It's a very good movie, but for kids younger than 11 who only know the love shown in Disney films should not watch this. The movie is realistic, but heart-tramplingly so. If you want to discuss with your kids about love the real way, the painful, sometimes heartbreaking way, this is a good movie. Kids who want to see a sweet movie, go see a movie like Enchanted or Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian. This movie is sad and does not really have a positive message about love in the end.
Little Manhattan
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Refreshingly realistic tween tale of first love.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 10 and Up
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of Little Manhattan was written by Heather Boerner
Parents need to know that this movie about tween romance shows a little kissing and some wrestling around on the floor. The kids disobey their parents, leave their neighborhood, and take the subway alone. There's some mild peril when they encounter bullies. Gabe deals with his parents getting a divorce. He also speeds across the street on his scooter without looking.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about the ideas of love that movies, including this one, give viewers. Is love really the way the movie describes? Do you have to suffer to be in love? Do you believe Gabe when he says that love is about "grand gestures" instead of small things? Is that true in Gabe's parents' relationship? What other messages about love does this film give you? Do you think they're accurate?
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More on Little Manhattan
What’s the Story?
Gabe (Josh Hutcherson) is 11 3/4 and living in a weird world. His mother and father (Cynthia Nixon and Bradley Whitford) are separated and getting a divorce but still live together. When Gabe starts karate, Rosemary (Charlie Ray) captures his imagination. He's known her since kindergarten, but now, as his sparring partner, Rosemary's strength and beauty enchant Gabe, and he grapples with how he's suddenly changing.
Is It Any Good?
Teens are often shown images of romance that are either unrealistically sweet or unbelievably raunchy. Between the two sits LITTLE MANHATTAN, a revelation of a small film that's essentially When Harry Met Sally for the tween set. In fact, it's a little creepy how alike the movies are. In one scene where Rosemary and Gabe are at a birthday party that Rosemary's toddler sister is attending, Rosemary somewhat snootily says, "See, she's using her hands and talking, and he's drooling over a cupcake." The girl toddler, it turns out, is three months younger than the boy.
Anyone who's ever had a crush is likely to relate to Gabe. He feels the need to ride his scooter past her house constantly. His hands sweat. His heart pounds. "You're weak and pathetic and you're going to be alone for your entire life," he berates himself when he finally sees Rosemary on one of his stakeouts. Finally, viewers eventually get to the scene where Gabe races to find Rosemary and profess his love for her. But the refreshing difference here is that the true love story is saved for the adults -- mercifully, Little Manhattan doesn't force its child stars to grow up too fast.
Movie Details
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox, Director: Mark Levin
Run time: 90 minutes
Theatrical release: 07/20/2005, DVD release: 04/04/2006
MPAA Rating: PG for mild thematic elements, language and brief action
Run time: 90 minutes
Theatrical release: 07/20/2005, DVD release: 04/04/2006
MPAA Rating: PG for mild thematic elements, language and brief action
Our Members Say
See all 15 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
- My concerns are:
A good movie, but sad and realistic portrayal of young love.
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I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
- My concerns are:
A good movie, but sad and realistic portrayal of young love.
It's a very good movie, but for kids younger than 11 who only know the love shown in Disney films should not watch this. The movie is realistic, but heart-tramplingly so. If you want to discuss with your kids about love the real way, the painful, sometimes heartbreaking way, this is a good movie. Kids who want to see a sweet movie, go see a movie like Enchanted or Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian. This movie is sad and does not really have a positive message about love in the end.
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I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
Ok
If you hate it when people throw up, ont watch this movie......I learned that the hard way!
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I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
Ok
If you hate it when people throw up, ont watch this movie......I learned that the hard way!
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I rate this title on for age 13 and give it- My highlights are:
- Good role models
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I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate language
Very cute
First love is a big thing... especially when you're 10 years old.
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I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
My personal concern
And a concern for emetophobes: if you don't like to see vomit, skip the first chapter on the DVD. It has about 5 extremely graphic shots of vomit. That is the reason I rated it 3/5 stars. While most of the movie was good, I found that one part a major setback, and almost quit watching.
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I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
Touching. :)
So great! It was touching, funny- but a lot of violence. I loved it so much! It was about a young relationship of love and it was just so cute, but be aware that there is a lot of kissing (because it replays, and replays and replays and etc.). And violence, that is not appropriate. (karate).
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I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
Sweet boy learning about love
It was nice to watch a movie that reminds me that little boys, like girls, come from a place of innocence and that learning about love is a fun, exciting and sometimes heartbreaking experience. My daughter is only 8 and gets grossed out by kissing. (She's still in the boys have coodie faze. Thank goodness!) However, I highly recommend this movie for the parents of 11 year olds and above. It'd be a great way to talk about importance of growing up slowly.
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I rate this title on for age 7 and give it
Shows the bad parts of a first love.
I remember seeing this on an "extra scoop" segment on hbo and it looked interesting enough. I finally rented it when it came out. The story is about a boy named Gabe. Its about his firs love crush on a girl whose like taller and older than him. They are really good friends and the only reson that Gabe joins karate is to be with her. It basically goes ok untill a new kid joins the class named Tim Staples and Gabe thinks he is making a move on Rosemarey. He tries to impress her by attempting to earn his yellow belt and ends up breaking his arm on the board. He crys and basically embareses himself. Later at home, rosemary calls to check on him and it turns into him asking her about tim and making fun of her and he says those three unthinkable words: "I hate you" after the phone call, he crys some more and is comforted by his mom who is in a divorce. So his life is basically ruined untill he finall acepts it and moves on. He finally sees his chance by going to the wedding where rosemary is the flowergirl and apolagizes for what he says and tells her that he loves her and she is shocked and says she is not ready for that so in the end he doesnt win her especially since SHE IS GOING TO CAMP AND THEN TO BOARDING SCHOOL and wont see him again. He finaly just lives with it. Just a complete waste of time if you ask me and I wish I would have realized it sooner.
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I rate this title pause for age 8 and give it
FAVORITE!
Sad, touching, sweet and loving. NO SEX, NO VIOLENCE! It's the perfect movie! 9+!!!!!!!!!!
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
The most cliced film in a long time
Ok, so this movie is by no means terrible, but on the flipside, it isn't so good either. Sure, it's family-friendly, but it will bore and confuse the youngest, and leave much to be desired for the older crowd. First off, i don't know why everyone is saying that this movie is "fresh," it's not. A movie about two kids falling in "love" and one of them leaves. Hmm, haven't seen that before. And secondly, why is Gabe so torn up about Rosemary leaving to camp? She'd only have been gone for six weeks, and then come back!!!! He'd see her in school again! And finally, the parents beikng divorced and then getting back together is SO cliched it was almost funny to put in there. Anyone that has an IQ of 50 could figure out that the parents will get back together! So, do what you wish, but in my opinion, you can skip "Little Manhattan," rent "Hairspray instead."
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
Excellent
I think this movie is GREAT! Its funny and romantic. The actors do a good job in this movie and it has a great message. I dont have a problem with the rating for this movie, cause it does have some language and other things that arent so appropriate, so PG is fine with me. I didnt have a problem with this movie at all and I love the message it sends to the audience: Love comes in all ages.
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
One of the best romances of all time!
This is one of the sweetest, most honest, and wonderful family movies of all time! It is absolutely amazing and a must see for 8-10+
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
WOW.... I love this movie a little too much!!
so... this movie is a little inappropriate... but it is such a good and true move... love stinks is pretty much what the message is saying.. a beauitful movie representing a new york love story.. The casting had to be the best... JOSH HUTCHERSON... CHARLIE RAY!!!!!!!!!!!
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