Common Sense Note
A teenaged girl attempts suicide. Some moderate expletives, but fairly tame given the setting. These rock musicians on the road in the 1970s engage in all the bad behavior you might expect--drinking, casual sex, drugs--but the behavior is never glorified and is shown to be self-destructive. The lead character loses his virginity to a trio of bored girls. Brief partial nudity. A few arguments lead to mild brawls among friends.
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: M. Faust
Despite taking place in the middle of the raucous 1970s, ALMOST FAMOUS is a timeless coming-of-age story that will appeal to anyone regardless of whether or not they were around during the era. Teens will certainly be amused by the period fashions and attitudes, but they'll also respond to the characters, who deal with issues that have always plagued young people.
Of course, this was the era of "sex, drugs, and rock-and-roll," and ALMOST FAMOUS doesn't shy away from showing the excesses of life on the road. But the movie always paints them as just that--excesses. When Russell takes advantage of his celebrity at a small-town party, his indulgence in alcohol and drugs nearly costs him his life. Penny Lane, who, like her fellow "band aids," is insulted when anyone calls her a groupie, comes to see that there's scarcely a difference. She eventually realizes that sex is not a game and not free of consequences.
Older audience members will delight in the way that Crowe (Jerry Maguire) has captured the 1970s, with a clear but affectionate eye for the styles and attitudes of the times. His use of music is especially canny; the Stillwater songs (co-written by Crowe and his wife, Heart guitarist Nancy Wilson) sound right at home with the sterling selection of actual songs from the pre-disco days.
Patrick Fugit's star-making debut as the young hero William is but one of many funny and touching performances. Frances McDormand, the star of movies as diverse as Madeline and Fargo, continues to prove she's one of today's finest actors.
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Sexual ContentThe lead character loses his virginity to a trio of bored girls. The free-sex lives of musicians on the road is an issue that is shown to lead to emotional stress. Brief partial nudity. |
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ViolenceA few arguments lead to mild brawls among friends. |
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LanguageSome moderate expletives, but fairly tame given the setting. |
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Social BehaviorSexism is an issue the film explicitly condemns. Mostly white characters. |
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Drug/Alcohol/TobaccoThe rock musicians engage in drinking and drugs, but the behavior is never glorified and is shown to be self-destructive. |
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