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The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard

(2009, Rated R, Comedy, Starring Jeremy Piven, Ving Rhames, Kathryn Hahn)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 15, age appropriate for kids over 18; suggested age 16.
  • Is it any good?

    3.0
  • Common Sense says

    Anything-goes comic raunch-fest is funny, but not for kids.

Themes in this movie include:   honesty, materialism

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 16–18

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Material success at any cost is the desired goal. The characters are immoral, unethical, hedonistic, and immature -- and suffer no consequences for their behavior. Racial insensitivity and exaggerated gay advances are presented as laughable, as are religion, smoking, drug use, and sexuality. By the film's end, minor lessons are learned and values are explored, but not convincingly. Only one positive message is delivered: Teamwork is a key to achievement.
  • Role models :

    Most characters are driven by selfishness, vanity, and unchecked carnal desires; several also exhibit racism and/or other prejudices. No strongly positive female characters to speak of.
  • Violence:

    All of the action sequences are meant to be funny: A mini-riot erupts at a used car sale, children in a plastic jumping ring are flung against the mesh walls, several salesmen attack a small Asian man during a moment of racial animosity.
  • Sex:

    Countless sexual references throughout, all played for humor. Women are bare-breasted in several scenes and engage in pole dancing, as well as erotic lap dance routines. There's also full-frontal female nudity. In one sequence, the camera cuts between two lovemaking scenes, but neither reveals any substantial nudity or sexual activity. A woman tries to seduce a young boy (in the body of a mature man); a man tries to seduce one of his male staff members. Shots of sexual paraphernalia; many references to and one image of male erection (albeit clothed). In more than one instance, stories are recalled that vividly describe past sexual encounters.
  • Language:

    Incessant strong, sexual, and crude language. Multiple uses and forms of "f--k" and "s--t," as well as "ass," "hell," "damn," "oh my God," and more. Frequent references to various bodily functions, body parts ("c--k," "boner," "p---y," etc.), and sexual activity. There are also fat jokes, sexual slurs, and racial slurs,  including the "N" word, "queer," and "Jap."
  • Consumerism:

    Parodies of Men's Wearhouse and Head and Shoulders commercials.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    A main character passionately advocates smoking in a lengthy scene on an airplane. Some social drinking. A man is seen snorting cocaine in the background of one shot. Occasional references to marijuana and drug use.

 

What Parents Need to Know

About The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard

Parents need to know that this raunchy comedy is packed with over-the-top, crude language and sexual jokes/innuendo from beginning to end. No bodily function is left unreported; no serious issue is safe from the lowest forms of humor. Expect a constant stream of racial slurs, fat jokes, outrageous come-ons, and religious send-ups. Interspersed with these verbal assaults are the visual ones: erotic lap dances, bare breasts and full-frontal female nudity, a bizarre brush with pedophilia, an exaggerated (albeit clothed) male erection, and dildos literally falling from the sky. The objective in all cases? Non-stop gross-out humor.

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Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the movie's over-the-top style of humor. How far will filmmakers go to elicit laughter? Did any scenes make you uncomfortable?
  • The movie is full of jokes about race, weight, religion, sexuality, etc. Is that a form of stereotyping? Is it OK to play up stereotypes in the name of humor?
  • It's usually important for a movie to have a character the audience can root for. How do the filmmakers make the main characters likeable in spite of their outrageous, ridiculous behavior?
  • How does the movie depict "families"? How is Don's gang of salespeople like a family? Are there things to admire about their relationship? How does that family compare with the actual Selleck family?

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. I rate this title off for age 10 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative role models

    I loved the movie and thought it was hilarious, but I would not take children to see it.

  2. I rate this title off for age 17 and give it 1.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Excessive consumerism
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative message
    • Negative role models

    none

    very bad left early

  3. Adult Reviewer
    I rate this title off for age 17 and give it 1.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Negative message
    • Negative role models

    Waste of time and money...wouldnt watch it again if you paid me

    This movie was so dirty it needs to take a bath! I took my girlfriend to see it and was embarassed with all the female nudity. She said she felt very awkard and insulted. It wasnt even funny...they show all the funny parts on tv. The pushed every boundry to the limit and beyond. I would never recomend this movie to anyone. It is truely a waste of your time and money. Not a movie for date night. Not too many happy females in the theater.

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