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The Good Girl (R, 2002)

common sense media says

Story of love and frustration isn't for kids.

parents & educators say
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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this film deals with potentially upsetting issues such as mental illness and infidelity in an understated manner. Strong language is used throughout the film, and there are several scenes depicting sex without frontal nudity. Alcohol and drug abuse (pot) are depicted. There is a scene of coerced sex that verges on rape, and two offscreen deaths, one by suicide.

Positive messages: The movie is a parable about how the absolute, black and white beliefs of youth give way to mature compromise.
Positive role models: None of the main characters are people you would want your kids to emulate.
Violence: Two offscreen deaths, one by suicide.
Sex: There is a scene of coerced sex that verges on rape; other sex scenes.
Language: Strong language is used throughout the film.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Alcohol and drug abuse (pot) are depicted.
Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

More on The Good Girl

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families can talk about Justine's decision at the end of the film, and how it might affect her life in the future.
  • The title of the film is both serious and ironic -- in what ways is Justine a good girl, and how does she balance her desires with the good of the people around her?
  • What made Holden so attractive to Justine at the beginning, and how did this make him "a demon" by the end?
  • Although Christianity plays a relatively small role in the story, parents with strong faith will want to talk about the issues of forgiveness and coercion explicitly brought up by the film. What's the difference between professing a faith and adhering to it?

What's the story?

What's the story?
THE GOOD GIRL is a mature story about love and frustration with special appeal for fans (teenage and adult) of Jennifer Aniston. In a suburban Texas town, Justine (Anniston) works at the local Retail Rodeo. Her job is a bore, and her jerk of a husband (John C. Reilly) spends every afternoon stoned on the couch with his buddy (Tim Blake Nelson). Alienated from everyone, Justine thinks she's found a soulmate in Holden (Jake Gyllenhaal), the sulky new cashier at the Rodeo. He's really a writer, and he's named after the main character in Catcher in the Rye, and nobody understands him. That he's only 22 to Justine's 30 makes him all the more forbidden fruit, and they quickly start a torrid affair. But Justine has much more to lose than Holden, and as he becomes more and more needy, Justine finds herself forced to choose between her new love and the everyday life she finds slipping away.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
The Good Girl has both funny and touching moments; all the actors give very sharp performances with great dialogue, but the plot fails slightly at the end. If this movie is a parable about how the absolute, black and white beliefs of youth give way to mature compromise, the story itself should never just fade to an unsatisfying "realistic" gray.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox
Director: Miguel Arteta
Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Jennifer Aniston, John C. Reilly
Genre: Drama
Run time: 94 minutes
Theatrical release: January 1, 2002
DVD release: January 7, 2003
MPAA Rating: R
MPAA explanation: sexuality, some language, and drug content.
This review was written by Will Fertman
 
 

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Most useful reviews by all members

Rachel D
adult
 
The horrible, awful, disgusting bad girl
I can't believe I didn't turn and run from this one. Nothing good to say, depressing, dark, completely immoral. PLEASE do not see this film!
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