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Can't Buy Me Love

(1987, Rated PG-13, Comedy, Starring Seth Green, Patrick Dempsey, Amanda Peterson)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 13, age appropriate for kids over 15; suggested age 13.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0

  • Common Sense says

    Teen comedy is dated but occasionally funny.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 13–15

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    High school clique behavior, a character sells himself out for popularity.

  • Violence:

    A few tense stand-offs.

  • Sex:

    Kissing, semi-nudity, references to off-screen sex acts.

  • Language:

    Some strong language.

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Teens drinking freely at parties, a drunken confession affects the plot.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Can't Buy Me Love

Parents need to know that this movie has some strong language that gets thrown around in a casual way. There is not much onscreen nudity, but a lot of sexual references and some crude jokes and comments about sexuality. The premise of the movie involves a popular girl dating a nerdy boy for money, and there are some references to prostitution. There are a few scenes where high school age kids drink, with no consequences from authority figures. A main character, a good student, starts to ignore his studies and suffers no consequences. There are few speaking roles for minorities, and a heavy reliance on stereotypes for the plot development (a nerd/ cool kid rivalry).

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Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about how people deal with loneliness, popularity, and the demands of both. How do people "sell" themselves? The value of being true to yourself is a main theme of the movie. What does being true to yourself require?
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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    HappilyEverAfter
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use

    Cute

    I thought it was a cute movie. It taught a good lesson.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  2. Parent Reviewer
    alinzasmommy2006
    I rate this title on for age 17 and give it 5.0

    Good Movie

    great for older teens (about 17 & up).

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate

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