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The Good Girl

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 16, age appropriate for kids over 17; suggested age 16.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0

  • Common Sense says

    Story of love and frustration isn't for kids.

Themes in this movie include:   dating/crushes, emotional abuse
updated 10.02.09

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 16–17

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    The movie is a parable about how the absolute, black and white beliefs of youth give way to mature compromise.
 

What to watch out for

  • Role models :

    None of the main characters are people you would want your kids to emulate.

  • Violence:

    Two offscreen deaths, one by suicide.

  • Sex:

    There is a scene of coerced sex that verges on rape; other sex scenes.

  • Language:

    Strong language is used throughout the film.

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Alcohol and drug abuse (pot) are depicted.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About The Good Girl

Parents need to know that this film deals with potentially upsetting issues such as mental illness and infidelity in an understated manner. Strong language is used throughout the film, and there are several scenes depicting sex without frontal nudity. Alcohol and drug abuse (pot) are depicted. There is a scene of coerced sex that verges on rape, and two offscreen deaths, one by suicide.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about Justine's decision at the end of the film, and how it might affect her life in the future.
  • The title of the film is both serious and ironic -- in what ways is Justine a good girl, and how does she balance her desires with the good of the people around her?
  • What made Holden so attractive to Justine at the beginning, and how did this make him "a demon" by the end?
  • Although Christianity plays a relatively small role in the story, parents with strong faith will want to talk about the issues of forgiveness and coercion explicitly brought up by the film. What's the difference between professing a faith and adhering to it?
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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Adult Reviewer
    Rachel D
    I rate this title off for age 17 and give it 0.0

    The horrible, awful, disgusting bad girl

    I can't believe I didn't turn and run from this one. Nothing good to say, depressing, dark, completely immoral. PLEASE do not see this film!

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate

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