 | 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. |
Chasing Amy
- Review Date: November 9, 2005
- R
- Genre: Comedy
- 1997
Common Sense Media says
Dated romantic comedy wrong for all kids.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this movie deals with sexuality. The primary plotline is a friendship-turned-romance between Holden and Alyssa, who is introduced as a lesbian. There are numerous conversations detailing characters' sexual practices and fantasies. Characters drink, smoke, have sex, use drugs, gay-bash, and get in fights.
What's the story?
Holden and his business partner and childhood friend Banky Edwards (Jason Lee) are enjoying the success of their comic Bluntman and Chronic when Holden falls head over heels for fellow comic artist Alyssa. Faced with the information that Alyssa prefers women, Holden remains undeterred, and the pair forms a close friendship that ultimately crosses the line between platonic and romantic.
Is it any good?
CHASING AMY is an age old story: boy meets girl, boy falls head over heels for girl, boy discovers girl has no interest in him. In this case, the twist is that Alyssa (Joey Lauren Adams) is a lesbian. Although smart for its time, the movie has not aged particularly well, and subsequent films from other directors have dealt more intelligently with the often blurry boundaries of sexual identity. This film deals with adult themes that should definitely be taken into consideration before allowing kids to view it.
Director Kevin Smith's atypical romantic comedy follows the relationship between Holden and Alyssa, while also entertaining an interesting discussion about the ostensibly straight male friendship between Holden and Banky. The movie is part of Smith's series of films focusing on characters living in New Jersey, but is definitely not his sharpest work. The acting is overall fine, but Adams' performance as Alyssa often makes her seem weepy and weak.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about issues of gender and sexuality. The film raises a number of interesting questions about sexual behavior and identity. Does Alyssa's affair with Holden undermine her identity as a lesbian? How does her affair alienate her from her community? Holden's reaction to information about Alyssa's past ultimately destroys their relationship. How might Holden have dealt with his feelings more productively? Is there a double standard about the amount of sexual experience that's acceptable for men and women?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
If your Kids are watching this movie, they are plenty old enough to not have a lecture about it afterwards.
Don't try to pluck messages and morals out of movies, which aren't really there. Movies are a form of creative entertainment, if you talk to your kids about every single inappropriate detail they will not be able to grow up and mature properly, though I do belive there should be some limits, awkward conversations aren't going to teach your children anything.
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AGE
I think this is a great movie, as I am a great Kevin Smith fan. But I will agree, that is movie is very sexually explicit. I would never let a child see this, and I would be iffy with teens. Teens (believe it or not) actually already know most of the sexual references in this movie from their peers. But this movie revolves around it, and might even cross a border.
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Must see movie for Adults. NOT FOR CHILDREN
It's easily one of the best movies of the 90's, and one of the greatest romantic comedies ever made. But it's a hard R, and it earns it in spades. Not a kids film, but late teens and up should see it. Very strong and powerful message about not judging people on their past, but on who they were. Anti-homophobic. Incredibly well acted, with world class performances by Ben Affleck, Jason Lee (who won an Independent Spirit Award for it) and Joey Lauren Adams (who was nominated for a Golden Globe) off a great script (writer/director Kevin Smith also received a Indy Spirit award for the screenplay.) A must see movie for adults. Not for children
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AGE
nice movie well done!
a real good movie i liked it. uh just not for kids unless 12 amd up then its alright to see. this was a real good movie i actually liked this one better than Mallrats although Mallrats was a real good movie. but so was this one real good and it has Ben Afflack which makes it a real good movie!
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| Studio: | Miramax |
| Director: | Kevin Smith |
| Cast: | Ben Affleck, Jason Lee, Joey Lauren Adams |
| Genre: | Comedy |
| Run time: | 113 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | January 23, 1997 |
| DVD release date: | June 13, 2000 |
| MPAA rating: | R |
| MPAA explanation: | strong graphic sex-related dialogue, language, sexuality and drug content |
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