 | 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. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Cellular
- Review Date: January 17, 2005
- PG-13
- Genre: Thriller
- 2004
Common Sense Media says
So-so thriller that is too intense for tweens.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this thriller has strong language for a PG-13, references to drug dealers, and a lot of tension, peril, and violence. A mother and her child are in peril and characters are killed.
What's the story?
Kim Basinger plays Jessica, a loving mother and high school science teacher who is abruptly kidnapped from her luxurious Brentwood mansion after dropping her son at the school bus. They leave her in an empty attic, smashing the phone with a sledgehammer. But she is a science teacher, so she McGyvers the bits together and clicks the wires until it randomly dials some number which fortunately happens to be a cell phone that is right in the neighborhood. The guy who answers is Ryan (played by unmemorable Chris Evans). Ryan realizes Jessica is telling the truth and after a half-hearted attempt to get some help from the police, decides he will rescue her.
Is it any good?
This serviceable little thriller suffers even more than most from the dreaded "none of this would have happened if our hero had even made one logical choice" syndrome, but more than makes up for it with its brisk pace (less than 90 minutes long) and the satisfyingly clever use of some of today's most universal annoyances: people who blare loud rap music from their cars, cell phone dropped connections; obnoxiously unhelpful salespeople; cell phone battery failures; arrogant people in ostentatious sports cars; and cell phones that ring at the wrong time.
Ryan's behavior for the first 2/3 of CELLULAR is so purely idiotic that there is no room left over to feel much tension or indeed any emotion other than irritation at the complete failure of logic or intelligence by just about every character except for Mrs. Wizard up there in the attic. Once it gets going, though, there are some clever twists and pleasurable thrills, mostly provided by the always-watchable William H. Macy as a cop named Mooney who is just about to retire to run a day spa. The result is a silly summer thriller somehow languishing as a fall release.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about what Jessica's husband should have done that could have prevented much of what happened and why Moon did not give up.
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Adult
April 9, 2008
AGE
Fast paced thriller
I had never heard of this one but it was an enjoyable fast paced thriller that left me satisfied. Actually makes you think about this world of technology and someone being willing to help another. The alternate ending on DVD was better than the actual though!
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Teen, 13 years old
April 9, 2008
AGE
very fun!
90 minutes of nonstop entertainment
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Teen, 13 years old
April 9, 2008
AGE
Yarp....good movie
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Parent of 12 year old
February 17, 2011
AGE
Great for adults, not for kids!
I think this is a great movie for adults but for kids under 14, I don't think its appropriate. The language in this movie is my main concern. Sh*t is said more then 32 times, Bullsh*t is said at least 5, A**hole is said twice, A** is said twice, Bast*rd is said once, D*ckhead is said once, B*tch is said at least six times, Jesus Chr*st is used and the mother of all swear words the F word is used once. There is also talk about a females nipples and talk of a penis. There was a few highlights in this movie. The fact that a strainger would be willing to go out of his way to help someone hes never even met. It kinda makes you wonder if someone would actually be willing to do this for someone else. I think its best for parents to wait till the kids are at least 14 to view this movie because of the language and the violence.
What other families should know:
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Teen, 15 years old
April 3, 2011
AGE
Simple plot + Encouraging storyline = Spectacular Formulation
It's one of those films that you know will get your heart pounding with every scene. Exhilerating, undefiable and gobsmacking action sequences with a ground-breaking punch of emotion, you cannot expect any less.
After watching 8 Mile, an exceptional film about struggle and perseverance, featuring the one and only Kim Basinger, I was iffy about seeing her in this film, not trusting her instinct about adapting to a range of movie roles. She was ideal in this role, to say the least, and once again, you cannot expect any less!
My favourite scene in this film, (if not seeing Chris Evans fight off Jason Statham is it) is Jessica (Basinger) applying her knowledge of biology to kill the person sent to kill her - with a quick jab of the knife to his upper arm, he loses more blood than the body can pump out in a minute, and subsequently, he dies. If you believe this scene (the type of which does not occure too often in the film) is too violent or distressing to watch, then back away. However, do not take this lightly. This movie is an encouraging fight to show love in a family can never be denied.
What other families should know:
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Adult
February 24, 2011
AGE
Great but intense violence
lots of intense violence but gret movie to watch with kids that dont get scared easily.
What other families should know:
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Teen, 14 years old
March 17, 2011
AGE
For tweens and older
This movie is one of my favorites, but that might just be because Chris Evans is in it. I also like it because it tell you to always be prepared and it shows how a normal young adult rises to the challenge and saves a whole family. But, it is too violent for kids younger than 12.
What other families should know:
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| Studio: | New Line |
| Director: | David R. Ellis |
| Cast: | Jessica Biel, Kim Basinger, William H. Macy |
| Genre: | Thriller |
| Run time: | 92 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | September 10, 2004 |
| DVD release date: | January 18, 2005 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | violence, terror situations, language and some sexual references |
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