My kids, 11 and 8, liked it, but the younger one was bothered by the scenes of stabbing. They loved it when the two main characters were caught in a mudslide.
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Romancing the Stone
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Is it age appropriate?
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Not age appropriate for kids under 11, age appropriate for kids over 13; suggested age 11. -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Action, romance, sharp dialog; best for teens.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 11–13
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
About Romancing the Stone
Parents need to know that kids will witness plenty of violence, profanity, sexual situations, and disparaging depictions of and references to Latinos in this otherwise well-written adventure movie. The baddest of the bad guys has his hand bitten off by a crocodile which is then completely devoured (off-screen) by a pit full of crocodiles. There's also plenty of swearing, a couple stabbings and gun fights. Breasts are visible through a wet cotton top, and there is a good deal of sexual innuendo. The two leads end up together in bed, though there's no nudity. Latinos are the swarthy, nasty bad guys. The term "Spico" is used by one character to describe Latin Americans.
Read our full review by Randy White
Families Can Talk About
- Families can talk about how stereotypes are used in film. Why are Latinos stereotyped as nasty bad guys in this movie? What effect did their stereotyping have on how you perceived them? How are stereotypes useful to filmmakers? How are they harmful to the groups being stereotyped? Even if you are aware that characters are being stereotyped, do you think seeing those portrayals impact how you perceive those groups?
Our Members Say
Most Recent Reviews
- I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
Some younger children--especially if they have trouble sleeping at night anyway--may be bothered by the stabbing scenes.
- I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
exciting adventure movie
My two 11 year olds and I watched this movie,.....we loved it! I only fast forwarded thru the one scene after they get to the pay phone and "celebrate" together. We loved the adventure of Jack and Joan as they go thru the rain forest in search of the treasure. You should rent this movie for both boys or girls of this age group and older.
- I rate this title iffy for age 11 and give it
Enjoyable but with caveats
The movie is a fun action-romance with comic elements. The pacing might seem slow at times for 2008. My wife and I saw it again with our daughter (age 16), and I enjoyed it, but not as much as the first time (24 years ago). ISSUES For the violence, swearing, drinking, pot smoke inhaling, and nudity, I'd give this one a PG-13. First, there IS nudity, contrary to the main review--not frontal (or from the rear), but the leads lie in bed for quite a while, talking, man on top of woman and they are quite naked. Second, in one long scene, there is drinking (lots of whiskey) and smoking marijuana (after a fashion), as the leads stay warm by burning bricks of cannabis. They are clearly affected. Third, as others have noted, the chief bad guy's hand gets chomped off by the crocodile and you see the bloody stump for a while. He's clearly in pain. Later he falls into a pit full of crocodiles (his fate is implied). A snake gets decapitated (graphic) and a croc is turned into boots (you don't see the process). In terms of stereotypes, the chief bad guy (competent and cruel) is Latino, but other (more bumbling) bad guys are Anglo, and one very helpful and likable character is Latino. There is a fair amount of Third World local color that can be seen as demeaning (people fight in airports, carry pigs on buses, etc.) and other local color that is neutral or positive, including a colorful festival & dance, The most fleshed out characters are the Anglo leads, and they are attractive but humanized and flawed.
- I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
Fun Action Film--not for young kids
A great, funny, action filled movie--but not for younger kids. In fact, the two main characters do end up in bed together--and you see their naked bodies laying on top of each other "after". I suggest covering eyes during that one part, but aside from that, it is the same kind of action/peril as you get with an Indiana Jones film
- I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it
A B movie
- I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it
not very good for kids. Adults may like it.
I watched this movie with my parents because they remember liking it after watching it a while ago. I thought it was kind of pointless and boring. The movie could probably be rated pg-13 because of the language and violence. One man's hand is quite graphically bitten off by a crocodile. Adults may understand the humor, but kids stay away. Spend your money on a different movie at Blockbuster.
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