• Is it age appropriate?

  About our ratings

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  Not age appropriate for kids under 10, age appropriate for kids over 13; suggested age 13.

• Is it any good?

  4.0

• Common Sense says

  Moving drama about loss, grief may be too heavy for kids.

Why We Rated This for Ages 13 and Up

The good stuff

• Messages:

  The film truthfully portrays mourning, and it’s almost refreshing to see the bumps not completely glossed over. It’s heartening to witness Joe’s efforts at becoming the father he needs to be when he himself is stricken with grief, as well as Harry's and Artie's burgeoning bond. That said, Harry does embrace some traditional opinions about how men and women handle emotions.
• Role models:

  Joe probably won't win any “best-behaved dad” award -- at least not in the beginning. He drives with his son on his lap (sometimes in the rain), and lets the kids sit on the hood of the car while it’s moving. But it’s all has to be looked at in context: He’s trying to figure his way into a new "normal" now that his wife is gone. And he does find it eventually.

What to watch out for

• Violence:

  A teen, filled with frustration and anger, throws plates and other dishes to the floor. Later, destructive teens swarm a house and have a party against its residents’ will.
• Sex:

  A married couple kisses and flirts with each other. A man and a woman get their signals crossed about what's developing between them.
• Language:

  Regular (though not overly frequent) use of words like "hell," "ass," “bugger,” “bloody,” “sodding,” "oh my God," and, on occasion, “s--t.”
• Consumerism:

  In some scenes, logos for athletes' sponsors are shown.
• Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

  Overcome with grief, a man starts drinking too much. In one scene, he grabs an entire bottle of wine and drinks to oblivion.

What Parents Need to Know

About The Boys Are Back

Families Can Talk About