The Brady Bunch Movie (PG-13, 1995)

common sense media says

Campy, affectionate send-up of a classic TV show.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this send-up of the wholesome 1970s TV show isn't quite as wholesome -- there's swearing, sibling rivalry, and sexual innuendo. There are jokes about sex, condoms, and the alcoholic Mrs. Dittmeyer is constantly hitting on the Brady men. Doug talks about Marcia like she's an object and calls her a "slut" when she refuses to have sex with him on the first date. One teen drinks. Another steals cars. Several swear. A girl in Marcia's class has a crush on her.

Positive messages: Lots of humor about people doing bad things to the innocent Bradys who are so naïve and oblivious that nothing bad results. Greg and Marcia almost get carjacked, and the Dittmeyers scheme to sabotage the Bradys' attempt to keep their house. Middle child syndrome is taken to the next level when Jan hears menacing voices, runs away, and hitchhikes.
Violence: Peter faints repeatedly. Larry Dittmeyer is electrocuted and drops a toilet on his foot. Noreen punches Doug. Doug tries to sexually assault Marcia. Jan hears voices that tell her to kill people.
Sex: Lots of sexual innuendo, like Dina offering to "wrap" Mr. Brady's "package" and later telling Greg and Peter to come into her house to help her "make a sandwich." Carol and Mike kiss. Marcia and Doug kiss. Noreen has a crush on Marica. Holly kisses Peter.
Language: Some swearing, including "hell," "slut," "damn," and "ass."
Consumerism: Several products are mentioned or visible, including Scooby-Doo, Swiss Miss hot chocolate, Astroturf, Sears, U-Haul and various bands, including Pearl Jam and the Monkees.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Dina Dittmeyer is an alcoholic and constantly hungover or drunk. She drinks bloody Marys and is seen with lots of bottles of alcohol. A teenager drinks from a flask. Sam smokes a cigar.

More on The Brady Bunch Movie

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about parodies. Why do you think a show like The Brady Bunch was an easy target? Kids who are behind on their reruns can have parents explain some of the in-jokes. Do you think life in the early '70s was as innocent and tame as the TV show made it out to be, or was the Brady attitude an escapist one even back then? What other movies or even Youtube clips have you seen parody mainstream entertainment?

What's the story?

What's the story?
THE BRADY BUNCH MOVIE takes the classic storylines from the TV show and twists them, making them bawdier, lewder, and freakish -- basically, it turns the perfect, happy Brady family into freaks. The whole gang is back in the film spoof: Carol (Shelley Long), Mike (Gary Cole), Greg (Christopher Daniel Barnes), Marcia (Christine Taylor) and the rest of the gang are still wearing their vintage 1970s fashions. But in the outside world, it's the 1990's. Teens wear grunge flannels and dark colors, the parents are horrible or alcoholic and greed rules the day. When the Bradys discover that they owe $20,000 in property taxes in a week or they'll lose their house, they try to find a way to avoid the inevitable. But can they get the money before sleazy neighbor Larry Dittmeyer (the perfect Michael McKean) buys their house and turns the neighborhood into a strip mall?

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
For those who grew up watching the TV show, The Brady Bunch Movie is deeply satisfying and the best part is its nostalgia. Sure, it's fun to see the Bradys treated as freaks. But the heart of the film is a campy, affectionate interpretation of the TV show.

The film takes all the most iconic moments -- Cindy struggling to get rid of her lisp, Jan's sibling rivalry with Marcia, Peter's (Paul Sutera) cracking voice, Marcia's "Oh my nose!" moment, and Greg's Johnny Bravo delusions -- and inserts the heckling that hipsters have done at the show for years. So instead of Jan just being jealous of Marcia, she's got voices in her head telling her to kill people, and her school counselor, RuPaul, tells her to "work it, girl!" It's good, '90s-specific humor.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Paramount Pictures
Director: Betty Thomas
Cast: Christine Taylor, Gary Cole, Shelley Long
Genre: Comedy
Run time: 88 minutes
Theatrical release: February 17, 1995
DVD release: June 10, 2003
MPAA Rating: PG-13
MPAA explanation: racy innuendos.

This review was written by Heather Boerner
 
 

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Most useful reviews by all members

 
Wow, Sex in a brady bunch movie.
I thought this was a FAMILY movie! But this movie has TONS of sexual humor, innuendo, and more. I was surprised! There are references to Sex, Lesbians, condoms, and Much more. Besides the sexual humor, this movie is hilarious! I Recommend parents watch this with their kids so they can skip the inappropriate scenes and talk to them about the content of the film. Shame on the writers for adding SEX to what could've been a family movie! 14+

peacelovemusiccl
kid, 11 years old
 
LOVE IT!!!- But not good for younger children
Love it! Only a few cuss words and some inappropriate things for children under 12, but this movie is hysterical! I do think that the original Brady Bunch TV series was way more family appropriate. Parents- if you want to show this movie to your kid under 12, screen the movie before, and skip through the bad parts. WARNING: There is a french kiss

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