Sweet November - PG-13

Love Story for a new generation, although not as well done.

Rating: PG-13 for sexual content and language Studio: Warner Bros. Directed By: Pat O'Connor Cast: Keanu Reeves, Charlize Theron Running Time: 114 minutes Release Date: 02/16/2001 Genre: Drama

Common Sense Note

Seeing Sara's health worsen is upsetting, as is the scene in which she asks Nelson to let her go. It's painful to watch Sara's young neighbor Abner anxiously look for a father figure. Sara's neighbors are transvestites. Mature themes include death and terminal illness. Occasional mild to moderate profanity. Nelson cheats on a DMV test and lets Sara take the blame. Nelson attempts to buy his way out of several situations. Sara harasses Nelson and publicly embarrasses him. Sara gives away Nelson's clothes without his permission. Children taunt Sara's young neighbor. We see Nelson in bed with his girlfriend, who lounges in lingerie. Mentions of hookers, flashers, and dominatrixes. Nelson's ad campaign is sexually suggestive. Lots of passionate kissing, touching, and lovemaking. It's implied that Sara was promiscuous. Sara and Nelson share a bubble bath (no nudity). In a rage, Nelson breaks several items and cuts his hand. Sara has a fit; she throws pill vials and thrashes at Nelson.

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Common Sense Review

Reviewed By: Beth Pratt

For teens who haven't seen Love Story or any of the other "disease-of-the-week" movies popular in the '70s, seeing SWEET NOVEMBER will be an intensely emotional experience. Older viewers, however, are more likely to notice the movie's implausible plot--doesn't Nelson know that bad things can happen to people who spontaneously move in with strangers?

A few of the movie's scenes get a little syrupy. For example, on Thanksgiving, Nelson surprises Sara with twelve Christmas gifts that represent special moments in their whirlwind relationship. The last gift goes a bit far. Hint: earlier Sara encouraged Nelson to sing, and he replied "That will never happen." The scene caused a cynical seventeen-year-old to scoff, "That would never happen!"

Still, some much-needed humor counters the sugar shock. From Nelson's doorman who's convinced Sara is crazy to Sara's transvestite friends, many of the supporting characters help lighten the somber mood. One of the best moments is when Chaz, adorned in a fancy green gown, notes that it "isn't a dress--it's a sequined sensation."

Charlize Theron proves that she can do more than decorate the screen as someone's significant other (as she did in The Cider House Rules and The Legend of Bagger Vance). She's goofy and carefree one moment, solemn and vulnerable the next. On the other hand, Keanu Reeves' transformation to "sensitive guy" isn't quite believable because he conveys little emotion even when saying lines such as "November is all I know or want to know."

A sixteen-year-old asked (between sobs), "How can he not cry when he looks at her?" Though she declared the movie to be "the saddest thing I have ever seen," her companion was more upset that he missed his favorite TV show.

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Content		CS	adults	kids
Content
Sexual Content We see Nelson in bed with his girlfriend, who lounges in lingerie. Mentions of hookers, flashers, and dominatrixes. Nelson's ad campaign is sexually suggestive. Lots of passionate kissing, touching, and lovemaking. It's implied that Sara was promiscuous. Sara and Nelson share a bubble bath (no nudity).
Violence In a rage, Nelson breaks several items and cuts his hand. Sara has a fit; she throws pill vials and thrashes at Nelson. Seeing Sara's health worsen is upsetting.
Language Occasional mild to moderate profanity.
Message
	Social Behavior Sara's neighbors are transvestites.
	Commercialism
	Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco Some drinking.