Because I Said So (PG-13, 2007)

common sense media says

Keaton and Moore can't save bland, cliched romcom.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that kids under 14 (even big Mandy Moore fans) probably won't be interested in this flat, unoriginal romantic comedy. The film's humor is based on a very tired stereotype: the aggressively interfering mother. Her interest in her youngest daughter's love life leads to silly jokes, sexual imagery (women appear in their underwear, some kissing, a brief montage shows one woman with two different partners), and innuendo (including discussion about -- and re-enactment of -- orgasms). Very mild language for PG-13 ("ass," "damn it") and some tame social drinking.

Positive messages: A mother berates her adult daughter and interferes in her dating life; sisters withhold information; Milly cheats on both boyfriends; boyfriends are alternately scheming, angry, and possessive.
Violence: Pratfalls (two involving cakes); suggestion that a suicidal patient jumps out a window (cake falls on the patient's head).
Sex: Mother and daughters appear in underwear in locker room (their bottoms appear in close-up and they discuss thongs), subtitled references to Daphne's need for a "stiff one" and "poofter" Daphne watches porn Web site (sounds are explicit; imagery is not); dog humps stool; reference to "woody" discussion of orgasm (with daughter acting out what it's like for her mother); some cleavage; Daphne worries that an unbuttoned dress shows that her daughter is "asking for it" non-explicit montage of sex scenes (Milly with two men); little boy says "gina" (for vagina) and "penis" kissing/making out between Daphne and Joe, who later appear in bed together.
Language: Mild language: "ass," "damn it," plus semi-joke about "Italian for 'late'" ("retardo") and several sexual innuendoes.
Consumerism: Reference to Mentos.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Some drinking on social occasions (wine, champagne, brandy).

More on Because I Said So

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about romantic comedies. How is this movie like other romantic comedies you've seen? Why do movies in this genre tend to follow the same pattern? Can you think of any examples of obvious "romantic comedy" elements (i.e. making Milly's boyfriends so different that her choice seems obvious to viewers)? Families can also talk about overbearing parents. How can suggestions that are intended to be helpful end up hurting the person they're directed at? Besides criticizing them, how else could Daphne encourage her daughters?

What's the story?

What's the story?
Longtime single mother Daphne (Diane Keaton) is determined to marry off her three grown daughters, hoping they'll avoid her own loneliness. She is successful with daughters Maggie and Mae, but poor Milly (Mandy Moore) just can't seem to find the right guy. When Daphne sets up a series of meetings for Milly with young men she finds through the Internet, the movie resorts to an awkward montage of loser dates. Milly's ideal date, in Daphne's mind, is architect Jason, who seems controlling and possessive -- much like Daphne. But just as Daphne sets up the date, another suitor appears in her daughter's life, lounge guitarist/music teacher Johnny. While it's easy to see which man Milly prefers, she has to grind through repeated scenes in which she argues with Daphne, convinces herself that Jason's OK, and talks over all of her dates and anxieties with her sisters.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
Clumsy and bland, BECAUSE I SAID SO sets up one basic joke -- the obnoxious and interfering mother -- and runs it into the ground. Directed by Michael Lehmann in a way that might best be described as "disinterested," Because I Said So includes so many clichés that it's hard to keep count: the bad-driving scenes, the dog reaction shots, the falling-with-cake scenes, the inability-to-work-technology scenes (Daphne pulls up a porn site on her computer and can't turn it off), and even the watching-old-movies scenes. This last is especially egregious and self-defeating -- since Daphne's a Gary Cooper fan, the classic films she watches make this one seem even worse by comparison.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Universal Pictures
Director: Michael Lehmann
Cast: Diane Keaton, Lauren Graham, Mandy Moore
Genre: Comedy
Run time: 102 minutes
Theatrical release: February 1, 2007
DVD release: May 8, 2007
MPAA Rating: PG-13
MPAA explanation: sexual content including dialogue, some mature thematic material and partial nudity.
Watch our review

This review was written by Cynthia Fuchs
 
 

Review It

 

Review Because I Said So





Hang on! You need to be a member to post your review.
A safe community is important to us. Please observe our guidelines.
 

What parents & educators say

Most useful reviews by all members

 
"Because I Said So" glorifies casual sex. Do you want your kids entertained by that notion? We don't.

 
Hmm?
This movie sends the wrong message to teens....The mother and daughters talk often about sex, sexual parnters(!) and even about having more than one partner at a time! PLEASE!!!! Who condones such behavior?!

040557
adult
 
Insane!
This movie is wrong in so many ways: physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Physically, it made me sick, emotionally, it made me sad and spiritually, it made me pray. What an awful movie. I turned it off when the mother says that pride is an admirable quality blah blah blah. Save your eyes and ears and select another movie. Hollywood has it all wrong.

 
I LAUGHED AND CRIED IT WAS GREAT!!
I went to see this movie with some of my girlfriends and enjoyed every minute of it. The ending was funnier than anything and every actor did a great job. I have already recommended it to some friends.

 
suprisingly dirty...i was very dissapointed
i am so surpised that even kids thought this movie was ok to watch. I'm 26 and i turned it off after the first 25 minutes or so--when daphne started watching porn on her computer and the man in the film made a discusting and totally inappropriate comment for anyone to hear, i'd had enough. there wasn't two minutes in the first 25 minutes of the show that someone didn't say something that had to do with sex. and the worst part is that the mom (daphne) encourages her young and unmarried daughter (mandy moore) to do it! anyone who says this film is ok for kids to watch is nuts. i wouldn't recommend it to anyone, old or young. in my opinion sex should be very private and intimate and should be shared between two married people and certainly not flaunted in front of the world like it is in this show and so many others. ...no wonder our american society is so messed up.

grimroxx
teen, 18 years old
 
....
it was ok....i only paid attention to like half of it though.......i dunno....it was pretty funny at some parts though....

 
I laughed, but not for 13-17 year olds
In appropriate discussions on sex between daughter and mother. Discussions dealt with more than facts about sex.

 
This movie killed me!
Talk about the worst movie of all times. I totally lost my mind while watching this. I could have watched mold and been more interested. This was probably one of the worst movies that ever went through my brain.

eurorayne94a
teen, 17 years old
 
I laughed so hard! A must see (if your mature enough to handle it)!
Parts of the movie were iffy but, it was hilarious!! Me and my friend were laughing so hard on the way to the car we almost got ran over!! The ending was the best! There was a lot of sex in it and a lot of crude jokes about sex, though. But, it was definatly worth seeing- in my opinion.

directerdude123
teen, 18 years old
 
PAINFULL
this movie was SO BAD youdon't even want to waist your time. They could have made it better but it was just BAD. there were a lot of inaprpreate parts and it was just not for anyone under the age of 14. There is a lot of adult material and contentthat just makes it TERIBBLE ! ! ! !

EmilyB123
teen, 15 years old
 
This movie was pretty boring to be honest and I couldn't really get into it very well. Perfect for teens.

25552
teen, 16 years old
 
i laught

 
I love this
I just saw it today and i loved it.

lauren10
teen, 15 years old
 
lol!!!
i laughed

 
I laughed , I cried, I explicitly explained wrong behavior to my 13 year ol

An independent voice for families
Age-appropriate reviews
 

vote now

Will you see Because I Said So?


Already seen it? What do you think?

 

About our rating system
ON: Content is 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