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Superhero Movie

(2008, Rated PG-13, Comedy, Starring Christopher McDonald, Sara Paxton, Drake Bell)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 14, age appropriate for kids over 16; suggested age 14.
  • Is it any good?

    1.0
  • Common Sense says

    Tiresome, generic spoof is all about crude humor.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 14–16

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Pointedly stupid characters make pointedly wrong decisions; villain and hero are equally vulgar. Stereotypes are repeatedly played up for laughs. Rick's dead father appears in a photo wearing Ku Klux Klan robes.
  • Violence:

    Various fights involve punching, kicking, bruising, slamming bodies into/through walls and glass, and banging heads against surfaces (walls, bars). Rick is slammed by a bus stop sign; an old woman is tossed into a chipper (legs visible, no blood). Weapons include titanium stars, automatic weapons, and handguns (in a flashback, young Rick accidentally shoots his parents multiple times). References to suicide. "Barry Bonds," demonstrating steroids' effects, appears monstrous, with red laser eyes. "Tom Cruise" is killed when he attempts to fly (photo of corpse in news report). Blinking bomb attached to crotch. Flying hero hit by helicopter.
  • Sex:

    Jill shows cleavage repeatedly; Pamela Anderson shows major cleavage. Rick watches as Jill appears in her window, removing one bra and showing another beneath, then donning a literal string for a thong (not shown). Jokes about computer porn (goats, questionnaires), sex with animals (Rick is "jumped" by lab animals). In two scenes, men appear to be having sex with corpses. Woman tells her husband he has a "tiny penis." Uncle tells Rick that in puberty, "You may bleed from your vagina" (then realizes he's reading from the "wrong book"). Mention of circumcision. "Medical" Web site asks Rick if he's a virgin. "Stephen Hawking" tells students he thinks about sex, describes his "lesbian" nurse. Reference to Hooters. In a rainstorm, both Jill and Rick's nipples appear beneath their wet costumes. Aunt stuffs turkey with items that simulate sex. "Dalai Lama" stripped to diaper.
  • Language:

    Language includes one use of "f--k," plus other profanity, "s--t" (one with "dip-"), "son of a bitch," "hell," "damn," "ass" (with "dumb-"), "c--k," and "p---ies." Repeated use of the term "douche-bag" (in lyrics and speech).
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    "Stephen Hawking" offers high school students hashish. A doctor injects himself with painkiller (he faints). Aunt puts vodka in Thanksgiving turkey. Rick uses a bong to inhale cake frosting.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Superhero Movie

Parents need to know that this broad spoof (which was written and directed by the writer of two of the Scary Movie comedies) features crude sexual humor, repeated pee and fart jokes, and violent slapstick. Sexual allusions focus on women's breasts, adolescent male lust, and bodily functions. The effects of the movie's violence are minimal and meant to be funny, though viewers do see bloody injuries and bodies being broken, wood-chipped, and burned. Language includes one use of "f--k," plus other profanity (primarily "s--t"), and there are visual or verbal mentions of hash, vodka, and a bong.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the "typical" superhero story elements that the movie mocks. What characters and plots twists do you recognized from other, "real" superhero movies? Why do you think these elements are repeated in so many superhero movies, comic books, and TV shows? Why do superhero stories have such lasting appeal? Families can also discuss how the movie uses girls and women as objects of humor. Is that kind of thing OK when it's being played for laughs? Why or why not?

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Our Members Say

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See all 49 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    Lives in California
    I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language

    Perfect for tweens and older.

    I loved the movie even though at some parts of it was inappropriate.

  2. I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Excessive consumerism
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative message
    • Negative role models

    This movie is very funny

    Very funny movie that can be cherished eternally by mature audiences.

  3. I rate this title on for age 11 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language

    Hmmm...

    Wow. FUNNY!! But innapropriate. Lots of cussing: dip s-t,b-h,s-t,d-n,a-s. It talks a lot about s-e-x and kid kills his own parents(on accident). Lots of kissing and visible barf. Guy uses Microsoft "Death Maker" and paper clip guy comes up asking if he wants help making a mass murder (goofy, but bad). Disturbing images such as an old lady thrown in a shredder and a mans face getting stretched out, talk of penis and vagina, scientist guy asks if anyone wants to "raise high" with him. Part where guy drinks a HUGE cup of water and has to pee, does not finish peeing, and pees every where, it does show the pee coming out of his privates. Metion of "balls", dead kids slide off of cars after taking a "shortcut through the park", nipples show clearly through shirts in rainstorm, and lady takes off bra (another underneath) guy rips ladys shirt so bra peeks through, bad cleavege, and old dude taking off womans bra and kissing her.

  4. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    Lives in Oregon
    I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language

    better than epic movie

    I thought this movie was really funny. I was laughing so hard. I thought it was better than epic movie. It had a storyline also. They said the s-word a LOT though. and there was a lot of sex jokes also. I say for 10 and up.

  5. I rate this title on for age 15 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use

    Love It

  6. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title on for age 15 and give it 2.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative message

    Lame spoof movie

    A typical "Spoof Movie". Lots of sexual references. Some comic violence (non-graphic, played for laughs), and some freaky corpses. There's also a scene where a kid puts whipped cream on a bong. The f-word is said at the end. Not for kids under 15. The movie contains alot of sexual content, and alot of bad language.

  7. Kid Reviewer Age 9
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title on for age 16 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Negative message

    My favorite movie!!!!!

    I loved this movie it was so funny I was dying of laughter when lots of liquid(pee)came out of the dragon fly's pants when the other guy wasn't looking this was the first film I ever seen that had movie in the tittle

  8. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    Lives in Delaware
    I rate this title iffy for age 4 and give it 1.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate language
    • Negative message

    Dumb Spoof 4+ even though I saw when I was 8

    This is dumb stupid comedy I saw when it first aired. The langauge is bad for a PG-13. S**t as well as milder statements as a*s I only bleeped this stuff because they said to. d**n many uses of D****bag. B***h etc. One use of f**k. Mild sex. Some beer and not good rolemodels. Watch spiderman instead. Way way to dumb but rarely funny.

  9. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in North Carolina
    I rate this title off for age 17 and give it 2.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative message

    ok i gess

  10. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in Tennessee
    I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 5.0

  11. Teen Reviewer Age 17
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title off for age 10 and give it 2.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Negative message

    what parents need to know

    PARENTS READ THIS: Okay listen the commercials make this movie look totally appropriate but its not a lot of people die and turn old(Might look scary for younger kids) And Sexual stuff happen like a girl swings around a pole wearing underwear and a bra also at a funeral a guy got mixed up with a wrong dead lady and shuts the coffin saying this will only be a minute also too much bad language when rick ricker says oh s word it says the same thing on a street sign thing and lots of people die

  12. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in Missouri
    I rate this title on for age 12 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language

    LOL, so funny!

    Stupid and funny, Yup, it does have sex scenes such as it looks like 2 baloon people are having smex, but allwell? What can you do? Funny, sorry EXTREAMLY FUNNY! 12+

  13. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title off for age 13 and give it 2.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language

  14. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    Lives in Utah
    I rate this title iffy for age 10 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative message

    Stupid but funny

    ...

  15. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title iffy for age 11 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content

    Drake Bell is soooooo funny!

  16. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Nebraska
    I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give it 1.0

    ugh, this movie totally stinks

    NEVER see this movie even if you are tempted too or are just a plain moron, not to offend you people who actually like this movie. It mainly just has a ton of attempts at crude humor and it's really mot that funny at all. Plus the whole show is just well, bad, bad acting, bad humor, bad plot. The End

  17. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it 3.0

    So stupid... Loved It

    this is one of those movies that you would watch if you are in a grouchy mood and just need a laugh. sometimes you need to see a simply pointless movie. its soooooo funny!! the reason i watched it was because i wanted to see drake bell perform! he is just down- right smok'in'!!!

  18. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    Lives in Ohio
    I rate this title on for age 11 and give it 4.0

    it was awesome

    well this movie contains sex,drug references, and crude content but it is great for ages 11 or up and you might want to watch it with them just to be safe.

  19. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 4.0

  20. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 3.0

    I thought this movie was hilarious

    This movie is very funny. But not for kids.

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