This is a great documentary. It has the perfect balance of being thoughtful and lots of fun as well. I saw it twice in theatres and really enjoyed it. Parents of younger children might want to be cautious, though - there is quite a bit of swearing and some dirty jokes.
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Shut Up & Sing
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Is it age appropriate?
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Not age appropriate for kids under 13, age appropriate for kids over 14; suggested age 14. -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Chicks chirp about free speech in passionate docu.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 14 and Up
The good stuff
What to watch out for
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What Parents Need to Know
About Shut Up & Sing
Parents need to know that most teens probably won't be all that interested in this politically charged documentary, which is too bad, since it deals intelligently with mature themes like the debates over free speech and patriotism. That said, it also features repeated uses of "f--k" and other language (someone calls President Bush a "dumb f--k"). The Dixie Chicks face a death threat in Texas, as well as ugly language in protests (on the radio, in on-camera interviews, and spelled out on signs and T-shirts). The women appear in towels as they prepare for a photo shoot in which they pose naked (nothing graphic is shown) except for the words written on their bodies. Overall, the film offers a very sympathetic look at the Chicks, who are by turns funny, passionate, and determined to say what they mean, even when they're told to shut up. Some viewers might see this sympathy as political -- with a liberal slant.
Read our full review by Cynthia Fuchs
Families Can Talk About
- Families can talk about the meaning of free speech, and whether that concept changes during wartime. Is it "unpatriotic" to criticize a president or a policy? How do the protests against the Dixie Chicks become personal? Is that fair, considering that they were the ones who made their personal opinions public? Since this movie is a documentary, should it be objective about the subject it's covering? Is it? Why or why not?
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Most Recent Reviews
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
A Must-See!
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