 | 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. |
Big Trouble
- Review Date: May 19, 2003
- PG-13
- Genre: Comedy
- 2002
Common Sense Media says
Sharp, funny movie for high schoolers and up.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this movie has comic violence (no one badly hurt), including shooting and scuffles. Characters lie, cheat, steal, smoke, drink, and use bad language. There are comic sexual situations (including a foot fetishist) and brief non-sexual nudity. The scenes involving airport security and a bomb on a plane, the reason the movie's release was delayed after the 9-11 terrorist attacks, may cause more twinges than laughter. The movie is at the upper end of the PG-13 rating, closer to an R.
What's the story?
In BIG TROUBLE, Tim Allen plays Eliot Arnold, a once-successful columnist reduced to writing ad copy after an altercation with his boss. He is held in contempt by his teen son Matt (Ben Foster), who is on a quest to "kill" pretty classmate Jenny (Zooey Deschanel) by squirting her with a water gun in a tag-like game. Meanwhile, Jenny's stepfather Arthur (Stanley Tucci) is the target of a less benign hitman for stealing money from some bad guys. A couple of cops (Jeaneanne Garofolo and Patrick Warburton), a Frito-loving, tree-sitting, strong but sweet guy with a Jesus hairdo (Jason Lee), a couple of Russians who deal weapons, a nuclear device that looks like a garbage disposal, a remarkable number of televisions with their screens shot out, and a herd of goats all manage to play a part before things get resolved.
Is it any good?
If not quite as sharp as it could be, "Big Trouble" is still a sharp, funny movie. Based on the book by Pulitzer Prize-winning humorist Dave Berry, it has a terrific cast getting caught up in delicious comic chaos seasoned with a couple of howlingly funny wisecracks.
The translation of book to screen is uneven, primarily because the story is all situation and no character. Even with exceptionally strong personalities in the roles and a director with a refreshing combination of a laid-back tone and a brisk pace, the film still asks too much of the audience by wanting us to care about characters we hardly know.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the relationship between Matt and Eliot and between Jenny and her mother and step-father. They should also talk about the decision faced by the film-makers following September 11. Should they have changed the story, in addition to delaying the release?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
An incredibly funny movie~
I watched this movie with my parents recently, and it was hilarious. I loved the characters and the plot; Tim Allen was amazing! I think this movie is fine for a 13-year-old kid, although there is a pretty good amount of language and a few sexual parts. Still, I don't think this movie is borderline R, it's correctly rated PG-13. I highly recommend this movie to all teens and adults who love comedies.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
The movie is hilarious but almost all the humor is adult. The violence is all done in a humerous fashion. The sexual content is a little on the heavy side (including mentioning a possible threesome, cheating on a spouse, and a foot fetish, in different scenes), but is also done humorously and not raunchy or overly graphic. The partial nudity is a man's rear end and not part of any sex scene.
The movie is great for adults and older teens. The end of the movie is uplifting because of the repairs made in the relationship between a divorced father and his 17 year old son. My daughter is a naive 15, and we still won't let her watch it but probably will when she is 16. It is one of my favorite movies, and I agree that it is a borderline R movie.
Was this review useful?
|
|
| Studio: | Touchstone Pictures |
| Director: | Barry Sonnenfeld |
| Cast: | Rene Russo, Stanley Tucci, Tim Allen |
| Genre: | Comedy |
| Run time: | 85 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | April 5, 2002 |
| DVD release date: | October 8, 2002 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | language, sexual references, and violence |
Review It
Great alternatives handpicked by our editors
Already seen it? What do you think?
More from Common Sense Media
Top advice and articles
