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Mermaids

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 13, age appropriate for kids over 14; suggested age 13.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    Moving, but teen sex content meant for discussion.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 13–14

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Charlotte has sex for the first time without using protection. Mrs. Flax is promiscuous. Charlotte steals the family car and runs away, and then lies to the family who found her about her own family.

  • Violence:

    Kate falls off a small waterfall and nearly drowns. The death of President Kennedy is described in detail. Rachel slaps Charlotte.

  • Sex:

    Rachel and her boss have sex in the back seat of a car (clothes still on), Charlotte and Joe have sex (clothes still on), Rachel dates her married boss. Rachel has sex with Lou on the first date -- Rachel is shown clothed but Lou is naked under a sheet. Charlotte talks about her sexual fantasies. Several characters kiss, including Joe and Charlotte, Joe and Rachel, and couples on New Year's Eve.

  • Language:

    Several words people may consider swearing, including "assholes," "bitch," "damn," "son of a bitch," "hell," "ass," "s--t," and "Goddamn."

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Mrs. Flax smokes often, as do girls in the girls bathroom in high school and other adult women. Mrs. Flax and Lou drink scotch. Young Charlotte and Kate get drunk together.

What Parents Need to Know

This review of Mermaids was written by Heather Boerner

Parents need to know that though this movie is set in 1963, there's some teen and parent sex going on here. Teenage Charlotte has unprotected sex. Mrs. Flax has sex with her boyfriend on the first date and later kisses the boy she knows Charlotte has a crush on. This movie also deals with death and estrangement; Charlotte's father abandoned her and she's always seeking him. Kate is seriously injured and nearly dies. Both Charlotte and Kate get drunk while their mom is out.

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 their attitudes on sex, birth control, promiscuity -- the works. Do teen and parent values match? They can also talk about Charlotte's absent father. How does this affect her life and relationships with boys?
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More on Mermaids

What’s the Story?

In the enchanting and complex coming-of-age story MERMAIDS, Charlotte Flax (a href=" http://www.commonsensemedia.org/reviews/Winona-Ryder/">Winona Ryder), the nun-obsessed daughter of a Jewish mother. Mrs. Flax (Cher) is gutsy, creative, and enchanting -- and when things go poorly with her paramour, she skips town, preferring to start a new life in a new town. That's how the family ends up in Massachusetts, where Charlotte meets Joe (Michael Schoeffling), the resident of a convent. While she decides what to do about Joe, she copes with feelings about her absent father and spars with her strong-willed, promiscuous mom. Missteps and teen-sized mistakes ensue.
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Is It Any Good?

Not only is Ryder's powerhouse performance spot-on and moving --when she cries at the end of the film, the viewer is likely to, too. Mermaids isn't the one-note sex comedy of American Pie or the inspirational drama of Gracie. It's a film that turns the most painful years of many people's lives into entertainment -- realistic, sympathetic entertainment.

Charlotte has an inner monologue that's completely different from the one she shares with the world. In her head, she's thinking, "I kissed a boy and I think I might be pregnant." But when Mrs. Flax begs her to talk, all she can do is shrug and roll her eyes. What parents and teens won't be able to relate to this? Add on the fabulous performances of Bob Hoskins and Christina Ricci and you have an adorable and moving coming-of-age movie that's likely to be as prescient today.

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Movie Details

Studio: MGM/UA, Director: Richard Benjamin
Run time: 110 minutes
Theatrical release: 9/25/1990, DVD release: 2/6/2001
MPAA Rating: PG-13

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