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Welcome to the Dollhouse

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 16, age appropriate for kids over 17; suggested age 16.
  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    A dark look at adolescence; not for kids.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 16–17

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    One of the themes of the movie is the idea that people who are supposed to be role models frequently are not.
  • Violence:

    Implied and sexual in nature.
  • Sex:

    References to teen sex, rape, and child abuse.
  • Language:

    Both adult and child characters use strong language throughout.
  • Consumerism:

    A reference or two, but not overwhelming.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Teen drug use is referred to and discussed in terms of consequences.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Welcome to the Dollhouse

Parents need to know that this is a dark comedy that deals with a tween's alienation from her classmates and family, and deals explicitly with her resulting feelings of rage. There are many references to sex between teens and tweens, a child abduction, and threats of rape. The plot is so off-beat that most younger teens would find it too weird to hold their interest anyway. This is a bleak film about childhood that will be most appreciated by adults.

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Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the many issues related to teenaged alienation that are dealt with here. Why is Dawn treated badly by her classmates? How does the film portray her as being different, visually, from the other characters in the film? The film's depiction of teen sex and drug use offers a good opportunity for families to discuss these issues. Why does Dawn assume that Brandon uses drugs? Would you feel the same way? Is Steve Rodgers's treatment of female characters fair or unfair? Finally, the storyline dealing with child abduction might allow families to talk about right vs. wrong behaviors and feelings. Is Missy's abduction Dawn's fault? How should Dawn have handled that situation differently? Why were Dawn's actions dangerous?

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

  2. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in Minnesota
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 5.0

    loved it. i can kinda relate to this one :X

    Sexual Content: references to sex and rape (about 4) Violence: references to kidnapping (3) and rape (4) Language: Too Many to name. its all here. F--k, b---h, f----t, f-g, a--hole, c--t, etc. Drugs/Alchohol: one of the main characters friends is a druggie Commercialism: Walt Disney World is mentioned about 3 times. Social Behavior: middle school kids relentlessly taunt main characters (much like middle school kids do in real life [trust me i would know]) overall. this is a good movie for about 14/15+ some of the content will go right over the kids that are a bit younger's heads. definately realistic. some people might be able to relate slightly which might make it kind of tough for some people to bear. good story. enjoy!

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