Bull Durham

  • Review Date: July 25, 2005
  • R
  • Genre: Drama
  • 1988
Review

Common Sense Media says

Winning but mature comedy about sex and baseball.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Not yet rated

Kids say

Not yet rated

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that there are many explicit discussions of sexuality in this film. Susan Sarandon's character spends a great deal of screen time outlining her philosophy on sexuality, especially about the relationship between sex and baseball. There are a few scenes of simulated sex with a little nudity. Alcohol, lots of strong language ("f--k," "s--t," and "p---y"), bar fights, and a marijuana reference are also onscreen.

  • Positive messages3
    Embrace all you meet, because there is something to be learned from each person you encounter. Also, there are multiple ways to look at every situation.
  • Positive role models3
    The leading male and female roles in this movie are multifaceted. Annie is smart, giving, thoughtful, and comfortable with her sexuality. She is extremely well-read and teaches her lovers about poetry and metaphysics. Crash is Annie's perfect match. He has learned from his life experiences and knows exactly what he wants. He too is smart, generous, and level-headed. Crash thoughtfully comes down from the Major Leagues to help train and teach a promising rookie maturity and professionalism.  
  • Violence2
    There are two fist fights between the rookie pitcher and the catcher; however, they are short and there is no bloodshed. Lots of yelling.
  • Sex4
    The movie's plot compares sex to baseball. The film is chock-full of sex, some nudity, and frank sexual discussions.
  • Language5
    Very strong language.  The word "f--k" occurs over 10 times in the first 20 minutes of the movie.  Also, "son of a bitch," "p---y," "c--k," and "s--t" are frequent. 
  • Consumerism2
    The players drink Miller Light and Jim Beam. 
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking3
    The coaches chew tobacco, Annie smokes marijuana, and the players drink alcohol.
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What's the story?

BULL DURHAM is the story of Crash Davis (Kevin Costner), a Walt Whitman-quoting, veteran minor league catcher enlisted to help not-so-bright rookie pitcher Nuke LaLoosh (Tim Robbins) mature as a player. Along the way, siren Annie Savoy (Susan Sarandon), an avid baseball fan and philosopher of sexuality, intervenes by offering Nuke an extended (and explicit) sexual education that she firmly believes will lead him to glory on the diamond.

Is it any good?

 

Writer/director Ron Shelton brings a modicum of authenticity to this tale of baseball and sex due to his own experiences as a minor league player. But you don't have to be a devotee of Annie's "Church of Baseball" to enjoy the film's earthy mix of romance, sports, and comedy. Although much of the movie takes place in dugouts, locker rooms, and on the mound, it will appeal to audiences everywhere.

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What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about where sex fits into our culture and our personal lives. What are the characters' philosophies about sex? What messages about sex have you learned from your families? How does the media portray sex?

  • Talk about beliefs. What do you believe in? What's important to you? What guides you through life and helps you make decisions?

This review was written by Kevin John Bozelka

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This review was written by Kevin John Bozelka
Studio:MGM/UA
Director:Ron Shelton
Cast:Kevin Costner, Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins
Genre:Drama
Run time:108 minutes
Theatrical release date:January 1, 1988
DVD release date:April 2, 2002
MPAA rating:R
MPAA explanation:language and sexual situations
This review was written by Kevin John Bozelka
 

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About our rating system
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.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.
Our child development rating guidelines

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