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Being There

(2001, Rated PG, Drama, Starring Peter Sellers, Shirley MacLaine, Melvyn Douglas)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 11, age appropriate for kids over 14; suggested age 12.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    Amazingly poignant performance by Peter Sellers.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 12–14

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

  • Violence:

    Not an issue.

  • Sex:

    A joke about genital size, sexual forwardness (usually based on misunderstandings), unseen (but heard) masturbation.

  • Language:

    Brief swearing by street thugs.

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    A small amount of social drinking.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Being There

Parents need to know that this film is emotionally taxing and touching. There is some brief profanity. In one off-screen moment that is meant to be comedic, a woman masturbates with the hopes of seducing a man who is clearly not interested.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about issues regarding the media. What part does the media play in the creation of Chauncey Gardiner? Is Chance's depiction as a simpleton politically correct or ideologically problematic? In addition, parents may want to discuss this film in the context of contemporary Hollywood. How does its rather small and understated narrative compare to films today? Can they think of anything similar?
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