Catch Me If You Can (PG-13, 2002)

common sense media says

Excellent account of FBI's youngest Most Wanted.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that there is some mature material, including the fact that the main character is a con man who never considers the impact that his lies and scams may have or the risks he is taking. It includes some non-explicit sexual situations and a negotiation with a call girl. A character says that her parents refuse to see her following her out of wedlock pregnancy and abortion. Characters drink and smoke and use strong language. The scene where Frank's parents tell him they are getting a divorce may be upsetting to some.

Violence: Tense situations and chases.
Sex: Sexual situations, prostitute.
Language: Brief strong language.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Drinking and smoking.

More on Catch Me If You Can

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about the different ways Frank and Hanratty felt about each other at different times. How were Frank Sr. and Hanratty like opposing father figures in Frank's life? What did he hope for in the relationship with Brenda?

What's the story?

What's the story?
Frank Abagnale, Jr. ( Leonardo DiCaprio) adores his parents. His father (Christopher Walken) relies on using an angle to get what he wants and employs his teen son in his scams. But eventually he gets the family into in serious financial trouble. When Frank is 16, his parents get divorced and he is told to choose which one he will live with. He cannot handle it and he runs away. Like a child, he thinks he can recreate the perfect world he once thought he had. But he has one very un-childlike quality, an astonishing eye for detail. Combined with the charm and panache he learned from his father, the ability to appear innocent to give him apparent credibility and - just as important - youthful fearless (he just doesn't know how outrageous his scams are), he becomes one of the most successful con men in history. Before he is imprisoned in France, he manages to pass himself off as a pilot, a doctor, and a lawyer. He also manages to pass off bad checks worth over $4 million.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
Part period piece, part chase film, part drama, Steven Spielberg's movie about the youngest person ever to make the FBI's 10 Most Wanted List is terrifically entertaining. It is set in the candy-colored ring-a-ding 1960's where jet pilots were glamorous and even bank tellers in big cities had a small-town belief in the honesty of someone cashing a check, especially if he had a charming smile. This is the 1960's of big hair, smooth surfaces, and bikinis, fueled by martini music like Sinatra's "Come Fly with Me."

Every single element of this movie works brilliantly together and the result is as irresistible as its con man hero. The screenplay by Jeff Nathanson (based on Abagnale's book) is excellent, as crafty as its subject and with just the right touch of heart. Tom Hanks, as the FBI agent who chases, admires, and ultimately inspires Frank, makes each moment on screen a small masterpiece. DiCaprio captures us from his first moment as an awkward 13-year-old to his sheer pleasure in his own ability to master the adult world.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: DreamWorks
Director: Steven Spielberg
Cast: Christopher Walken, Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks
Genre: Drama
Run time: 141 minutes
Theatrical release: December 25, 2002
DVD release: May 6, 2003
MPAA Rating: PG-13
MPAA explanation: some sexual content and brief language

This review was written by Nell Minow
 
 

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What parents & educators say

13

Most useful reviews by all members

perfectionist
teen, 15 years old
 
one of my favorite movies.
If I was one of those famous movie reviewers I would say "Two Thumbs Way Up!" This movie is amazing. Some of the stuff in it may be too inappropriate for kids. But this is an outstanding movie

 
Great movie-something you can enjoy without concentrating!
The movie was great because of the humor (he was constantly changing roles: one minute he said he was an airline pilot, the next he was a doctor: it was hillarious!) The plot was not too confusing, so you didn't have to stop and figure out what was going on. But, it was not a really weak, obvious plot. My one-word description is: AMAZING! Plus, the two stars, Leonardo DiCaprio (who was really hot!) and Tom Hanks were great for their roles, Leonardo a young, counterfeitting, liar; Tom a suspicious FBI agent. Awesome movie!

Mr581
teen, 18 years old
 
good not for5-7

mongofa
teen, 17 years old
 
tweens ok but teens will enjoy it most
Fantastic movie. A great Spielburg film has good acting and a great plot. It is very entertaining. It is a bit on the long side, and might bore very young kids

Poison Ivey
teen, 17 years old
 
HAHA LOveD IT!!!
This movie was so funny!!! One of the best dramedies I've ever seen highly recommended!!! I Can't believe Leonardo DiCaprio isn't more recognized for this movie it's defanitly one of his better films :D

dicapriofreak94
teen, 15 years old
 
Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks never fail to make a great movie. They are both amazing and talented people/actors. They did an excellent job in this movie! I expected this movie to be more violent, but there wasn't that much violence in it. Some sexual content, but not much. One F word and some other language used throughout. Great movie that keeps you entertained until the very end.

acmrockstar
kid, 10 years old
 
great for some older pre teens
I loved this movie. very well done and very entertaining. But good for teens. Recommend it.

 
Spielberg recaptures the feeling of the great old chase movies!
As a charming master of disguise, devoted to a series of escalating cons, Leonardo DiCaprio spends most of CMIYC as a kind of Bugs Bunny, one witty, knowing step ahead of Tom Hanks' Elmer Fudd. While it's not perfectly clear that crime doesn't pay-- it looks like lots of fun-- there's ample explantion of its dark roots (in the lovely work of Christopher Walkin as DiCaprio's dad). And in the end, DiCaprio goes straight... I mean not to give away the ending, but that's not the point of the film, which is all about the chase. And a tremendously entertaining chase it is. Highly recommended.

 
Spielberg can do better
I feel a bit cheated haveing spent money ofn watching Steven Spielbergs vacation. It was about a half hour to long and a bit predictable, but stil it decent escapeisum.

asecoolish
teen, 14 years old
 
an amazing and fun movie even though its about a con man you get to like the character great acting

Tsion
parent of 15 year old
 
Absorbing and Entertaining, But Not for the Family.
CATCH ME IF YOU CAN is a wonderfully made film from the master: Steven Spielberg. It features two masterful performances from Leo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks. Leo's performance, as a juvenile con man, is especially sympathetic and relatable. He uses humor and sadness pitch perfectly at all the right times. I'm not a fan of his, but this performance convinced me of his undeniable talent. I imagine that you already know what the film is about, so I'll plunge right into the inappropriate stuff. The role models in the film aren't good. The main character is a con man who is constantly on the run from the law. He decieves everyone from his own father to the US Government. The film sensationalizes and glamorizes his crimes, though he does serve his sentence in the end. At one point, his father even urges him to continue his crime spree. Tom Hanks's character is a workaholic who has abandoned his family. However, though the film plays host to terrible role models, the messages at its core are positive. The pain from broken families is shown to last a lifetime, for both of the main characters. And though the main parental couple in the film has a ruined relationship, another has a productive, working love between them. The life of crime is sensationalized, but also portrayed as lonely and isolated. And, lastly, in the end, redemption is found for the majority of parties. In addition to the messages, we have one "f" word and an assorted handful of minor profanities like "d**n" and "h*ll". The underage main character has sex with three women in the film. One of them is a high-class hooker who requests money for her services (he agrees on $1,000, then the camera cuts away.) Another is an airline stewardess who is seduced by Frank on a plane. Though nothing graphic is seen, their bodily movements shake an in-flight refeshments cart. Lastly, Frank discusses sex with a woman who becomes his fiance. She reveals to him, while both are in underwear, that she is not a virgin and she has had an abortion. A woman cheats on her husband, then pays her son to not tell him. Violence is very mild. There are a couple of intense scenes, and we see a couple of bloody injuries in an E.R.

Skully16
teen, 15 years old
 
Great movie!
this is a very good movie!! There is some stuff in it I would not recamend for kids under 11. but, I love this movie.:)

star
teen, 17 years old
 
Fun movie but not for the yougest kids.
Not Steven Speilburg's greatest films but exciting and pulls you into the movie. There is some language and intense peril making it a fun easy to watch movie.

horselover326
teen, 18 years old
 
good
I liked this movie a lot mainly because of Leo's performance. His acting was great and at times somewhat touching. This movie was somewhat dull though. I'd give it maybe three and a half stars. It's not that innapropriate except for a couple of scenes. I think it's ok for some kids depending on how mature they are.

uhya
teen, 13 years old
 
KNOCK KNOCK
one f--k, some sex but overall very good.

Joey123
teen, 18 years old
 
Wouldn't recommend...
A pretty good movie, but definitely not for kids. The f-word is said once, as well a many others. There is also a fairly large amount of sexual content. If you watch this, you may want to fast-forward two or three parts.

 
Great Characters, Wonderful Plot
Catch Me If You Can is riveting, exciting, and filled with adventure. The main character shows some good qualities, but is a thief whose crimes are extremely serious. He lies, steals, and lives pretty frivolously. Parents should note that CSM has ill-covered the sexuality of the movie. We see two characters having sex, moaning, and another scene of a half-clothed couple in bed. There is also a discussion of a character's abortion, some raunchy kissing, and a man hires a prositute. The movie is best for 13+

chalbridge zupe
kid, 12 years old
 
Catch This Movie If You Can!
Very intense and provocative film! Only overwhelming or questionable scenarios are one, the fact that DiCaprio potrays a very manipulative provocateur or when DiCaprio reveals his money stash to his girlfriend to engage in a relationship of more honesty. Overall, intriguing movie with stellar performances by Tom Hanks and Leonardo DiCaprio.

 
Definately a must see movie!
This is one of those movies that kids might not enjoy because they might not understand some of the content of the movie like check fraud. Definately a well done high-quality movie!

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