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 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
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21
- Review Date: March 26, 2008
- PG-13
- Genre: Drama
- 2008
Common Sense Media says
Breezy Vegas con film fun, with some iffy stuff.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this breezy, fact-based drama about college students who use their math skills to count cards in Las Vegas may appeal to teens thanks to stars like Jim Sturgess (of Across the Universe) and Kate Bosworth. That said, the subject matter is pretty serious, and there are some fairly violent scenes -- a security officer punches counters with a closed, ring-bedecked fist -- as well as lots of smoking, drinking, swearing, and, of course, gambling. The students also meet up post-gambling at a strip club, and there are plenty of cleavage shots and some passionate clinches.
What's the story?
MIT senior Ben Campbell (Jim Sturgess) has worked hard all his life to achieve one goal: attend Harvard Medical School. Getting in isn't the problem -- he's already been accepted -- but paying for it is. His only chance is a full-ride scholarship, but nothing distinguishes him from most of the applicants. He's smart and hardworking, but he has no life experience, having sacrificed his social life for school. No wonder the lure of Vegas becomes too much for him to resist -- what's not to like about the chance to make tons of money, live a different life, and land a pretty classmate, Jill (Kate Bosworth)? Jill is part of a blackjack "team" led by professor Micky Rosa (Kevin Spacey), a math whiz who trains his students in the fine art of card-counting and flies them to Sin City for money-making weekends. Technically, it's not a crime -- but Vegas doesn't celebrate winners, particularly if they're geniuses who find a way to take the house for all it's worth. Soon Ben discovers he's involved in a dizzying game where the stakes -- Harvard, graduation, his future -- are much too high.
Is it any good?
Slick, stylish, and, for the most part, seductive, 21 -- based on Ben Mezrich's nonfiction book Bringing Down the House about MIT student Jeff Ma -- is a treat despite some clunky dialogue and cliched setups. Just one example: On his 21st birthday, Ben's mother beseeches him to have fun; "You only turn 21 once," she says. Cut to the fork in the road that promises excitement. Later, Jill, in an effort to persuade Ben to join the team, tells him, "You were born for this." And so on.
But true talent masks many ills -- and Sturgess has plenty. Cool and vulnerable in Across the Universe and aptly English in The Other Boleyn Girl, he's credibly earnest and awkward here, but not so much that his Vegas transformations are unbelievable. Spacey, who co-produced the film, gives viewers more of his sneering, snide shtick, but it's effective here. His mentees are a likable bunch -- young, too-clever, and eager to please. And Vegas? The cheese is (mostly gone). Rarely has it looked this fun.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about Ben's decision to gamble as a means to an end. Was he right? Is it ever OK to bend the rules to accomplish something? Since it's not technically illegal to count cards, why is it so frowned upon? Do you think it's cheating or just a clever use of math skills? Is it easier to justify something like card counting if you're taking money away from a casino instead of a person? Does the movie glamorize Las Vegas and gambling? What do you think casinos are like in real life?
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- Teens & kids
Parent of 12 year old
January 10, 2011
AGE
perfect
great movie there is some intimate relations but kids should know about this stuff by 12 years old
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Teen, 13 years old
September 11, 2009
AGE
THis was a swweeeettt movie a little violent,but really good!
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Teen, 16 years old
March 17, 2011
AGE
my only
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Parent of 8 year old
October 26, 2009
AGE
Wow, really bad!
This was an incredibly bad movie purely based on the script. The writers made the characters do whatever they needed to do (not what the characters would have done) in order just to try and make some sort of story work in the most convenient way possible. All the characters contradict their conviction regularly, change the personalities from scene to scene and are all geniuses when required, and idiots 2 seconds later in order to create inciting incidents or problems to be overcome. The overall effect is the suspension of disbelief is thrown out the window and you are very aware that you are watching actors on a screen trying to make up a story. Some of the dialogue is so unnatural and is written as a lazy and overly direct way to try and tell you something about a character.
Editing, score etc and some of the actors - very good. But all of the talent was let down by rubbish script development.
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Teen, 15 years old
March 18, 2011
AGE
i love this movie
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Kid, 12 years old
July 8, 2010
AGE
A confusing but entertaining flick.
This movie is very well done. They film it perfectly, with cool angles I've never seen done before. The violence is bast on real events, (they play 'poker?' but these people above the billiard room beat up anyone that cheats like these 12 graders who have know idea its illegal.) Its often funny with lines of 'I need a drink' and two people from the same team begin making love on a train. (anything strange about that? Nah, I see it every time I go on a public train. LOL.) Theirs drug, and a seen when a man is beat up very bad, blood every where. B.S. is said and God- D*** is heard. A girl smokes and drinks 'trying for a sexy look'. Los Angelas is shown lots of times. That includes clubs, gambling rooms, strip club etc.
Theres nudity nothing shown from a window. They cheat and are filthy rich from counting cards, which by the way is illegal.
Blood is shown on a camera.
No good role models, except at the end when they realize what they are doing is not so great as they thought it was.
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Teen, 15 years old
June 28, 2009
AGE
Fun, fast-paced film about winning and losing big
Some of the main actors, such as Jim Sturgess and Kate Bosworth, will appeal to younger audiences, but perhaps think twice before taking your younger teens to this Vegas film. It's fun and it's inventive and you shouldn't miss it - but there is excessive drinking, partying, and the like. Language is mild (s--t was used a few times, but that was the max.), and there are brief romantic interludes, but other than that, 21 is a must-see. (:
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Teen, 13 years old
December 13, 2008
AGE
Great!
I loved it, and there were a few violent scenes, but they weren't bad at all (well, maybe a little..) The acting was great and there were several funny parts. Anyone 10 and older could see this movie, depending on the kid, maybe even 8 or 9. The only 'sex scenes' are some stippers, and kissing, maybe a COUPLE of suggestive jokes...
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| Studio: | Columbia Tristar |
| Director: | Robert Luketic |
| Cast: | Jim Sturgess, Kate Bosworth, Kevin Spacey |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Run time: | 123 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | March 27, 2008 |
| DVD release date: | July 21, 2008 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | some violence, and sexual content including partial nudity. |
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