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An American Carol

(2008, Rated PG-13, Comedy, Starring Jon Voight, Kelsey Grammer, Kevin Farley)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 14, age appropriate for kids over 99; suggested age 14.
  • Is it any good?

    1.0
  • Common Sense says

    Right-wing political comedy just isn't funny.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 14–18

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Extensive discussion of political ideas, mostly in order to mock "liberal" political beliefs; topics discussed include school prayer, left-leaning academia, Islamic terrorism, pacifism, the separation of church and state, 9-11, and much more. The film also features a segment of a fake film on "radical Christian terrorists" which suggests that Islam is an intrinsically violent religion in a way that Christianity is not. A blind child is depicted for comedy purposes.
  • Violence:

    Frequent, extensive slapstick falls and blows to the head; firearms are used against zombie-like ACLU lawyers; depictions of, and jokes about, suicide bombing. Crosses and bibles are used as weapons. Depictions of wartime violence; footage from World War II. A "dirty bomb" attack on Detroit is depicted. A disembodied set of buttocks is viewed on an autopsy table. Discussion of the 9-11 attack and depiction of its aftermath. A security-screening rectal exam is depicted on screen.
  • Sex:

    Kissing; discussions of sexual activity; jokes about promiscuity, homosexuality, cleavage, and lust.
  • Language:

    Occasional strong language, including "ass," "s--t," "douchebag," "son of a bitch," "damn," and "balls." A platoon of Nazi soldiers chants "I don't know but I've been told/Kill the Jews and take their gold." A depiction of an America in which the Civil War was never fought involves racial language, including the "N" word.
  • Consumerism:

    Some brands are visible, like Big Gulp and Twinkies; Bill O'Reilly and country singer Trace Adkins make cameos as themselves.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Characters drink beer and wine; some drug paraphernalia is briefly visible; cigars are smoked.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About An American Carol

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.

Did this review help you decide?

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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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use

    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    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.

  2. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Illinois
    I rate this title on for age 11 and give it 5.0

    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!

  3. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in Iowa
    I rate this title iffy for age 14 and give it 3.0

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