The Brady Bunch Movie - PG-13

Campy, affectionate send-up of a classic TV show.

Rating: PG-13 for racy innuendos. Studio: Paramount Directed By: Betty Thomas Cast: Gary Cole, Christine Taylor, Shelley Long Running Time: 88 minutes Release Date: 02/17/1995 Genre: Comedy

Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that this send-up of the wholesome 1970s TV show isn't quite as wholesome -- there's swearing, sibling rivalry, and sexual innuendo. There are jokes about sex, condoms, and the alcoholic Mrs. Dittmeyer is constantly hitting on the Brady men. Doug talks about Marcia like she's an object and calls her a "slut" when she refuses to have sex with him on the first date. One teen drinks. Another steals cars. Several swear. A girl in Marcia's class has a crush on her.

Families can talk about parodies. Why do you think a show like The Brady Bunch was an easy target? Kids who are behind on their reruns can have parents explain some of the in-jokes. Do you think life in the early '70s was as innocent and tame as the TV show made it out to be, or was the Brady attitude an escapist one even back then? What other movies or even Youtube clips have you seen parody mainstream entertainment?

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Common Sense Review

Reviewed By: Heather Boerner

The Brady Bunch is the celluloid equivalent of Martha Stewart's entertaining: The Bradys, and Stewart, are so perfect that everyone else feels like a failure by comparison. It's in reaction to this spirit that THE BRADY BUNCH MOVIE takes the classic storylines from the TV show and twists them, making them bawdier, lewder, and freakish -- basically, it turns the Bradys into the freaks, not the viewer. It's comforting. And for those who grew up watching the TV show, it's deeply satisfying.

The whole gang is back in this version of the TV show: Carol (Shelley Long), Mike (Gary Cole), Greg (Christopher Daniel Barnes), Marcia (the freakishly spot-on Christine Taylor) and the rest of the gang are still wearing their Technicolor ensembles, the guys still sport perms, and the ladies still iron their hair straight. Cindy (Olivia Hack) still sports her lisp, her braids, and her Betsy Wetsy doll.

But in the outside world, the people are not nearly so bright. Filmed in the 1990s, the teens are all grunge flannels and dark colors, the parents are horrible or alcoholic and greed rules the day. When the Bradys discover that they owe $20,000 in property taxes in a week or they'll lose their house, the gang tries to find a way to avoid the inevitable (a la The Goonies). But can they get the money before sleazy neighbor Larry Dittmeyer (the perfect Michael McKean) buys their house and turns the neighborhood into a strip mall?

The best part about The Brady Bunch Movie is its nostalgia. Sure, it's fun, Munsters-style, to see the Bradys treated as freaks. But the heart of the film is a campy, affectionate interpretation of the TV show. The film takes all the most iconic moments -- Cindy struggling to get rid of her lisp, Jan's sibling rivalry with Marcia, Peter's (Paul Sutera) cracking voice, Marcia's "Oh my nose!" moment, and Greg's Johnny Bravo delusions -- and inserts the heckling that hipsters have done at the show for years. So instead of Jan just being jealous of Marcia, she's got voices in her head telling her to kill people, and her school counselor, RuPaul, tells her to "work it, girl!" It's good, '90s-specific humor.

People who enjoy this film will love the original series, A Very Brady Sequel, and The Goonies.

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Content		CS	adults	kids
Content
Sexual Content Lots of sexual innuendo, like Dina offering to "wrap" Mr. Brady's "package" and later telling Greg and Peter to come into her house to help her "make a sandwich." Carol and Mike kiss. Marcia and Doug kiss. Noreen has a crush on Marica. Holly kisses Peter.
Violence Peter faints repeatedly. Larry Dittmeyer is electrocuted and drops a toilet on his foot. Noreen punches Doug. Doug tries to sexually assault Marcia. Jan hears voices that tell her to kill people.
Language Some swearing, including "hell," "slut," "damn," and "ass."
Message
	Social Behavior Lots of humor about people doing bad things to the innocent Bradys who are so naïve and oblivious that nothing bad results. Greg and Marcia almost get carjacked, and the Dittmeyers scheme to sabotage the Bradys' attempt to keep their house. Middle child syndrome is taken to the next level when Jan hears menacing voices, runs away, and hitchhikes.
	Commercialism Several products are mentioned or visible, including Scooby-Doo, Swiss Miss hot chocolate, Astroturf, Sears, U-Haul and various bands, including Pearl Jam and the Monkees.
	Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco Dina Dittmeyer is an alcoholic and constantly hungover or drunk. She drinks bloody Marys and is seen with lots of bottles of alcohol. A teenager drinks from a flask. Sam smokes a cigar.