 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
An American Carol
- Review Date: October 7, 2008
- PG-13
- Genre: Comedy
- 2008
Common Sense Media says
Right-wing political comedy just isn't funny.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this independent comedy from one of the directors of Airplane! is designed to articulate politically conservative ideas and criticisms -- specifically alleging that the movie industry is liberal through and through. It depicts suicide bombing and terrorist acts in a broadly humorous light and paints pacifism as a naive, dangerous luxury. There's extensive crude and coarse comedy (including jokes about sex), plenty of pratfalls, strong language ("s--t," the "N" word), and some drinking and smoking.
What's the story?
At a Fourth of July picnic, a grandfather (Leslie Nielsen) tells a group of children a story that's a variation on Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol: Liberal documentary maker Michael Malone (Kevin Farley, playing a character clearly based on Michael Moore), who's campaigning to abolish the Independence Day holiday, is visited by several ghosts -- including Gen. George S. Pattton (Kelsey Grammer) and George Washington (Jon Voight), who show him the error of his ways and his political philosophy. At the same time, a group of Afghan terrorists have approached Malone to shoot their next "training video," and he's hoping their funding will enable him to make his first feature film and get out of being a "mere" documentarian.
Is it any good?
AN AMERICAN CAROL is an incredibly uneasy mix of broad, slapstick comedy and ham-handed political commentary. For example, a scene mourning the victims of 9-11 is followed within seconds by the film's lead character banging his head repeatedly on some church bells. And the film, directed by Airplane! helmer David Zucker, seems to know exactly how uneven it is, with the characters themselves commenting on unlikely and uneven moments -- like a musical number led by a group of academics commenting on the left-wing "bias" of academia. Star Farley, the brother of deceased funnyman Chris Farley, is a fairly shameless comedic performer, and he throws himself into his pratfalls and stunts with vigor, but he doesn't have the acting skill to make us believe in, or care about, his ultimate transformation.
The film's throw-it-all-at-the-wall-and-see-if-it-sticks methodology results in scenes like a visit to a parallel America in which the Civil War was never fought and slavery is still legal, with the massed slaves singing the traditional Hebrew folk song "Hava Nagilah." There are also jokes about suicide bombing, terrorism, and murder -- and the mix of violence and comedy is remarkably uncomfortable. The contrast is huge; the comedy payoff miniscule. Culminating in a stop-the-bombs finale at a Madison Square Garden concert for America's troops -- and in Malone's reformation from a documentarian responsible for films like Die, American Pigs! to a filmmaker interested in showcasing the greatness of America -- An American Carol has a definite position and point of view, but it doesn't have a lot of laughs.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the cultural clash between liberals and conservatives. How does this conflict play out in the media? Families can also discuss the film's varying tone. Is it appropriate to mix slapstick comedy with depictions of the aftermath of 9-11? Finally, families can talk about the film's central thesis: Is mainstream Hollywood really anti-conservative and pro-liberal? What real-life evidence can you point to on either side of the argument? Do you think the media influences your own social and political beliefs? How?
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AGE
Great conservative movie, but with uninspired humor
An American Carol is a funny, conservative comedy which is one of the few movies now a days that represents America as the good side. Conservatives will like this, most liberals will not.
Sexual content is mild. We see Michael Malone reaching out to grab two woman's breasts but he is slapped before he can do so. We later hear Malone mention the word Rape, and we see an altered Victoria's Secet ad which shows a model in a burka. We also see a man with his underwear pulled down while an attendant reaches into his butt; we see the side of his butt, and his front area is darkened.
The language is moderate. We hear s888 said multiple times, and hear SoB and B****** said once.
As for violence, we see Malone either getting stepped on, bonked around, thrown out a window or get slapped in multiple scenes (no blood, but we do see some marks on his face during the second scene where Malone gets stepped on). There is also a scene where zombies are shot constantly, and blood spurts out (not too graphic, played for laughs).
Also, Malone drinks and smokes in two scenes, and in another, hippies are seen doing drugs.
Conservatives will love this film. The problem with the humor is that is slapstick stuff we've all seen before. It's funny, but it's the same.
It's a good comedy overall, but some might not find it that funny. I give it 3 out of 5. It's alright for 13 and up, and iffy for ages 8-12.
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AGE
Hilarious Movie...GREAT VALUES! Go America!
HILARIOUS MOVIE, but also has a strong message of patriotism and points out that most members of the military are pro-peace too, but that sometimes we have to fight for the common good. Imagine if we had refused to fight in WWII because we were against wars no matter the reason. It is debatable Hitler could have won without the Americans fighting him!
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AGE
Funny!!
Hilarious... if you are Conservative. There is very limited swearing, the worst being "sh**". Drug references are very infrequent and are even portrayed as negative. This movie will go right over the heads of young kids who don't know much about politics. The "lighthearted depiction" of terrorism is meant to mock terrorist. The movie's depiction of Ground Zero is brief and not at all meant in a bad or mocking way. It's a very entertaining movie with a good, patriotic message.
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| Studio: | Vivendi |
| Director: | David Zucker |
| Cast: | Jon Voight, Kelsey Grammer, Kevin Farley |
| Genre: | Comedy |
| Run time: | 83 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | October 3, 2008 |
| DVD release date: | December 29, 2008 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | rude and irreverent content, and for language and brief drug material. |
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