No More Baths is a 1997 Direct to Video movie, distributed by an independent producer known as Feature Films For Families.
When greedy land developers attempt to push a kindly widower off of his property, they receive an unexpected challenge from his ten-year-old neighbor Keegan McPhie in this family-oriented drama that shows a little love can go a long way. After being robbed of his family by a tragic fire, Jake opened his doors and his heart to the children of Glenwood Springs.
Having learned a thing or two about helping others from his parents, who work as legal-aid attorneys, Keagan is troubled to learn that Jake's home is in jeopardy as land developers and government bureaucrats move in to make way for new developments in the neighborhood. Quickly organizing his friends into a powerful but peaceful protest force known as the "Glenwood Springs Kids Corp."
Tropes in the film:
- Amoral Attorneys: Subverted, both Keegan and Milly's parents are forced to work against Jake during his trial.
- A Simple Plan: The entire scheme to take Jake's lot.
- Big Eater: Danny, one of Keegan's friends. There's even a funny scene where he goes to a local diner to alert a local classmate of an emergency meeting at the clubhouse—then stops to shove some of the other kid's food in his face. Danny then doubles back and takes the rest of the food with him.
- The kids plan to get everyone to take notice of Jake's plight.
- Cool Teacher: Keegan's teacher, whose lesson on Civil Rights and Martin Luther King inspire Keegan and the other Jake's Lot kids to take action. She could be considered a downplayed version of a Hippie Teacher as well, due to her long hair, peasant-skirt-centric style, and relaxed attitude.
- Corrupt Corporate Executive: Bud and his company, who want to kick Jake off his property because of the real estate value he'd get if he did. When the incident with the dog happens, he's the first jump on it, as it means that he would have some grounds to get Jake out of the way.
- Covers Always Lie: The one thing both video and DVD covers have in common, a bunch of kids (who look like they could use a bath) all lined up.
- Darker and Edgier: Compared to most other (FFFF) films.
- Exactly What It Says on the Tin: The kids' protests are exactly that, "No more baths", and they won't take any baths until Jake gets his house (and land) back.
- Forced to Watch: Many of the kids are forced to watch as Jake is dragged away by police.
- The Lancer: Keegan's sister Milly acts as a kind of second in command during the film.
- Magical Negro: Subverted, Jake is just a regular guy.
- Meaningful Name: Bud Bildmore's name is quite appropriate for a land developer.
- Offscreen Villainy: Bud spent much time off screen trying to force Jake off his lot illegally.
- "The Reason You Suck" Speech: Keegan delivers several during the film, most notably to Buzz.
- Scary Black Man: Subverted. Jake is tall and perhaps slightly scary looking, but gentle and he likes kids.
- The Scrounger: Jake's old house holds all sorts of odds and ends.
- Smoking Gun: The kids clubhouse is the key to saving Jake's lot.
- Survivor's Guilt: Jake, who lost his wife and kids to a fire, has some attachment to the kids because of this.
