Junior (PG-13)

Arnold's Mr. Mom film lacks belly laughs.

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Common Sense rates it
2
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Movie details
  • Studio: Universal Studios
  • Directed By: Ivan Reitman
  • Cast: Danny DeVito, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Emma Thompson
  • Running Time: 109 minutes
  • Release Date: 11/23/1994
  • Video/DVD Release Date: 12/15/1998
  • Genre: Comedy
  • MPAA Rating: PG-13
  • MPAA Explanation: sex-related humor.

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that this movie, which features a male character who becomes pregnant, is probably not for younger kids who are still asking, "Where do babies come from?" Some kids might also be disturbed by the fact that chimpanzees, which are used in fertility experiments in the film, are shown in cages in a laboratory. However, the movie does not depict any animal abuse, unless one counts the fact that the chimps had to co-star in a mediocre film.

Families can talk about why Dr. Hesse decides to "keep the baby." How does the experience change him and make him a better person overall? They can also talk about comedies they really enjoy. What do they have in common? What kind of humor do they use? How are they effective at making you laugh? Is there an element of the absurd in everything that's funny?

Message

Social Behavior:

In general, characters have their hearts in the right place, but they occasionally do questionable things in the name of a higher purpose. For instance, two doctors ignore an FDA decision and secretly test an experimental fertility drug on a human. One of them steals a frozen egg from another scientist's cryogenics research project. However, characters overall take responsibility for their actions.

Consumerism:

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

A character is shown smoking cigars.

Violence

Dr. Hesse throws another character across a room. One scene shows a doctor injecting a long needle into a man's abdomen. During two separate childbirth scenes, a little blood is seen on a suction tube and on a newborn infant's head.

Sex

A woman and man kiss, and later are interrupted while they're making out on a couch. The woman later suggests that they have sex, which occurs off-screen. A shelf of porno videos is briefly seen in a fertility doctor's office. It's understood that the videos are there to help men submit their sperm samples.

Language

A few curse words, such as "s--t" and "bastard."

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Teresa Talerico

In JUNIOR, Arnold Schwarzenegger plays scientist Alex Hesse, who agrees to test an experimental fertility drug on himself. So far he has only tried Expectane on chimps, but when the FDA prohibits further study on actual women, Hesse's partner, obstetrician/gynecologist Larry Arbogast (Danny DeVito), convinces him to undergo a procedure in which Arbogast injects an embryo into Hesse's abdomen. Hesse then takes regular doses of Expectane and industrial-strength shots of female hormones. The result, while biologically outlandish, is pretty predictable. As "Junior" grows in Hesse's belly (and he responds to all those hormones), he gets in touch with his feminine side, transforming from a reserved, unemotional scientist to a sensitive, warm, er, mommy-to-be.

Is it any good?

2
Watching Danny DeVito administer a sonogram to the bulging belly of Arnold Schwarzenegger should probably be hilarious, but it may leave some viewers screaming for the Demerol. Hearing Schwarzenegger say the equivalent of "I'm keeping my baby" is good for a mild chuckle, sure, and it's somewhat touching to see his character thaw. Still, the comedy is more likely to induce cringes than belly laughs, which is too bad, given what director Ivan Reitman has done with movies like Stripes and Ghostbusters. And let's face it -- it's kind of creepy to see Schwarzenegger's muscled torso expand into an inflated pregnant belly.
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Parents and kids say

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There are 1 reviews.

0


Posted on 07/14/08 by james brown Kid contributor, age 14

sucks SO bad

this deffinetly gets the "worst" movie award. just because I said it's ok for kids my age dosn't mean they should watch it. arnolds sapost to kill people not be pregnant. come on, DON'T watch enough said.

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0


Posted on 07/14/08 by james brown Kid contributor, age 14

sucks SO bad

this deffinetly gets the "worst" movie award. just because I said it's ok for kids my age dosn't mean they should watch it. arnolds sapost to kill people not be pregnant. come on, DON'T watch enough said.
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