 | 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. |
Gray Matters
- Review Date: June 18, 2007
- PG-13
- Genre: Comedy
- 2007
Common Sense Media says
Forgettable coming-out comedy for older teens.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that while this might seem like a run-of-the-mill romantic comedy, it's more about Gray's serious realization that she's gay. Bridget Moynahan, who plays the object of Gray's affection, spends most of the film clad in a lace bra and thong panties. The two women share a long, passionate, tequila-fueled kiss, but only Gray remembers it. Despite the film's lighthearted feel, there are plenty of adult themes -- pretending to be straight, coming to terms with homosexuality, making impulsive decisions to marry, etc. The movie is best for older teens who have some perspective on these subjects.
What's the story?
Ad exec Gray (Heather Graham) lives in Manhattan life with her heart-surgeon brother Sam (Tom Cavanagh) – siblings so close that strangers sometimes assume they're a couple. When they decide to look for people for each other to date, Gray finds Sam a gorgeous zoologist named Charlie (Bridget Moynahan); exactly one date later, Sam and Charlie get engaged. The hitch is that -- as Sam, Charlie, and Gray head to Las Vegas for the elopement -- Gray finds herself more and more attracted to Charlie. After the ladies end up clinched in a deep girl-on-girl kiss (not that the intoxicated Charlie can remember it), Gray has a life-changing panic attack. When she returns home, Gray retreats but must ultimately deal with her confusion.
Is it any good?
Graham and Cavanagh have built their acting careers on their irresistible charm. But even these two paragons of cute can't save screenwriter Sue Kramer's predictable directorial debut from being a sometimes-amusing but mostly confused mess.
As Gray retreats into her overanalyzing personality, she seems like a character from a very sub-par Woody Allen script. Eventually she accepts herself as a lesbian, but only after a hysterical confrontation with Sam about how she'll never be able to hold hands with her lover or have a wedding or children – meanwhile, she lives in one of the most gay-friendly cities in the world. Bottom line? Even in the limited genre of coming-out comedies, Gray Matters matters not.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about how Gray decided to come out. Ask your kids how they feel about her fears that she'll never get married, have kids, or be able to publicly display affection because she's gay. Parents and kids can also discuss Gray and Sam's sibling relationship. Why did someone assume they were a couple? What were the pros and cons of their constant togetherness? If your kids have siblings, ask them how they think their relationships will change as they get older.
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AGE
Okay
I admit that I went into this movie without expecting it to be at all good. Nevertheless, despite being quite unrealistic and at times cloying, it has in its defense a lot of charm. Heather Graham and Tom Cavanagh are winning; Alan Cumming's character doesn't seem to have much of a place in this film, but he manages to be a whimsical addition just the same. However, parents should be warned that there's heavy drinking, some swearing, and sexual content, making this a picture better suited- as CSM suggests- for elder teens.
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| Studio: | Yari Film Group |
| Director: | Sue Kramer |
| Cast: | Bridget Moynahan, Heather Graham, Tom Cavanagh |
| Genre: | Comedy |
| Run time: | 92 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | February 22, 2007 |
| DVD release date: | June 19, 2007 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | some mature thematic material, sexual content and language. |
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