 | 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. |
Dr. Strangelove: Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
- Review Date: January 10, 2005
- NR
- Genre: Comedy
- 1964
Common Sense Media says
Black comedy Kubrick classic for smart teens+.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that teens who view this movie may need some background to understand the sense of helpless peril of the Cold War years. More important, they may need some preparation to understand the nature of black comedy, and some may find it very disturbing, particularly the unconventional ending.
What's the story?
Rogue American General Jack D. Ripper (Sterling Hayden) goes mad and sends planes to drop nuclear bombs on the Soviet Union -- he cuts off all communication to the base, and only he knows the three-letter code to cancel the attack. Officials scramble to deal with the situation, but the mild-mannered U.S. president (Peter Sellers) and highly civilized British officer Captain Mandrake (Sellers again) are no match for bloodthirsty General Buck Turgidson (George C. Scott) and the demented Dr. Strangelove (Sellers again), a former Nazi expert on nuclear weapons. Can the attack be stopped in time?
Is it any good?
Featuring a landmark performance by Sellers, DR. STRANGELOVE is the blackest of black comedies -- a Duck Soup for the Cold War era. Lauded repeatedly as one of the best movies ever made, its sophisticated mix of satire and politics makes it a better fit for teens who can put some of the humor into context. It's a great film to watch as a family, as it's sure to prompt plenty of discussion.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the nature of war and peace (begin with Ripper's quote from Clemeanceu about war's being too important to be left to the generals) and about the best ways of ensuring an enduring peace. What do you think of making fun of issues like madness and nuclear war? If the movie were to be made today, what details would be changed? Who do you think the nuclear threat would come from?
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- Teens & kids
AGE
Average Kubrick Flick
Arguably the best black comedy ever made, another Stanley Kubrick classic still holds its place in the greatest and most influential films of all time for its original humor, relevant messages, and much more. There are some inappropriate parts, but only subliminally, not directly. The opening shot, the secretary in the bikini, the "playboy" magazine, even the DVD cover, etc. But kids won't notice or understand scenes like this. As with most Kubrick films, it depends on the person watching.
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AGE
Hilarious
While reading a book on the Cold War the author recommended the film Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Sop Worry and Love the Bomb, I rented it and laughed the whole time, except for the ending, makes you think.
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AGE
Not for young kids
This movie, for those who don't know, is a black comedy about Nukes. Some bits that might be of concern would be that in the beginning a pilot is read Playboy, and in another scene, a woman is in a bikini. But despite those bits, this movie is a good movie.
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AGE
One of the greatest black comedies of all time
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AGE
Is this supposed to be funny?!
Cause it's not. "Dr Strangelove is regarded as a black comedy classic (I love black comedy, don't get me wrong), but it does one thing wrong. It doesn't make you laugh. Oh, there are a couple of good moments, "gentleman, you can't fight in here, this is the war room" is a classic line. Peter Sellers playing three different characters holds no value to me. Kubrick's "Spartacus" is much better. (If you like this one, see other overrated movies like "The Wizard of Oz" and "The Maltese Falcon".
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AGE
Amazing black satire
... but don't even try showing it to most kids. They don't understand the Cold War days and therefore won't get most of the humor.
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AGE
Cotroversial comedy: Not for young kids
Kubrick directed this black dramedy and it's has the cold war in plot. That means you can expect explosions and shootings. The "end of the world" theme in the movie may frighten your kids. But they'll also be laughing hard.
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| Studio: | Columbia Tristar |
| Director: | Stanley Kubrick |
| Cast: | George C. Scott, Peter Sellers, Sterling Hayden |
| Genre: | Comedy |
| Run time: | 95 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | January 29, 1964 |
| DVD release date: | November 2, 2004 |
| MPAA rating: | NR |
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