The First Wives Club (PG, 1996)
common sense media says
Frothy divorce-revenge comedy with iffy messages.
parents & educators say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that infidelity, mistresses, divorce, and revenge (betrayed spouses vs. ex-husbands) propel the narrative of this film -- though it defies expectations by being a PG comedy instead of something harsher. Sex references are surprisingly coy, and swear words are kept to a minimum. That said, one character's daughter is a lesbian, and this is mentioned loudly and often (to the point of the demure mom cheerfully visiting her child's favorite lesbian bar and getting hit on). The grown children in these broken marriages are either cynical or join in plotting against their fathers. The upper-class NYC milieu slathers on the materialism -- the chic fashion, the cars, the decor.
Violence:
One character jumps to her death (offscreen); later there's a dangerous stunt on a window-cleaners' platform that similarly imperils the heroines; it's played for laughs.
Sex:
No sex or nudity shown, but characters are depicted before/after bedroom interludes. A man fondles his girlfriend's (clothed) breast. One daughter is a young lesbian, and this prompts much talk and eyebrow-raising and a visit to a lesbian bar. Non-explicit allusion to laws prohibiting sex with minors. References to a series of (nonexistent) movies that clearly fall into the "erotic thriller" genre.
Language:
"A--hole"; "s--t" uttered once.
Consumerism:
Materialism is a strong component of the plot: hot car models, trendy furnishings, paintings, and objects d'art (with a big-name auction house). And, of course, there's a First Wives Club novel tie-in.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
Heavy drinking in a few scenes. It precedes suicide (not shown) and ugly fights. One of the heroines is criticized by another for her liquor intake; she straightaway quits drinking.
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