Kevin Smith 'kids film' Yoga Hosers slapped with adult certificate for ridiculous reason

This is the fourth time the filmmaker has appealed the MPAA's decision

Outspoken filmmaker Kevin Smith is targeting American censors following their decision to slap his new film with an R-rating.

The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) handed Smith's upcoming horror comedy the rating - which is equivalent to a 15-certificate in the UK - due to one shot that features a cartoon pair of testicles.

Smith expressed his anger via an Instagram page where he uploaded the offending image in an effort to prove to his many followers that the image is, it turns out, not that offensive.

Naturally, the Clerks filmmaker will challenge the decision.

“The MPAA gave my kids movie Yoga Hosers an R rating for a cartoony drawing of testicles on a book cover,” he wrote matter-of-factly.

“So now, for the fourth time in my 22 year career, we will hold an appeal screening with the Motion Picture Association of America's ratings board and try to get the R overturned for a less severe (and far more appropriate) PG-13.”

He continued: “The core audience for the flick is tween girls (it's Clueless meets Gremlins!), so I refrained from salty language to make a totally kid-friendly movie."

 

A photo posted by Kevin Smith (@thatkevinsmith) on Apr 18, 2016 at 12:12pm PDT

"Even so, next week I'll screen the flick for the MPAA appeals audience and, lawyer-like, plead my case for why the film is really PG-13 - all so that I can keep the graffiti drawing of nuts on a fictional library book in my goofy girl-power monster movie. Weird life."

Even if you're not the biggest Kevin Smith fan, it's hard to deny his point.

Yoga Hosers stars Smith's own daughter Harley Quinn Smith as well as Lily-Rose Depp - daughter of actor Johnny who himself stars in the film; in fact, Depp is the one holding the controversial drawing in the above shot.

The film, due for release this coming August, was shown at Sundance Film Festival back in January where it received a crop of negative reviews.

Smith has previously challenged the MPAA's decision following the ratings of his films Clerks (1994), Jersey Girl (2004) and Zack and Miri Make a Porno (2008).