 | 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. |
Gulliver's Travels
- Review Date: December 19, 2010
- PG
- Genre: Comedy
- 2010
Common Sense Media says
Amusing adventure for fans of Jack Black and silly jokes.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this modernization of Jonathan Swift's classic satire features everything audiences expect from family-targeted Jack Black movies: physical (including potty) comedy, minor language, and lots of references to popular culture -- particularly movies and music. The sexuality is mostly tame, but there are references to a woman's breasts (as reason enough to marry her), some innuendo, and a few brief kisses. Language includes insults like "stupid" and "lame ass" (repeated several times in one scene). Expect several mentions of/allusions to Mac products, among other brand names. On the bright side, kids should learn about the value of honesty, believing in yourself, and looking beyond someone's status.
What's the story?
In this adaptation of Jonathan Swift's classic satire, Jack Black stars as Lemuel Gulliver, a mailroom clerk at a New York City newspaper, where he's worked for years nursing a crush on travel editor Darcy Silverman (Amanda Peet). When an ambitious new mailroom employee (T.J. Miller) is hired one day and promoted the next, Gulliver decides to approach Darcy for a date -- but instead he makes her think he's interested in becoming a travel writer. After he turns in a plagiarized writing sample, Darcy assigns Gulliver a feature story about the Bermuda Triangle, where he sails into a storm that lands him on the diminutive island kingdom of Lilliput. There, he proves himself a hero, befriends Horatio (Jason Segel) -- a commoner who's in love with Princess Mary (Emily Blunt) -- and proceeds to lie spectacularly about himself to the everyone, since, for once in his life, he's beloved. But everything's in jeopardy when the princess' betrothed, General Edward (Chris O'Dowd), starts to feel threatened.
Is it any good?
Whether you'll enjoy GULLIVER'S TRAVELS or not all boils down to how much you enjoy Black's brand of humor. For those who consider him an irresistible jokester, this is a slightly better-than-average comedy with loads of pop culture references and that signature Black comedy. Audiences who are lukewarm on Black's charm may be less amused by this adaptation, but there are enough silly laughs, talented supporting actors, and broad sight gags (such as the diminutive, fully made-up KISS band) to make this a decent family pick.
Even taking the scenery-chewing Black out of the picture, the Lilliputian cast is good, with Billy Connolly as the always entertaining king, Blunt as the beautiful princess who yearns for more than her status allows, and Segel as the commoner who yearns to woo her. But the stand-out performer is O'Dowd, an Irish actor best known for his work on British television (The IT Crowd). His uptight, self-righteous General Edward is just the right mix of pompous and insecure for what's otherwise a caricaturish character. This fish-out-of-water fantasy isn't necessarily a must-see film, but for Black devotees, it's yet another example of the comedian's Adam Sandler-like ability to remain essentially himself in every movie.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about what the movie is saying about believing in yourself. What finally makes Gulliver do the right thing? Why is it easier for him lie about himself than admit the truth?
What do you expect from a Jack Black movie? Is it a given that you'll see him sing, dance, and make fun of his own body? What other film stars use a similar brand of comedy?
Who do you think this movie is meant to appeal to most? Does it succeed? Have you seen any other versions of this story? How does this one compare?
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AGE
Very Funny! Not for kids under 12
This movie is way better than the original, much funnier and very clever. As an adult I liked it very much and found myself laughing out loud. However, Gulliver's Travel is for the 12+ crowd. I brought my 7 yr old son and found myself wishing I hadn't.. Although I'm sure he didn't learn anything new, I cringed several times at what he was hearing. The humor was a bit crass, with language such as, "I'm a big lame ass", "It blows", "Wanna shoot some poos, go for some brews?", "Hey sexy", "Stone cold fox" and "I find you incredibly sexy". There's also a boat named "Ship Happens." In one scene the princess asks her fiancee what he likes about her and he points to her breasts. When Gulliver falls on the ground, he lands on an unfortunate Lilliputian. It's apparent that the little man goes inside Gulliver's bottom (gross!). There's also a scene where Gulliver puts out a fire by urinating on a building and several people. Overall, I liked the movie for me and would have no problem taking my 12 year old niece, but NOT my 7 yr old.
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AGE
Just one scene of concern for a PG rating
My ten year old liked it. There is one scene I thought was inappropriate for the PG rating where the main character drops his pants and pees on a castle to put out a fire. You see the pants drop to the floor and see the pee drench the characters. If you are ok with potty humor, then go for it.
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AGE
I was absolutely disappointed in this movie. I took 2, 9 year old girls and an 8 year old. I quickly checked here to see what the suggested age was and the language factor and then went out the door. I could handle my kids hearing "lame ass" one time but the same lame phrase several times? It was ridiculous. Plus there was usage of God several times in the ending song and Hell. The urination was disturbing, but not half as disturbing as the excessive views of Jack Blacks backside and rolls. Commonsense reviews said nothing of excessive skin being shown. It was disgusting and inappropriate. I should have walked out of the theater with my group! Still asking myself why I didn't. I wouldn't be surprised if my girls had nightmares from the nastiness of the movie. Did I mention the derogatory remarks about women?
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AGE
Maybe 8 and up?
I REALLY liked this movie. What I didn't like is that it is marked "Family" in Redbox, which to me, should indicate appropriateness for the WHOLE family. While you can explain to a 10 year old that they shouldn't use the word "lame-ass", my five year old, had she not been distracted by pudding, would be repeating it at kindergarten. If he had just said it once, that would be one thing, and a five year old wouldn't likely notice. But it was repeated like 10 times within 2 minutes!
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AGE
Stretching the boundaries of PG
This was thisclose to being a PG-13 in my opinion. Serious product placement, humor that was inappropriate, and the only "smart" person was a villian. A waste of money to see in 3-D.
On a positive note, my 10 year old and his friend thought it was great.
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AGE
I did not like this movie at all. Gulliver is a loser who has no drive and wastes his time playing video games, etc. He tells a lot of big lies. He, when he is giant, urinates all over people to put out a fire, which I think is so inappropriate for young children to see. The queen has on a dress that nearly completely shows her breasts at all times. There are some lame jokes only adolescent boys would like. I will never buy this movie and wish I had known how inappropriate it was.
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AGE
I do not encourage your young kids to watch it. The language used on this movie is outrageous. The scene where Jack Black is potting and make comments about it is also disgusting.
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AGE
Jack being stereo typical Jack.
Even at $1.25 a ticket, I was so disappointed in this movie. Instead of being something I'd want my family to eventually own on DVD, it ended being something I wish I could take a "Magic Eraser" to, to scrub out of their heads. The "A" word repeated over and over again in the same scene didn't help. The fact that they had him drop his pants and urinate on the castle to put out a fire left my thoroughly disgusted. Even my kids left the movie talking about how silly it was. But given Jack's movies of the past I don't know what I was expecting. I was hoping for "Kung Fu Panda" -Jack Black and end up with "Shallow Hal" Jack
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AGE
good, violent
There is a scene where a woman punches a man in the face.
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Kid, 9 years old
May 15, 2011
AGE
Bad
Too much of everything. Do not let your kid watch it until 13.
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| Topics: | adventures, book characters |
| Studio: | Twentieth Century Fox |
| Director: | Rob Letterman |
| Cast: | Amanda Peet, Emily Blunt, Jack Black, Jason Segel |
| Genre: | Comedy |
| Run time: | 85 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | December 25, 2010 |
| DVD release date: | April 19, 2011 |
| MPAA rating: | PG |
| MPAA explanation: | brief rude humor, mild language and action |
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