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Encino Man (PG, 1992)

common sense media says

Silly teen comedy has some Neanderthal behavior.

parents & educators say
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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this silly teen sex comedy is heavy on objectifying girls' bodies, showing them in skimpy clothes and talking about girls' body parts. Characters also do some things that parents wouldn't want their kids to do: They lie to their parents, they use their friends to become more popular, they steal a car, they go to a bar, they break into school, and break into a house. There's also some swearing and comic violence.

Positive messages: Dave tries to use Link to become more popular and doesn't care about him. He also tries to abandon him. Matt breaks into the school and later breaks into Dave's house. Matt calls someone a "fag."
Violence: Minor pratfalls and a punch. The guys watch professional wrestling and boxing on TV.
Sex: Some making out, butt-grabbing, and a lot of talk about almost grabbing girls' "gazongas." Plus one veiled masturbation joke and some girls in skimpy clothes.
Language: Some salty language, including "bulls--t," "piss," "dips--t," "hell," and several words for breasts, including "gazongas" and "honey cones." Matt calls someone a "fag."
Consumerism: Several products are mentioned or visible, including the TV show Jeopardy!, The Terminator, David Letterman, Milk Duds, SweetTarts, Icees, and Wonderbread. Stoney also uses the catch phrase, "Milk does a body good."
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Stoney drinks tequila and gets drunk. The gang goes to a bar even though they are underage.
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More on Encino Man

What to talk about

Talk to your kids

Families can talk about the difficulty of navigating the social circles of high school. What do you do when you like someone who is in a different social circle than you? Does it make you feel worse about yourself? Does it make you want to do anything you can to prove to them that you're good enough? How do you handle the social rules of high school?

What's the story?

What's the story?

Willing to do anything to become popular and win back the affection of his grade-school crush, Robyn (Meagan Ward), bumbling high school senior Dave (Sean Astin), digs his own swimming pool for a prom-night party. When he discovers a hunk of ice containing a caveman, Dave uses it to advance his popularity. When the ice block thaws, out comes the totally buff and totally cave-rific Link (Brendan Fraser). Soon, Link is learning modern behavior from TV, and passing easily as a modern teenage boy; he's scruffy, he wears weird clothes, he grunts more than speaks, and all he can think about is the girl of his dreams. But once Link becomes more popular than him, can Dave handle it?

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

Encino Man is a mostly harmless teen comedy that accurately reflects the struggles most teens have in high school. The film launched more roles for Fraser as a bumbling action-movie hero and he pulls off the role wonderfully. Between Fraser's innocent silliness and co-star Pauly Shore's Weasel schtick, the movie's good-hearted goofiness is infectious. There's some typical teen misbehavior, but no over-the-top sexual and gross-out situations. Just mindless, silly fun from the more comically innocent early '90s.

Movie themes & details

Themes
high school
Movie Details
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
Director: Les Mayfield
Cast: Brendan Fraser, Pauly Shore, Sean Astin
Genre: Comedy
Run time: 88 minutes
Theatrical release: October 9, 1992
DVD release: January 18, 2000
MPAA Rating: PG
MPAA explanation: mild language and sensuality.
This review was written by Heather Boerner
 
 

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Most useful reviews by all members

jeterfan
kid, 11 years old
9
 
Encino Man
Encino man was very good, but I'm not so sure it is appropriate for 8 and under. My brothers started running around willy-nilly saying the bad words. It was NOT helpful at the grocery store.
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Dr.Pepper
adult
12
 
I like this movie, but if it came out today it would definately be rated PG-13. It contains many references to sex (no scenes though), underaged drinking, homophobic slurs, and more swearing than a typical PG movie.
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helped me decide (4) | had useful details (3) | read my mind (4)

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