Did You Hear About the Morgans? (PG-13, 2009)

common sense media says

Fish-out-of-water romcom is teen-friendly but a real snooze.


parents & educators say
  • 30% say there are positive messages

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this Hugh Grant/Sarah Jessica Parker romantic comedy is a classic fish-out-of-water tale that could appeal to romcom-loving teens, despite its bland story. There are a few kisses and references to sex, marriage, and infidelity. Strong language is surprisingly infrequent (one "s--t" and "bulls--t"), and most of the violence -- including minor gunviolence (and gun use in general, in the parts that take place in Wyoming), as well as some comical scenes involving bear spray -- is concentrated briefly at the beginning and the end of the movie. Expect a fair bit of product placement/promotion, including BlackBerry, Gillette, and more.

Positive messages: Paul and Meryl learn to appreciate what Wyoming has to offer -- open sky, a slower pace, and friendly, unjaded people -- even though they're die-hard, snotty New Yorkers. The importance of fidelity and loyalty in marriage is another obvious theme.
Positive role models: Emma and Clay are positive role models for a loving and lasting -- albeit imperfect -- marriage. Paul and Meryl are at first very annoying, sterotypical New Yorkers (especially Meryl), but they eventually prove that small towns have something to offer even the most cynical, overly chatty city folks.
Violence: Some gun violence, but nothing bloody. A man with a knife in his back plunges to his death, and a hit man tries to shoot a couple. The same hit man opens fire again in a crowded place. Most of the population of Ray, Wyo., is armed (legally, it's presumed) with guns, and a couple of scenes revolve around characters learning to shoot a rifle and then using it against the hit man. Comical violence includes the use of bear spray on a man -- twice.
Sex: Paul and Meryl kiss a few times and cuddle (in their pajamas) in bed together. They also discuss Paul's adultery on several occasions. Secondary couples dance, flirt, and kiss as well, but nothing too risque.
Language: One "s--t" and "bulls--t" is the worst of it. Other mild insults/exclamations include "screw you," "hell, yeah," "idiot," "oh my God," and "stupid," as well as Britishisms like "bloody" and "bollocks."
Consumerism: Several brands are featured fairly prominently: BlackBerry, Google, Gillette, Carhartt, Edge, Advil, and Hunt's ketchup. Also lots of New York-specific places and publications, like the Times, New York magazine, Nobu restaurant, Zabar's, etc.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: An elderly man smokes cigarettes in his restaurant. Paul and Meryl have wine on their table at dinner.

More on Did You Hear About the Morgans?

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families can talk about the movie's gun violence and hunting jokes. Is the gun use in the movie meant to be comical? Is it?
  • How are both New Yorkers and people from Wyoming portrayed? Is the characters' depiction realistic or stereotypical?
  • Why do you think the fish-out-of-water genre is so popular? What's funny about seeing people out of theircomfort zone?

What's the story?

What's the story?
In DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE MORGANS?, Paul (Hugh Grant) and Meryl (Sarah Jessica Parker) Morgan are high-powered New Yorkers struggling with marital woes. After a rare dinner together, the pair sees a mob hit and is subsequently placed into witness protection in sleepy Ray, Wyoming. Unable to contact anyone at home, the Manhattan-centric Morgans must live with local sheriff Clay (Sam Elliot) and his wife, Emma (Mary Steenburgen) -- two gun-toting, Clint Eastwood-loving law enforcers who couldn't be less like the Morgans. Like all fish out of water, the Morgans grow fonder and fonder of the rodeo town and its quirky, down-home residents. If the Morgans can survive somewhere far, far away from their bagels, BlackBerrys, and problems, maybe their marriage will survive, too.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

At this point in their careers, Grant and Parker are romantic-comedy staples. Unfortunately, this stereotypical, overly predictable tale about neurotic, type-A Manhattanites stuck in sleepy Wyoming is simply soporific and annoying. Even at 96 minutes, the story stumbles along at an infuriating pace, and it doesn't help that the leads share absolutely no chemistry. (You have to wonder, in fact, whether Parker can muster up sparks with anyone other than Chris Noth.)

The lack of heat between two stars isn't even the worst of it. That would be the film's stilted jokes about "poor" rich New Yorkers who can't go to Lincoln Center or Zabar's or Nobu. Other than in Sex and the City, do audiences even care about how much wealthy Manhattan couples would miss the trappings of city life? When flannel-shirted Clay and Emma roll their eyes at the Morgans, they're channeling the audience. Steenburgen and Elliot meri the movie's one star -- it's always a pleasure to see the two character actors pop up in anything. And for the record, their scenes together are more romantic than anything Parker and Grant display.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Columbia Tristar
Director: Marc Lawrence
Cast: Elisabeth Moss, Hugh Grant, Sarah Jessica Parker
Genre: Comedy
Run time: 96 minutes
Theatrical release: December 18, 2009
DVD release: March 16, 2010
MPAA Rating: PG-13
MPAA explanation: some sexual references and momentary violence
Watch our review

This review was written by Sandie Angulo Chen
 
 

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What parents & educators say

12
Based on 10 parent & educator reviews:
  • 30% say there are positive messages

Most useful reviews by all members

Bauer Power
teen, 14 years old
 
It is a Drama, Action, and Comedy at the same time.

2Simple
adult
 
I wish I never heard about the Morgans. Ever.

Safemancam001
teen, 14 years old
 
The movie got pretty slow at times, but in the end it was funny.

theprincessmommy
educator and parent of and 2 , 9 , 12 , 14 year old
 
Good Message & Characters with Good Character :)
My husband and I can't understand why this one is rated PG-13 in comparison to PG rated movies. There are a few bad words and mild violence. But we were happily surprised that there were no sexually explicit scenes and most of the characters were even dressed modestly. I think it's great that it is a love story between a married couple. There was the underlying issue of past infidelity, which is discussed directly, but it also shows the infidelity in a negative light and demonstrates what torment that can put a relationship through. At the same time the characters are able to display forgiveness and a willingness to work through past transgressions. Truly a LOVE story and something I'll be happy for my 14-year-old daughter to see.

 
Its a good movie
I thought it was a good movie it didn`t have as lots of sexual contacts and it had a good message to parents that are o nthe verge of a divorce may be they just need some time by them selves.

Sunshine4us
parent of 13 year old
 
I was looking forward to seeing this movie after seeing the previews but unfortunately the previews had the best scenes and the rest of the movie was disappointing! I thought Grant did a decent job but was surprisingly disappointed with Parkers performance. Sorry to say, I didn't care for this movie.

 
Adorable Little Movie! Very little cussing if any, no risque things, no nudity, they talk of infidelity, but its only talking. There is a use of guns. It had a cute little story line. I enjoyed watching this movie! =)

RhythmofLove1997
teen, 14 years old
 
lol awesome movie!!!!
i LOVE this movie!! my best friends and i went to see this movie and we loved it!! i mean yes we have good memories in that movie cause we almost got kicked out because some lady got mad at my friend for sneezing and threatened to call security but anyway it was an AWESOME movie!!!!

bunnyluver12
teen, 15 years old
 
awesome movie!!
i loved this movie!! it was awesome!!!! my friend and i saw it and it was funny yet a tiny bit suspenseful.

Jadenp
teen, 15 years old
 
very mild for a pg-13
suggested mpaa rating: PG for some brief sexual references, and a scene of violence.

Rogue7
parent of 14 year old
 
A movie with a Possitive and Thoughtful Plot!!!
I rented this movie b/c of Hugh Grant. I thought it would be very funny. Instead I found a movie about love and marriage and problems and solutions. The movie has a very pro-family, pro-marriage message that is rare in the Hollywood world today. The language was very mild for the PG13 rating, although I think young kids would be bored. It is a grown-up story with some humorous moments....very refreshing.

 
Talk about a waste of time!
This is the sad thing - I actually saw this movie like 3 weeks ago, and now I can't remember anything about it, not even the plot! That's how bad it was. My eyes burned all through it, and my ears almost bled. But at least I got to spend time with my mom, who watched it with me. The only good part of the whole movie.

moviefan22
teen, 13 years old
 
Funny, but a bit boring also
I saw this movie expecting nothing from it, but it had some violence which reeled me in and it was very funny. It was also cheesy and boring in some parts too. I think it could of been rated PG,but the hit man would've freaked out younger kids. Some gunshots, a few scenes in bed, and talk of having sex and cheating is basically the only factors of the PG-13 rating. If you want an okay, funny comedy about a divorced couple hiding from a hit man, see this movie, but don't expect much.

Cock Face
kid, 13 years old
 

coldplay4ever12
teen, 15 years old
 
great movie yo.

robz1234
kid, 13 years old
 
did u hear about the morgans
this is a good movie i would say its fine for about 10 +

Baileyboo44
teen, 15 years old
 
Perfect for Tweens and Adults
This movie was very good I saw It with my mom sooo if you are planning to see it with your child make sure that you are ok with bad language

soccerchic
teen, 15 years old
 
what to watch out for !
did you hear about the morgans is one of my favorites...and depending on how mature your child is would definately change if you should show this movie to them or not! this movie is positive in the way that it showed how seperated couples should get back together and can get back together! sexually i saw nothing wrong though they did talk about how paul(hugh grant) had an affair though it did bring out the fact that it isn't something that is okay and it does have consequences(with your marital status after being found out)...meryl (sarah jessica parker) also while paul and her were seperated had brought a guy back to their apartment and had sex with him...it never showed anything sexual though...and the language wasn't a big deal either God was used very few times and d**n was used a few times also.

CORN ROX
parent of 4 year old
 
Seriously? You take a good actress and actor and you put them into a ......... strange boring movie!
Oh yeah! This movie soooo rox!!!!!!!!......UMMM NO!!!! I'm not complaining though because I was kinda sucked into watching it. But then again I can't honestly give you information about this money wasting movie considering the fact that I fell a sleep within the first 15 minutes. I would usually give a movie like this 1 star but, from what I saw which was very little the movie was very well acted. Of course Hugh Grant and Sarah Jessicah Parker can out act us all in a blink of an eye. So it was that the story was rather stupid and boring that I didn't like it not that I'm saying that anyone wasn't a good actor or actress. Not a fan on this dispotchled movie mess. Hope you don't get me wrong....oh well.

lilypadd
kid, 12 years old
 
good
I saw it a week ago and I think it's good, I think the reviewers really got the "iffy, good, bad" wrong because I'm 11 and I didn't think it was bad.

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