Kids won't likely be interested in this witty, funny, and moving political romance. I heard of it because I was a fan of the writer's (Aaron Sorkin) later TV series THE WEST WING, also about politics (there's a review for it on COMMONSENSE). But, even if you're not a WEST WING fan, there's tons to love in this movie. It's funny, smart, filled with witty dialogue, and packed with great performances. It's okay for teens and up, and maybe some mature preteens. As COMMONSENSE warns, Andy and Sydney sleep together early on in their relationship. Onscreen, they have a conversation about how she's not comfortable with physical intimacy because he's the President. Then, she comes out of his bathroom in only one of his T-shirts (nothing is shown, as it covers sensitive spots). They start kissing, and nothing at all is shown after that. However, the next 15-20 minutes of the film are devoted to the media scandal that results from her spending the night with him. Be prepared for several scenes where the media makes reference to their sex, and even one where a President hopeful lies about Sydney giving "sexual favors" in exchange for votes. The President never comments on his relationship with her to the press, so the act of their pre-marital sex is neither condoned or portrayed as bad. Make sure young kids know your policy about pre-marital sex before watching the film (if you haven't spoke of it yet, this film could be a good launch point for discussion). If kids know the consequences of pre-marital sex, the film should be fine. If not, they might get some wrong ideas from the President and Sydney's relationship. In addition, we've got 2 "f**k"s, 4-5 "s**t"s, 3-4 "a*s"s, and several "d**n"s and "h*ll"s.
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The American President
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Is it age appropriate?
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Not age appropriate for kids under 12, age appropriate for kids over 13; suggested age 13. -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Witty, wise, and idealized political romance.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 13 and Up
The good stuff
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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What Parents Need to Know
About The American President
Parents need to know that Sydney and Andrew (both unmarried) sleep together on their second date. Andrew's wife died of cancer, leaving him to raise his daughter alone, which may sadden teens who've lost a parent. There's some minimal cursing, and political rival Robert Rumson is quick to accuse Sydney of being a slut on national television. There's a lot of potential for mean-spirited digs in this film, and some of them are taken, but mostly it's an uplifting romantic comedy in which the president learns to stand up for what he believes in rather than sticking to what makes him popular.
Read our full review by Heather Boerner
Families Can Talk About
- Families can talk about the similarities between the behaviors of the characters in the movie and kids in high school: the mean-spirited gossip, the flirting, the struggle between being cool and having integrity. Has anyone in your family faced these challenges? How did you decide what to do? What would you have done if you were in Andrew's shoes, or in Sydney's?
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Most Recent Reviews
- I rate this title on for age 13 and give itMy concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
A Truly Perfect Film!
- I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
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Ratings at a Glance
| 100% | of parents say it has language their kids can't use |
| 100% | of parents say the sexual behavior isn't age appropriate |
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