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Peggy Sue Got Married

(1986, Rated PG-13, Comedy, Starring Nicolas Cage, Kathleen Turner, Barry Miller)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 11, age appropriate for kids over 13; suggested age 13.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    80s time-warp tale is meaty teen-parent viewing.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 13 and Up

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Given the opportunity to change her future, Peggy Sue realizes she makes mostly the same decisions.

  • Violence:

    An angry Charlie roughly pushes Peggy Sue against the wall.

  • Sex:

    Peggy Sue discusses her husband's affair with a "bimbo." Back in the past, several couples kiss passionately, especially at a dimly lit "make-out party." Peggy Sue asks Charlie for sex, but he awkwardly refuses. In a later scene, they're obviously about to make love on the floor of a greenhouse (no nudity whatsoever). While in 1960, Peggy Sue also sleeps with the school's beatnik poet on a picnic blanket.

  • Language:

    Occasional religious exclamations like "God!" or "God damn," as well as the standard PG-13 curses: "ass," "bitch," "s--t," etc. Several euphemisms for sex are used (intercourse, go to bed, make love, etc.), and Peggy Sue calls Charlie's penis various names ("thrill hammer," "thing," "Lucky Chucky," to name a few).

  • Consumerism:

    Several inventions are mentioned but not their brands: running sneakers, computer chips, panty hose, etc.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    At the pivotal high school reunion, two characters are shown about to snort cocaine and others drink and smoke cigarettes. Back in 1960, Peggy Sue drinks in several scenes -- from her parents' liquor stash, with friends at a party, and at a lounge. She also smokes "reefer." Older men smoke pipes.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Peggy Sue Got Married

Parents need to know that Francis Ford Coppola's fantasy dramedy focuses on a 45-year-old Peggy Sue waking up in her 17-year-old body. With another chance to live her high school life, she decides to explore her wild side by rebelling (she drinks from her parents' liquor cabinet) and sleeping with the school's mysterious loner. But she also decides to be kind to the class nerd and reevaluate her decision to marry her popular boyfriend. Most of the issues she deals with (sex, partying, life after high school) still resonate today with teens.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about adolescent angst and sexuality. Although it's not common for high school sweethearts to marry right after graduation anymore, it still opens up a discussion of teen relationships and what the pressures are these days. How have attitudes toward adolescent sex changed since 1960? Since Peggy Sue says "if I knew then what I know now," parents can share what they would do differently if given a second chance at high school. Kids: If you could change a decision you made in the past, what would it be?
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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Adult Reviewer
    copperzinc
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content

    Flag as inappropriate

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