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Uncle Buck

(1999, Rated PG, Comedy, Starring John Candy, Macaulay Culkin, Jean Louisa Kelly)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 11, age appropriate for kids over 13; suggested age 11.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0

  • Common Sense says

    The Candy man can make this iffy movie taste good.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 11–13

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Buck's oddball ways and plain-spoken style of dealing with things supposedly mends a bad family rift here. Still, he's a drinker, glutton, smoker, and gambler and chronically jobless, even though he shows enough responsibility to protect his troubled niece. Folks on the Russell's (rich) side of town come across as intrinsically chilly and nasty; Buck's (poor) side of town is more down to earth and homey.

  • Violence:

    "Comedic" stuff, as Buck punches out a drunk and threatens his niece's unwanted boyfriend with kidnapping and torture-dismemberment.

  • Sex:

    When Buck swears and wrestles with an uncooperative washing machine, an eavesdropper thinks he's having rough sex. Talk of teen pregnancy in the case of Tia and her boyfriend, who clearly wants to go all the way with her.

  • Language:

    Pretty intense for a PG, with repeated variations on "s--t" and "goddamn," and "pissant." Both children and adults talk like that.

  • Consumerism:

    Food products, auto parts brands are prominent, as is oldies music.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Teen and adult drinking; a hostile, drunken party clown, and Buck himself getting plastered. Buck brags about quitting.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Uncle Buck

Parents need to know that the swearing in this movie is pretty intense for a PG film, and there is attempted teen sex (nothing explicitly shown, but no doubt what's going on) and a mistaken belief that adult sex has taken place. Buck pretends to be psychotic, capable of torture-murder and mutilation with power tools, as he intimidates a grubby boy trying to get intimate with his niece. Buck also indulges in drinking, smoking, and gambling.

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Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the conflicts between the various characters. Do you think Buck could have handled bad-girl Tia in a more productive way? Do you believe the way the story comes out? Has Buck himself grown up a little by the end? What do you think will happen between him and Chanice?
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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Adult Reviewer
    know the truth
    I rate this title on for age 9 and give it 5.0

    a classic 9 and over

    great great movie very funny atch it 9 and over

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
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  2. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    movieloverman123 ...
    I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language

    great for tweens

    I liked this movie quite a bit. It is pretty funny. Still, I dident think thid was ment for PG. It does have some sexual material and language. That being said, Uncle Buck is sure to delivier and great for tweens

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
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  3. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    mwplefty
    Lives in Illinois
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 4.0

    Could not stop laughing during this recurring scene

    I laughed everytime Buck's car turns off and it sounds like a loud gunshot full of smoke and gas. Definitely my favorite John Candy film so far. He really looked the part of a guy who really has a problem getting up off the couch/bed and taking care of kids. It's hilarious. I recommend this movie to fans of comedies and John Candy.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate

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