Disaster Movie (PG-13, 2008)

common sense media says

Crude, dumb spoof isn't worth your time or money.


parents & educators say
  • 58% say sexual content is an issue
  • 58% say language is an issue

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this crude parody is from the same directing team responsible for Date Movie, Epic Movie, and Meet the Spartans. Like all of those movies, this one features a seemingly endless list of celebrity impersonations and reenactments of scenes from other popular films. Expect strong language ("s--t," "a--hole," etc.) and comedic violence. There are a couple of scenes of women in bikinis or lingerie, a shot of Beowulf's naked behind, and tons of sex-based jokes and references. As for commercialism, the entire film could be regarded as an ad for all of the movies and celebrities it references.

Positive messages: There really isn't a message except that perhaps the directors don't understand the meaning of parody. Women are portrayed as damsels in distress; there's a scene filled with gay jokes/stereotypes. A random little person pops up as a sexual joke.
Violence: Gun play and comedic violence (like fake-looking body parts landing everywhere), Dr. Phil and others being shot, a delusional woman eating glass, a woman being crushed to death, and other disaster-movie stereotypes.
Sex: Many references to heterosexual and homosexual acts; a couple of female characters are shown wearing lingerie; Beowulf's naked rear is visible; Flavor Flav and a little person are in bed with a woman; the princess, who has a pimp, says she'll "do anything" if the price is right.
Language: The usual suspects: "s--t," "d--k," "bitch," "ass," "a--hole," "p---y."
Consumerism: Starting with the framing device cribbed from Cloverfield, the entire movie is strung together by overt references to popular films, musicians, and TV shows, including Juno, No Country for Old Men, Wanted, Enchanted, Kung Fu Panda, Hancock, Jumper, Night at the Museum, High School Musical, Alvin and the Chipmunks, Get Smart, Indiana Jones, Hellboy II, Amy Winehouse, Flavor Flav, Dr. Phil, Justin Timberlake, Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana, the Jonas Brothers, and many, many more. Actual products include Mac, Pinkberry, Calvin Klein, Ambien, Facebook, MTV, Head On, and others.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Adults drink at a party, where teens try to steal booze; references to various drugs.

More on Disaster Movie

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about whether this film is really a parody of disaster movies. What characteristics of that genre is it making fun of? What other things does the movie mock? Why do you think the filmmakers included so many pop-culture references? Are the celebrity impersonators and sight-gags from other movies funny? Do you think anyone will find any of it funny decades from now, when half of the references will have been forgotten? Does any of it go too far? Are there better examples of spoofs?

What's the story?

What's the story?
DISASTER MOVIE loosely follows the plotline of Cloverfield, one of the dozens of popular movies being targeted here. While at a party, an unknown catastrophe strikes Manhattan, endangering the lives of Will (Matt Lanter), his ex-girlfriend Amy (Vanessa Minnillo), and random other friends, including Juno-esque pregnant teen Juney (Crista Flanagan) and a Giselle-like (but really crazy) Enchanted princess (Nicole Parker) who actually lives in the sewers. As they attempt to survive falling asteroids, twisters, and other life-threatening phenomena, Will and company bump into many celebrities and re-enact scenes from scores of other movies.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
Unlike the classic genre parodies of the '70s and '80s that left audiences nearly out of breath from laughing so hard, this decade has brought us a series of successively less bearable, virtually unwatchable "comedies" from directors Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer. What they make isn't even comedy; it's more like a parade of popular movie characters and celebrities stitched together with punchlines so eye-rollingly predictable that most seventh-graders could have written them.

The actors themselves, a few of whom are MADtv veterans, aren't to blame. None of them is well-known enough -- with the exceptions of Carmen Electra and Kim Kardashian, both of whom have their ample "actorly" assets on display -- to turn down a film role. The fact that Lions Gate keeps giving Friedberg and Seltzer a platform for this dreck is the real disaster.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Lionsgate
Director: Aaron Seltzer, Jason Friedberg
Cast: Crista Flanagan, Matt Lanter, Vanessa Minnillo
Genre: Comedy
Run time: 90 minutes
Theatrical release: August 29, 2008
DVD release: January 5, 2009
MPAA Rating: PG-13
MPAA explanation: crude and sexual content throughout, language, drug references and comic violence.
Watch our review

This review was written by Sandie Angulo Chen
 
 

Review It

 

Review Disaster Movie





Hang on! You need to be a member to post your review.
A safe community is important to us. Please observe our guidelines.
 

What parents & educators say

13
Based on 12 parent & educator reviews:
  • 58% say sexual content is an issue
  • 58% say language is an issue
  • 42% say violence is an issue
  • 42% say there's too much drinking, drugs, or smoking
  • 33% say they noticed product placement

Most useful reviews by all members

slasher23
teen, 16 years old
 

ohya
parent of 14 year old
 
im doing this about the unrated version

ironkid21
kid, 13 years old
 
Disaster Movie is a DISASTER
This was a TERRIBLE movie. It did have some clever things like the head on, the chipmunks and the song at the end but other than that it was probably the worst movie i've ever seen. Save 80 mins of your time. Theres a lot of better spoof movies out there.

2drocks
kid, 12 years old
 
great social satire!
The laughs just keep on coming! The comic violence is nothing to be afraid of, and if there's anything you should be concerned with, it's that your kids will laugh so hard they'll end up with resparatory failure! highly recommend it!


kid, 12 years old
 


teen, 14 years old
 


kid, 11 years old
 

funawesomegirl
kid, 13 years old
 
Haha
Hilarious movie! Crude but good. Some messages say stand up for what you think is right while others say when you have a f*ght do it n*ked! Also some potty mouthing going on and some gay, and straight themes... Hope I helped

animalfanplus101
kid, 12 years old
 
defintley not for kids
Not really a good movie. There is only a couple parts that are funny.the one that i liked the most was the head-on part

uhya
teen, 13 years old
 
review for UNRATED VERSION
WOW.SO MANY USES OF F--K AT THE END.

 
not that bad as it sounds the chimpunk bit is wierd

joejoeboy
kid, 12 years old
 
good for teens
this actually isnt innapropiate im 10 and i didnt think it was that innapropiate

peanutbuttergurl6
teen, 17 years old
 
1 word sums it all
PITIFUL.this movie have a few laughs here and there but face it, this movie is trash. highly innapropirate ending song where they all sing about f-ing eachother. I mean like, what a waste of money.

wwechampion
kid, 11 years old
 
Disaster Movie
Rated PG-13 For Crude And Sexual Content Throughout,Language,Drug References And Comic Violence

icedragon236
teen, 16 years old
 
I love this movie its dumb but hilarious worth your time and money. it has a somewhat positive view because the main charecter stops at nothing to help a girl

luke3854
teen, 18 years old
 
This is a disaster of a movie defiantly not worth more than 2 dollars i regret buying it

erraggarn98
kid, 13 years old
 
Don't Bother
This movie is SH*T! Watch this and waste an hour of your life. Really random. Can be sexual and weird.

 
See i really loved the movie but it has some setbacks like strong language, a little NOT a lot just a bit of violence and nudity and drinking

Cooldee
parent
 

Bessylover1
teen, 15 years old
 
not for any 14- kids
ok so yeah i saw it and i agree it has strong language and sexual scenes like when the calvin klein model took his underwear off and threw it at J.T and shows part of his nudity i guess its kinda bad for pre-teensbut for people 14 and over its good.

An independent voice for families
Age-appropriate reviews
 

vote now

Will you see Disaster Movie?


Already seen it? What do you think?

 

About our rating system
ON: Content is 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