Coach Carter takes a hard look at the student-athlete and questions where the priority lies in that term. The film also displays the tough life ahead for the at-risk teen who grows up in an environment with seemingly few opportunities and many hard knocks. Among the grit, great messages emerge about the importance of education, teamwork, respecting authority, and staying out of gangs. However, the movie is saturated with reality that might make a parent uncomfortable (some seen in a negative light, some just seen as life): curse words, a teen pregnancy that seems a little too rosy, a party where teen-agers strip (to their underwear), implied teen sex (not on camera), alcohol use, drug deals and a shooting. Attend with your teenager and discuss afterwards.