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Becoming Jane
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Is it age appropriate?
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Not age appropriate for kids under 9, age appropriate for kids over 12; suggested age 12. -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
A witty, winning Austen bio for tweens and older.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 12 and Up
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
About Becoming Jane
Parents need to know that this film is a delightful exercise in imagination. No one truly knows whether Jane Austen and Tom Lefroy shared a grand passion, but the movie makes a great case for it. It's a romantic, often funny tale that tweens and teens will enjoy, though there are parts that could prove dicey for younger audiences, including a sexual interlude between Jane's parents and a brazen flirtation between an older woman and a younger man. (The banter may also go a little too fast for them to understand.) The language is sometimes complicated for younger audiences ("impecunious"), but it's fairly innocuous, except for one expletive ("s--t").
Read our full review by S. Jhoanna Robledo
Families Can Talk About
- Families can talk about why Tom's uncle thinks Jane isn't worthy of marriage and why they couldn't simply decide to be together. What standards were in place at the time? Do these requirements seem cruel or unjust?
Our Members Say
Most Recent Reviews
Lives in FloridaI rate this title iffy for age 12 and give itMy concerns are:- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
great movie
I thought it was a great movie and i'm not big into old fashion movies. I think that you will very much enjoy this movie!
- I rate this title off for age 17 and give it
distasteful!!
Do we really have to start a lovely romantic movie about our beloved Jane Austin with a reference to her parents having oral sex? Distasteful!! I definetly would not wacth it with my kids. And by the way, I love Jane Austin, she is my favorite author!!!
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
this was magnificent!
This movie makes you laugh, cry, leap with joy, and even get a tad angry. i do not reccomend this film for kids under 10 because it does get a little hard to follow in parts. If you do not like to cry in movies, DON'T WATCH! This movie, though, wonderful, does not end the way everyone would hope. I cried a total of 5 times throughout. I loved this movie.
- I rate this title off for age 17 and give it
My husband and I actually left the movie theatre it was so dissapointing
We thought this would be a great romantic movie we would enjoy by the previews. NOT the case. It was filled with a lot BLATANT sexual references and did not seem to portray romantic kind of love. It was just a disgusting movie that did not evoke any kinds of good feelings. I was completey shocked at the extent of sexuality, language, carousing for the PG rating. I would not recommend this movie to anyone. We may have been forewarned with a PG 13 rating or higher.
- I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
wonderful!
I loved this story so much! the very begining it was a little innapropriate with the father and mother (see the review by cs) but in all it was a great adventure movie. It was cool thinking "so that's where jane austin got her inspiration for the books". if you love jane austin and her stories you won't be dissapointed!
- I rate this title off for age 5 and give it
I was thoroughly disappointed with this absolutely erroneous tale of Jane Austen's life. She would NEVER have been with a man like LeFroy or have ever considered running of with him or any other man. The ladies at the Jane Austen Centre in Bath, England were telling people that it is as far from the facts of Jane that we DO know and were not recommending it. I wish just once that Hollywood would stick to the facts especially when dealing with honorable people.
- I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
Should have been rated PG-13
This is a good but not stellar movie about Jane Austen. It is sad, and highlights the conflicts between love and what is expected of a person by society's bounds. Parents should know that there is a brief scene of oral sex (performed under blankets) but still obvious. There is also a scene where a man reads a graphic passage about draqonflies mating to a woman. There are two bloody boxing matches, and two scenes of men and prostitutes in bars kissing and laughing. Overall, the themes make this movie more suited to teenagers and adults than preteens and kids. Don't be decieved by the "PG" label!
- I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
It wasn't too good.
It was pretty much the same as Pride and Predudice. It wasn't as happy and not too enjoyable. Many boxing scenes make it pretty violent with loads of blood. Two friends go skinny dipping and it pans over their pare butts. It had a bad ending, beause Jane's life wasn't the best, yet still had some exitment. I wouldn't see it again. Do not see it!
- I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
I love Jane Austin even more
I am not a great literary reader, but I have spent many years working through classic literature. For instance, I am currently reading Anna Karinina. Honestly, Leo needs to end it, but I will finish the book. I read Pride and Prejudice about three years ago. It was not the easiest read for me but I loved loved loved the female characters and fell in love with Jane Austin. This movie brought back all the enjoyment of that read and made me fall in love with Jane Austin all over again. I hope to encourage my children to be readers of classics and at a much earlier age than I was. I will by this movie on DVD and when my daughter has finished Pride and Prejudice for the first time will share it with her. This movie is not only for Jane Austin fans but it is they who will most appreciate it.
- I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it
- I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it
Okay movie, w/ one very inappropriate scene
The movie opens with a VERY inappropriate scene. I would say you should arrive a bit late if you are bringing a pre-teen. Otherwise, there is nothing objectionable and nothing that great either. The movie played fast and loose with the real story of Austen's life. I prefer Austen's work--not a made-up "bio" of her life.
- I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
Should have seen Pride and Prejudice...
I saw Pride and Prejudice at the movies when it first came out, and this movie was exactly the same, but not as well-written. There was some iffy sexual content between an older couple, and then a young man and woman dating. Honestly, though, it was depressing. It was slow-moving, predictable, and had a sad ending. I cried too much, I didn't like it. People looking to see a happier version should watch Pride and Prejudice instead.
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
- I rate this title on for age 11 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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