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The Salon

(2007, Rated PG-13, Comedy, Starring Vivica A. Fox, Darrin Dewitt Henson, Kym Whitley)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 14, age appropriate for kids over 15; suggested age 14.

  • Is it any good?

    1.0

  • Common Sense says

    Like a third-rate Beauty Shop. Skip it.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 14–15

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    African-American heritage is celebrated in a mother-son scene. Jenny realizes her salon is worth fighting for because of what it means to the community.

  • Violence:

    A gay man is "egged" by a group of guys who insult him. A woman is verbally abused by her boyfriend; two women get into a pushing fight at the salon.

  • Sex:

    Many conversations about sex, adultery, various characters' bodies, "jungle fever," oral sex techniques, etc. One stylist kisses her married boyfriend.

  • Language:

    "S--t," "jackass," "damn," "ho," "bitch," "ass," etc. Hate words like "faggot," "homo," and the "N" word.

  • Consumerism:

    Nintendo, Ben Affleck (and his movie Daredevil, Dunkin' Donuts.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Discussion of the neighborhood's drug users, but no on-screen drugs. A homeless wino is featured in several scenes.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About The Salon

Parents need to know that this is an urban comedy in the style of Barbershop and Beauty Shop. The action takes place in a Baltimore hair salon where no topic is off-limits. The stylists discuss homosexuality (one of them is gay), sex, adultery, interracial relationships, spanking, and more. In one scene, a street walker is challenged to demonstrate the tricks of her trade on a banana. Homophobia is addressed throughout the film, most prominently when the openly gay stylist gets egged by insult-hurling teens. Some of the conversations may be too raunchy for young teens -- but, on the flip side, the movie offers a positive representation of minority-run businesses that are important in their communities.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about how movies like this portray African-American communities. Do they send positive messages or negative ones (or some of each)? Do they reinforce stereotypes or help defuse them? How? Families can also discuss the importance of communities in general, as well as the contributions that African Americans have made to society -- in arts, sciences, sports, entertainment, and more.
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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Adult Reviewer
    babygril1991
    Lives in Indiana
    I rate this title off for age 2 and give it 1.0

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
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