Parents need to know that although this fluffy college-set comedy is supposedly about why it's important to be yourself, it has some iffy messages for the tween and young teen girls who are most likely to want to see it -- chiefly, that women need to doll themselves up to attract the opposite sex. Since main character Shelley is a Playboy bunny, sex in general is a main theme of the movie, even though the only "action" is a couple of kisses. There are constant references to Playboy: The mansion, the magazine, and Hugh Hefner himself all play central roles in the plot. Scenes set in the mansion include scads of barely dressed bunnies wearing revealing lingerie or tiny bikinis, and Shelley does the same even after she leaves (in one scene, the entire length of her nude body is visible from the back). Characters also discuss sex and virginity. One sorority sister is pregnant, but her pregnancy is used like a prop instead of taken seriously. Language includes one "f--k" and many uses of "bitch," and characters drink frequently (though generally not to excess) at both the mansion and college parties.
Positive messages:Although the movie's ostensible message is that everyone should just be who they are, young female viewers are much more likely to get the idea that they need to be thin, tan, and dolled up to be sexy and attractive to the opposite sex. While there's nothing wrong with wanting to look nice, the Zeta girls go from not caring a fig for how they look to (temporarily) becoming just as judgmental and looks-obsessed as the sorority girls they disliked. Shelley's dream is to be a Playboy centerfold. On the other hand, at least Shelley makes philanthropy cool (even if she can't say the word properly). The Iota Mu sisters are typical movie "mean girls," doing their best to humiliate the Zetas and stand in the way of their success. A girl in a back brace is mocked.
Violence:A woman violently twists the nipples of a man she's angry with (but he actually enjoys it); Shelley gets hurt standing over a steaming manhole cover. Several pratfalls.
Sex:All of the scenes featuring Playboy bunnies show women nearly undressed. Shelley walks around in lingerie, bikinis, or other cleavage-bearing outfits all the time. She disrobes in front of the sorority, and her nude body is visible from the back for a few seconds. As for actual sex, there isn't any, but there are a couple of quick kisses and lots of flirting and conversations about virginity/hooking up (including a symbolic "sacrifice" of one of the virginal sorority sisters). One male character is in thrall of a woman who turns him on by twisting his nipples painfully. Star Anna Faris appeared in Playboy (though not fully naked) at the time of the film's premiere.
Language:Mostly the word "bitch" and its variations, plus one "f--kin'" and body parts like "nipples," "boobies," "penis," etc.
Consumerism:The Playboy brand, the Playboy mansion, and Hugh Hefner are featured throughout the film. Also shown are Haagen-Dazs ice cream and the make-up store Sephora. Shelley mentions a Prius.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking:Lots of drinking at the Playboy mansion and the college campus' Greek parties, where presumably some students are under 21.
Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.
This movie is rated very harshly. It is about playboy bunnies, but there's nothing about it that a teenager cannot see. This is definitely ok for 13 and up.
I am 11 and ive got it because i thought that it was really funny. but it is quite rude and it does say b*** alot but other than that the actors are good at wat they do like anna faris(scary movies 1,2,3&4) and emma stone (zombieland) but anna faris knows how to make it rude in an innocent way.
its ok for mature tweens. if you have a daughter, make sure she understands that looks aren't everything and they do this for entertainment. if you have a son old enough to understand all of the sexual stuff, make sure he understands it too. emma stone is great in this.
I like the movie personally but a younger teen wouldn't. It's not appropriate. It does use language like the 'f' word, b--ch, and things like that. Some parts are funny though. Pretty good overall.
The House Bunny was a really funny / great film. Jobeth Wagner great in this film. She is in the part were the people are raising there hands to join the soroity. She is Uncredited thou. Anyways, I think The House Bunny had the best movie cast of 2008. Thanks To Jobeth Wagner, Anna Farris, & Emma Stone.
Movieadviceguru parent of and 10 , 13 , 14 , 17 , 19 year old
13
Look at the Cover, What Do You Think?
This movie was enjoyable, but doesn't send positive messages to young girls. It says that you need to use your sex appeal to get boys to like you, and for people in general to like you. All of the girls change themselves to become popular and wear very reavealing clothes. Though the messages at teh end are positive, it's still a fairly innapropriate movie. I enjoyed it, it was funny, but younger girls should wait to watch.
Good for tweens but VERY inna proprtiate for younger kids!
I absolutely LOVE this movie!!!! Sexual stuff includes talking about virginity and have of the time Shelley walks around naked, Shelley's butt is shown (that is it) and a woman twists a man's nipples. Language is very mild only one use of f--k that is about it. Violence includes a woman twisting a man's nipples and Shelley standing above a pothole (her obviously getting hurt) that's it though. It talks about Playboy Mansion and PLayboy for products. When one of the sorority sisters is sacrificed there is obviously some under-aged drinking and at Shelley's bday party there is drinking but nothing else. There is a good message; to be true to yourself and not be who people want you to be, but that gets mixed in with being sexy to get people to like you. Rolemodels is Shelley for going out and helping these girls save the sorority and raising money and doing good things but then again we aslo have Shelley looking all sexy kind of encouraging that you need to be sexy like me to do all this helping stuff.
i didn't seen it on the movies but mymom and dad seen it and i seen it without movie theaters, but it contains bad language, too much dollars, violence and stuff like that or okay and i don't think The House Bunny is Appropriate for children below 5 and you think 5-12 it's fun 2 watch when it's ok and unok it's ok but...butbut 13+ fine
i didn't seen it on the movies but mymom and dad seen it and i seen it without movie theaters, but it contains bad language, too much dollars, violence and stuff like that or okay and i don't think The House Bunny is Appropriate for children below 5 and you think 5-12 it's fun 2 watch when it's ok and unok it's ok but...butbut 13+ fine
i didn't seen it on the movies but mymom and dad seen it and i seen it without movie theaters, but it contains bad language, too much dollars, violence and stuff like that or okay and i don't think The House Bunny is Appropriate for children below 5 and you think 5-12 it's fun 2 watch when it's ok and unok it's ok but...butbut 13+ fine
It took me until about half-way through the movie to actually get into it; most of the humor is typical dorky teen-movie stuff. Mid-PG-13 rating - language, little bit of goofy violence, usual count of sexual *references* for something dealing with the playboy mansion. The initial sterotyping was obnoxious, but I like the fact that later in the movie the main character does try to "smarten-up".
Overall it's not a great movie, but it's okay enough for it's genre; I'd recommend Sydnie White and She's The Man long before it, though.
perfect for everybody but might seem teenish for adults
love it not bad at all she just said f-k once because shes was trying to act like marily monroe and the street steam burned her just shows butt cheecks one time and everybodys seen butcheeks its not like its a vagina no sex in the movie
Even though this movie is a little dumb, I like it. Its a comedy about a playboy who gets kicked out of the Mansion and becomes a house mother. I learned that its ok to step out of your comfort zone, and that lying is bad.