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Epic Movie

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 14, age appropriate for kids over 16; suggested age 14.

  • Is it any good?

    1.0
  • Common Sense says

    Raunchy blockbuster spoof is over the top, dumb.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 14–16

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    It's great to see a racially diverse cast of leads, though it's also a joke at the same time (they're all secretly brothers and sisters). Otherwise, not much depth in the characters or storyline at all, though some of the personal-growth lessons from Chronicles of Narnia are present in an incidental way.
  • Violence:

    Bloodless, cartoon-style violence, with characters dismembered, smashed, pierced with arrows, shot, decapitated, stabbed, eviscerated, and de-tongued, as well as punched and kicked (in the groin, usually), though they rise up again unscathed.
  • Sex:

    Breast and crotch gags in profusion. Numerous shots of bikini-clad women, including a takeoff on Mystique from the X-Men movies (a bosomy mutant mainly clad in blue body paint and glued-on scales). She has sex (non-explicitly) with one of the heroes. Other characters shown in bed together (including four at once, male and female). Repeated jokes by fantasy figures (fauns and lion-men) about how their fathers "boinked" animals, resulting in their birth. The Witch enchants a victim by showing him her breasts (her back to us). Numerous double-entendres, suggestive character names, and suggestions of Willy Wonka's perversity.
  • Language:

    Many uses of "s--t," "Goddamn" several times (mostly said by a Samuel L. Jackson impersonator in place of "f--k"), and "bitch" a lot.
  • Consumerism:

    Many specific movies, TV shows, and celebrities are spoofed.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Repeated jokes about drinking, with bottles of liquor magically replacing the Turkish delight from Chronicles of Narnia. Characters, even the sober and sensible one, get utterly drunk in a pre-battle party.

What Parents Need to Know

This review of Epic Movie was written by Charles Cassady Jr.

Parents need to know that plenty of teens will want to see this raunchy parody from the folks behind Date Movie. It frequently relies on sexual references and body functions for punchlines (though the old standby of good, clean, bopped-on-the-head slapstick gets a workout, too). Lots of crotch and breast gags; plenty of innuendo and big, cartoon-style violence. Some language (mostly "s--t" and "Goddamn"). While the main movie being spoofed is The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, there aren't any jokes based on the religious allegory underlying C.S. Lewis' plot. References to R-rated films like Snakes on a Plane and Borat may pique young viewers' curiosity to see them.

Families Can Talk About

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  • Families can talk about the movie's crazy, all-out style of parody. Does any of it work, and do you think anyone will find any of it funny decades from now, when half of the references will have been forgotten? Compare this film to other spoofs -- like Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein and Woody Allen's Shadows and Fog -- in which the comedians seem to have great understanding and affection for what they're spoofing. Is there any of that here?
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More on Epic Movie

What’s the Story?

The story, such that it is, follows four adult "orphans" from a variety of races (the joke is that they're all brothers and sisters, despite their ethnic mix) whose origins rest in plotlines of movies as diverse as Nacho Libre and The Da Vinci Code. The four come into possession of Golden Tickets that allow them tour Willy Wonka's (Crispin Glover) fabulous candy factory. When Wonka tries to make candy out of the overgrown-kid heroes (it's strongly hinted that he has sex-pervert motivations), they hide from him in a wardrobe that turns out to be the portal to the magic land of Gnarnia. There the evil sorceress known as the "White Bitch" (Jennifer Coolidge) tries to catch them to stop the fulfillment of a prophecy that would end her reign. Part of her plans include the woozy pirate Jack Swallows (Darrell Hammond), who, of course, is a takeoff based on a certain Disney pirate-film series. Oh, and there's a homicidal albino monk after them, too.

Is It Any Good?

With a title like EPIC MOVIE, you'd think this feature-length spoof would be taking aim at, well, epic movies, and the clichés of spectacles like Troy or Gladiator.

But Epic Movie -- which was made by some of the people involved in Date Movie and the Scary Movie series -- just goofs on a laundry-list of 2005-2006 theatrical releases and TV shows, both epic and non-epic, all pinned to a framework of Disney's The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. The whole thing is like a MADtv sketch that escaped the small screen to the big one. What's the point? Basically, just a state-of-the-art ridicule of the most current film fads and crazes -- kind of like the way the New York stage community has fresh editions of a parody called Forbidden Broadway every season or so. But there's not much insight beneath the crass, rapid-fire gags and celebrity (or celebrity impersonator) cameos.

Kids are an easy-to-please crowd for this style of broad send-up, and some bits might make parents laugh too -- when they're not squirming at the prospect of having to explain a sleazy pun like "Jack Swallows." But much of Epic Movie's humor relies on the tiresome fallbacks of sex and drinking, with a few incongruous hip-hop dance numbers thrown in for good measure. Even more of the humor relies on having viewing tastes identical to writer-directors Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer, who do takeoffs on everything from the Saturday Night Live digital short "Lazy Sunday" (which itself was partially a Narnia riff) to MySpace.com. Good luck if you're not hip to the last two or three years of popular culture.

Movie Details

Studio: Twentieth Century Fox, Directors: Jason Friedberg, Aaron Seltzer
Run time: 86 minutes
Theatrical release: 01/26/2007, DVD release: 05/22/2007
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for crude and sexual humor, language and some comic violence.

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    I rate this title on for age 14 and give it 5.0

  2. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    I rate this title iffy for age 11 and give it 3.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use

    Funny for tweens with immature humor.

    Really funny, but to the point of where it is just stupid. Actually is pretty strong for a PG-13 movie. About 3 total F words (a lot more if you count the unrated scene with Samuel L. Jackson who is not really him) as well as a lot of sexual jokes and some crude humor. Has some comic violence, but might as well be looney tunes violence because it is so stupid and comical.

  3. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in Pennsylvania
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 3.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use

    only funny the first few times

    i like this movie and it made me laugh. watch it over again and suddenly it isn't that great. the type of movie not for little kids, okay for teens and great for mature kids

  4. I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give it 5.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Excessive consumerism

    Very provikitive comedy

    Good movie for mature kids

  5. I rate this title on for age 16 and give it 5.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Excessive consumerism
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative message
    • Negative role models

  6. I rate this title off for age 6 and give it 2.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use

    NOT APPROPRIATE FOR LITTE ONES but as usual me and my brother were allowed to watch it

  7. I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it 5.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative role models

    Funny Movie

  8. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    Lives in Oregon
    I rate this title on for age 12 and give it 3.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content

    funny to younger kids

    I thouht it was ok. There wasn't really much of a story line. But it was funny.

  9. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title iffy for age 14 and give it 1.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative message
    • Negative role models

    Dumb Movie that will only entertain teens wo don't care for good films

    This is one of the worst spoof movies ever. Tons of sexual material, including a prolonged sex scene with a blue lady. Frequent moderate comic violence. Lots of bad language, and a scne where a girl is seen chugging alcohol. If you don't care for good movies and just want to see a brainless spoof of better films from 2005 and 2996, then go for it. This film is iffy for 13 and 14 and OK for 15 and older. DO NOT take your kids to see it if they are under 13.

  10. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    Lives in Georgia
    I rate this title off for age 16 and give it 1.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative message

    worst movie ever!

  11. Teen Reviewer Age 17
    Lives in Minnesota
    I rate this title off for age 12 and give it 1.0

    Appalling

    avoid this movie at all costs

  12. I rate this title iffy for age 14 and give it 2.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate language

    crazy!

    funny but stupid film!

  13. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Michigan
    I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it 3.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content

    Funnier than date movie, but still lacking.

    I watched date movie and though it was decent, this is beter but it is still lacking in many ways. It dose have issues: 1. Mostly comic violence such as kicks to the groin and such. 2. Lots of sexual inuendo and content, so much, it would take a while to describe! 3. Language includes S--t, Go--amn, h--l, and used the most: B--th. 4. Some smoking and drinking. Overall this is a pretty funny movie for teens 13 and up

  14. Kid Reviewer Age 9
    Lives in Connecticut
    I rate this title pause for age 16 and give it 1.0

    beware

    bad bad bad stay away

  15. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    Lives in Colorado
    I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 4.0

    Hilarious!

    I have seen this movie more times than you can count. It was very funny and they put it together smoothly.

  16. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    Lives in Connecticut
    I rate this title off for age 17 and give it 1.0

    Bad! Bad! Bad!

    I hate this movie. It made no sense what so ever, not funny, and extremeley objectonable for kids under 17. It was just plain old dumb. If the creators were smart, then pigs would be flying by now. It is just random humor that was not funny, sex, and swears. If I liked this movie I would have and I.Q. of 2. In the middle of the movie I ran up to the tv and turned it off. I wasted 20.00$ on this movie. Here is a tip, don't waste your time, don't waste your money. If I gave a super short rivew it would say "boo you stink epic movie." Please take my advice and don't watch this movie unless you are trying to kill yourself!

  17. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Virginia
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 2.0

    well....

    I can't say ot was the worst movie. It was funny, but the plot was god-awful

  18. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Virginia
    I rate this title pause for age 15 and give it 1.0

    oh god

    this...is not a spoof. dressing up like a person from a movie is not a spoof. the bad thing about htis movie is that the jokes and spoofs are not origonal or clever AT ALL. its bad because every once in a hile they come up with a semi-clever joke that would be funny. but when that comes up they drag out the jokes so much until its not funny at all.

  19. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    Lives in Arkansas
    I rate this title pause for age 14 and give it 3.0

    Funny but not as much as Date movie, the comebacks, superhero movie, meet the spartans, and scary movie.

    I remember when this came to theaters, my parents wouldnt let me see it after viewing a preview. I finaly caught it on HBO. At the time it was very funny but not as much as the other films they have made. Four orphans from different movies in the film Lucy ( night at the museum) Peter (X-men) Susan (Snakes on a plane) and Edward (Nacho Libre) The base film being spoofed is The Lion, the witch, and the wardrobe and they all meet up after finding a golden ticket in a wonka bar. During the tour, they escape willy because he is a pervert. There is rivalry between the orphans ( who are actually siblings who were seperated by the white B----) who is evil and seductive. The rest of the movie is their adventure to meet aslo, the liman( half man half lion because his dad "boinked" a lion) I advise the age to be 14 and up but I recommend their other movies like date movie and scary movie.

  20. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    Lives in Arkansas
    I rate this title pause for age 14 and give it 3.0

    Funny but not as much as Date movie, the comebacks, superhero movie, meet the spartans, and scary movie.

    I remember when this came to theaters, my parents wouldnt let me see it after viewing a preview. I finaly caught it on HBO. At the time it was very funny but not as much as the other films they have made. Four orphans from different movies in the film Lucy ( night at the museum) Peter (X-men) Susan (Snakes on a plane) and Edward (Nacho Libre) The base film being spoofed is The Lion, the witch, and the wardrobe and they all meet up after finding a golden ticket in a wonka bar. During the tour, they escape willy because he is a pervert. There is rivalry between the orphans ( who are actually siblings who were seperated by the white B----) who is evil and seductive. The rest of the movie is their adventure to meet aslo, the liman( half man half lion because his dad "boinked" a lion) I advise the age to be 14 and up but I recommend their other movies like date movie and scary movie.

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