi, Rex.
- Hey, Mom, we're ready to do dinner.
- Well, I'm almost through doing chicken, then we can eat.
- So, Sarah, it's only like 18 months
before I hit the freshman class.
Maybe you and me can get together sometime,
make some memories.
- Sure, Rex, should I pick you up at your house,
or would you rather have your mommy drop you off here?
- Hey, excellent.
- Okay, let's eat.
- Hey, BBQ yard bird, I'm stoked.
(Nick laughs)
- What?
- He's excited about the chicken.
- Oh, stoked.
- Hi, everybody.
- [Mom] Oh, hi, hon.
- Hi, Dad.
- Just in time.
- Sorry, I got a late call at the office,
but it was worth it.
- Oh.
- Ah, nothing like a great meal
to celebrate a little great news.
- Great news?
- Patience, let's give thanks first.
For this meal and the hands that made it,
we thank you, Lord.
Bless our home and our friend Rex, amen.
- Amen.
So, David.
- [David] Hmm?
- The news.
- Well, Nick's principal, Mrs. Pryce,
called me about next weeks 25th annual Battle of the Bands.
- The Endless Summer.
It's suppose to be like the most awesome battle
the school has ever had.
Tell me you're not the chaperone.
- Even better, you see, 25 years ago,
when your mom and I were eighth graders at Eastfield,
the first Battle of the Bands was our idea.
- [Mom] Mm hmm.
- That's prehistoric, dude.
- The good news is they've asked us
to come back and host this battle.
(Mom squeals)
- You're, you're hosting?
- That's right.
This year's Battle of the Bands
is going to be a Martin family affair.
- Oh, oh, Nick, oh,
aren't you just stoked
- This is starting to sound like the endless bummer.
(guitar chord)
(upbeat music)
- [McGee] Dad's new was like a gnarly wave
breaking right on your head, yow.
The Captain Slick and sidekick Nick
still think they're the sharpest fins in the pipeline.
Whoa, cowabunga!
- What about one of these?
- Dude, you gotta stop shopping at geeks are us.
There's not one designer label in there.
- Well, well yeah, but that's all I--
- Look, Nick, it's like this.
Life is like one big amusement park.
Now, the cool people,
they're on the inside having a cas time.
Now, the uncool people,
they're on the outside trying to buy a ticket in.
Take a guess where you get your tickets?
- I don't know.
- Junior high, dude.
That's where your future begins.
That's where you either get your ticket in like me, or?
- You're left out?
- Exactly, but don't worry about it.
I'm here to save you from geekdom.
We may just need to go malling.
- [Nick] Huh?
- Go to the mall,
but something's still missing.
I got it.
(upbeat music)
They're yours, bro.
(upbeat jazz music)
I always keep a spare.
- Totally non-geeky.
- Totally cool,
definitely in.
- [Nick] Thanks to Rex,
the next day at school I was a new Nick.
100% radically cool.
Unfortunately, the old Nick
caught up with me in about 10 seconds.
- Nick,
wait up!
Wanna go to the computer show Saturday?
- [Nick] Uh, no thanks.
- I heard they got some really cool anti-viruses.
- Look, I'm not really into computers anymore.
I'll catch you later, dude.
- Dude?
- Looking buff, dude, nice kicks.
- Thanks, dude, they're real leather.
- What other kind are there?
Babs Jenkins, meet my newest friend, Nick Martin.
- Do I, like, know you?
- Well, actually, I sit near you in Spanish.
- Oh, I hadn't noticed,
wow.
- Hey, Philip, why is Nick hanging out with Ken and Barbie?
- Got me.
- When did he start wearing black?
He looks like Batman.
- Hey,
what's up with Martin?
- That's what we'd like to know.
Oh, hi, Derrick.
- Hey, Nick's not so bad.
- So, Nick, you gonna bag that nimrod squad
you usually hang with and go to the battle with us, right?
- Really, yeah, sure.
- Righteous, dude.
Hard to believe, huh?
Not too many kids can say they hang out with me.
Later, Nickster.
- Yeah, yeah, later.
(bell ringing)
- [McGee] By the time school was letting out,
everyone just about had it with the Nickster.
- So, Nick, what's with the new look?
- Well, what's wrong with it?
Is it too cool for you?
- No, it's fine, it's just different.
- Well, I wouldn't expect you to like it.
- Sorry.
- [Jordan] Yo Nick, yo Renee.
- Hey.
- Hey, Jordan.
- Hey, man, ever since you showed me that new 3-D thing,
my drawings are popping.
In fact, I'm thinking about having a double career.
Star NFL quarterback, and computer graphics genius.
- Yeah, Jordan.
- So, Renee, uh,
you guys talked about The Battle of the Bands yet?
You all going together, or what?
- Sounds great to me.
Hey, how about you, Nick?
- [Nick] No, thanks.
- Dude, this is Jessica.
She's gonna go to the battle with us.
- Cool.
- What're we slumming around here for?
Let's go get ourselves some sodas.
- Great.
- Listen, Nickster, a little advice.
When you're cool, everybody else is just a wannabe.
Very uncool to hang out with the wannabes.
- Wannabe?
- Wannabe what?
- [McGee] Personally,
I'd like to lock old Rexy in a little room,
and throw away the room,
but I've got a more important mission right now.
Operation save Nick from himself.
- A little toothpaste and bleach
will take that stain right out, honey.
Come on, slip off your shirt,
and I'll take care of it for you.
- I'm taking care of it myself, Mom.
- Well, okay.
Oh, Nick, guess what?
Your dad doesn't know it yet,
but I'm getting out his old saxophone,
and he's going to be asked to play a little jam session
at The Battle of the Bands.
Oh, won't that be cool?
- Great, like being hit in the head with a glacier.
Good job, Nick, may as well have drooled on yourself.
- That's only a plain, white T-shirt,
commonly known as underwear.
- McGee, this is the only cool shirt I have.
- What about the other one that says,
cartoons are our friends?
- Get real, McGee, it might as well say,
I'm a geek and proud of it.
- [McGee] You used to love that shirt.
- Yeah, well, that was before.
- You mean before you got cool.
- Well, yeah.
- Kid, you're outta control.
That hair for brains has made you somebody else.
You're bagging on your family and all your friends too.
- Well, hang it up, McGee.
Whoever gave you the right to tell me what to do?
- Well, I'm your best friend.
- I'm not so sure of that anymore.
- Draw me some Q-tips.
I thought I heard you say we're not friends anymore.
- You did, Rex was right.
Drawing cartoons are uncool for a guy my age.
(McGee gasps)
Cartoons are for kids.
- Say it ain't so, kid.
Say it ain't so.
- Just go away!
All right, leave me alone, McGee.
(melancholy music)
Now that I cleaned all the kids stuff
out of my room and my life,
I'm awesomely cool.
Of course, my parents, that's a different story.
- How do we look, Nick?
(Mom and Dad laughing)
- This is a joke, right?
You guys aren't gonna go like that, are you?
Nobody's wearing costumes.
- Of course we are.
Your principal thought it would be fun,
if we dressed up in a 60s look.
- Well, yeah, but couldn't you guys
just wear a peace sign or something?
- What's the matter, Nick,
don't wanna be seen with half The Mamas & the Papas?
(Dad and Mom laughing)
- Ah, now that you mention it, Dad,
I'm gonna walk with my friends.
- Nick, I thought we'd go as a family.
- Mom, I see you guys all the time.
I'd just rather go with my friends.
- We understand that, son,
but we just assumed that tonight,
since your mom and I have been asked to be hosts.
- That's another thing.
Why does everybody have to make such a big deal
of this 25 year thing anyway?
Come Monday, every kid in school is gonna be laughing at me,
and saying there goes Nick,
son of the world's oldest living teeny-boppers.
- Are you embarrassed by us, son?
- It's just not cool to have your parents show up
at the biggest event of the year.
It's the ultimate humiliation.
- We always said there's some choices
we have to let you make on your own.
If you don't wanna go with us,
I guess that's up to you.
We'll try to stay out of your way tonight.
(melancholy music)
(light jazz music)
- Rex, you are like, so tre-cool.
- Hey, dude, when are we going in?
- Hey, chill dude.
We'll get around to it.
Meanwhile, there's only one thing I wanna do.
- What's that?
- Be seen, bud, be seen.
That's what makes life cool.
- Right.
- Hi, Nick.
- Like, who was that, Little Miss Muffet?
- A friend.
- No, you mean former friend, don't you?
Hey, watch this.
(upbeat music)
(girls giggling)
(upbeat music)
(Rex laughing)
- Come on, Rex, let's go.
I spent like a whole month's allowance on this outfit,
and I wanna show it off.
- That's cool, come on.
No, not that way, dude.
That's the entrance for people who have to buy tickets.
- Don't we have to buy tickets?
- No way, bro, you're with me, remember.
- [Nick] Yeah, cool.
- Testing, testing, ah.
In a few minutes we'll be ready to start our
Endless Summer Battle of the Bands,
and I guarantee you it will be very groovy.
(audience cheering and applauding)
- Did you see what Sherry Natalie is wearing?
Don't you just wanna gag?
- (chuckles) Check out the neanderthals.
Can't we go mingle, Rex?
- Not if you wanna be cool.
See, if you wanna be cool,
you gotta find someplace like this,
and let the minglers come to you.
If you wanna be seen, you gotta stand out in a crowd.
- Rex, you mind if I have a little talk with the squid?
- Yeah, sure Derrick.
- In private.
- Yeah, yeah, sure.
- What're you doing hanging out with that loser for, Martin?
- Loser, he's the most popular kid in school.
When I hang with him, I'm popular too.
- Popular, man?
I thought you knew what was important.
- I do.
- You did, but I'm not sure anymore.
Look, just be who you are, man.
These things don't fit you.
(melancholy music)
(horn blowing)
- Thanks guys, and thanks to all our helpers tonight.
Oh, are you groovy guys and gals hip for our big battle?
(audience cheering and applauding)
Okay, then it's my pleasure
to introduce two former Eastfield students,
who 25 years ago tonight,
started our very first Battle of the Bands.
Those very special people
went on to become husband and wife,
and their back with us to host tonight's battle.
Please, put your hands together,
and welcome David and Elizabeth Martin.
(audience cheering and applauding)
- Thank you all very much.
You know, Mrs. Pryce,
25 years hasn't changed this place all that much.
- No.
- The drinking fountain still doesn't work.
(audience laughing)
It's a great honor for Elizabeth and me to be here tonight.
In a few moments we're gonna introduce
some of the most talented, young musicians
in all of Eastfield.
Four bands in all, each doing a 15 minute set,
but before we do that,
as one Eastfield Eagle to another,
I'd like to offer each of you a special challenge.
This is one of the most important times in your life.
A lot of what's going to happen to you later on
is going to start right here in junior high,
so get a good start.
Believe in yourself, your family,
friends who really care about you,
and above all, understand who you are,
and what you believe in, here inside,
be yourself,
and uh, now, we'll step aside and let the battle begin.
Starting with the moldy oldy that opened the first battle.
Take it away, The Armadillos.
- Ah, hold on a second.
David, you're gonna either love me or hate me for this,
but will you do us the honor
of blowing a little riff in the first song,
just like you did 25 years ago?
(audience cheering and applauding)
- Um, okay (chuckles).
Um, you guys ready?
- Yes.
- Let's do it.
(upbeat saxophone music)
♪ Who do you think you are
♪ You better take a look
♪ Who do you think you are
(upbeat saxophone music)
♪ Come on everybody
♪ I've been wanting you boy
♪ You walk on down the street
♪ Well, you're so sure of yourself ♪
♪ Looking past everyone you meet ♪
♪ We were friends, so you said to me ♪
♪ But now you treat me like an enemy ♪
♪ Tell me, what have I done to you ♪
♪ To make you wanna treat me so cruel ♪
♪ Well, tell me, who do you think you are ♪
♪ You better take a look
♪ Who do you think you are
♪ 'Cause it's my heart you took ♪
♪ Who do you think you are
♪ Hey, you're not so cool
♪ Nobody wears sunglasses to math anyway, yeah ♪
♪ Just how long do you think
♪ That you can pretend
♪ To be someone you're not
♪ Before your world caves in
♪ We were friends, so you said to me ♪
♪ But now you treat me like an enemy ♪
♪ Tell me, what have I done to you ♪
♪ To make you wanna treat me so cruel ♪
♪ Tell me, who do you think you are ♪
♪ You better take a look
♪ Who do you think you are
♪ 'Cause it's my heart you took ♪
♪ Who do you think you are
- Oh, hey, dude.
Your dad blows a pretty mean phone for a fossil.
- Yeah, he is pretty good, isn't he?
- Hey listen, the three of us were thinking about
sneaking into the flicks later on tonight.
What do you say?
- Look, Rex, thanks for inviting me and all,
but I don't think so,
and one more thing,
I don't see too well with these on.
- Way to go, Martin.
(horn blowing)
- You know, kid, I missed ya.
- McGee, you're back.
- Yeah, I figured you might still need me around.
You know, Nick, I think you got it all wrong.
Cars are what's truly cool.
385, dual cams, overdrive.
Watch this!
(car engine roaring)
- McGee, what're you doing?
- Peeling rubber!
(car engine roaring)
Whoa, mama!
Whoa, whoa, whoa!
Nicholas, I asked not to be seen!
Look out, whoa, whoa!
Whoa, whoa, yahoo!
- Hey, dudes, I mean, I mean, hi guys.
Do you mind if I hang with you?
(Jordan scoffs)
Guys.
♪ Who do you think you are
♪ Come on, tell me
♪ Who do you think you are
♪ You better take a look
♪ Who do you think you are
♪ 'Cause it's my heart you took ♪
♪ Who do you think you are
♪ Cool huh, well, you're not as cool as you think you are ♪
(upbeat saxophone music)
(audience cheering and applauding)
- I guess Dad was right.
I think I'm finding out that true friends
think you're really cool just like you are,
and you know,
there's something incredibly awesome about that.
(upbeat music)
(upbeat saxophone music)
♪ Who do you think you are
♪ You better take a look
♪ Who do you think you are
♪ Come on everybody
♪ I've been wanting you, boy
♪ You walk on down the street
♪ Well, you're so sure of yourself ♪
♪ Looking past everyone you meet ♪
♪ We were friends, so you said to me ♪
♪ But now you treat me like an enemy ♪
♪ Tell me what have I done to you ♪
♪ To make you wanna treat me so cruel ♪
♪ Well, tell me
♪ Who do you think you are
♪ You better take a look
♪ Who do you think you are
♪ 'Cause it's my heart you took ♪
♪ Who do you think you are
♪ Hey, you're not so cool
♪ Nobody wears sunglasses to math anyway, yeah ♪
♪ Just how long do you think
♪ That you can pretend
♪ To be someone you're not
♪ Before your world caves in
♪ We were friends, so you said to me ♪
♪ But now you treat me like an enemy ♪
♪ Tell me what have I done to you ♪
♪ To make you wanna treat me so cruel ♪
♪ Tell me, who do you think you are ♪
♪ You better take a look
♪ Who do you think you are
♪ 'Cause it's my heart you took ♪
♪ Who do you think you are
(upbeat saxophone music)
(audience cheering and applauding)