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How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (PG-13, 2003)

common sense media says

Battle of the sexes romcom with mature content.

parents & educators say
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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this movie has very mature material for a PG-13, including explicit and graphic sexual references and situations. There are references to impotence, orgasms, sex between people who do not know each other very well, and the appropriate name to give to genitals. Characters drink and smoke. Drinking to the point of drunkenness is portrayed as a way to handle unhappiness. There is also very strong language for a PG-13, including continuous use through one long scene of the word "bulls--t" in a card game. Most important, this is a movie in which the characters lie to each other and manipulate each other and make no effort to tell each other the truth, even after they have become very close.

Positive messages: Deceptive behavior, and numerous negative female and male stereotypes -- meant for laughs but will be offensive to many.
Violence: One punch in the face.
Sex: Plenty of sex talk and sexual behavior. The couple follow each other into the shower for implied sex, kiss passionately, visit a couples/sex therapist, and talk about the name of his penis. Plenty of sexualized magazine headlines shown and near-naked women posing in sportswear.
Language: Many instances of "s--t" especially, plus "pisser," "ass," "freaking," and more. They play the card game named "Bulls--t."
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Drinking and smoking, drunkenness; lots of drinking references.
Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

More on How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about how men and women may have different communication styles. And they should talk about bets that may hurt someone's feelings. What negative male and female stereotypes did you see here?

What's the story?

What's the story?
Hudson plays Andie Anderson (Kate Hudson), who writes the "how to" column for a popular young women's magazine. The adventure begins when Andie is assigned to pick up a guy and make every mistake women make to drive men away, to get him to dump her in ten days. Enter high-energy ad salesman Ben (Matthew McConaughey), who will win a huge new account if he can make a woman fall in love with him in ten days. Aware of Andie's assignment, his rivals pick her as the subject. Andie does her best, taking Ben to a chick flick festival and marking his apartment with her things. Even worse, she befriends his mother, crashes his poker night, gives part of his anatomy a counter-productive name, and makes him pay for couple's therapy. Yet it isn't just the bet that keeps Ben going. It's his sense that somewhere inside this crazy behavior is a girl he really wants to get close to.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
Hudson and McConaughey go for a Doris Day/Rock Hudson-style battle of the sexes in this romantic comedy, but their deceptive behavior irritates more than charms most of the time. The movie does have some clever jabs at the war between the sexes.

Andie's glee at torturing Ben is softened because what men see as being clingy and possessive, women see as affectionate and caring. We see this contrast in the way Andie and Ben treat (and are treated by) their friends. And we suspect that it is good for Ben to have to stick it out a little bit with a woman for a change. But we also see how truly right Andie and Ben are for each other and how crazy they are about each other right from the beginning.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Paramount Pictures
Director: Donald Petrie
Cast: Adam Goldberg, Kate Hudson, Matthew McConaughey
Genre: Comedy
Run time: 115 minutes
Theatrical release: February 7, 2003
DVD release: July 1, 2003
MPAA Rating: PG-13
MPAA explanation: some sex-related material
This review was written by Common Sense Media Editors
 
 

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What parents & educators say

Most useful reviews by all members

bobcatbobby
teen, 14 years old
12
 
a good movie but probably recomended for older teens. I think im too young for it.
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Rgrl897
teen, 14 years old
16
 
No kids at all! even i am 2 young!
No kids! too much sex for kids to handle!
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annieh16
adult
 
Great!
This movie was excellent. My parents thought it was cute, but it definitly is geared towards the 26 & under crowd. Kate Hudson's character shows two great sides of women: the woman who wants to succeed, and the woman who wants to have fun. Her character, an author of a column in a fashion magazine, wants to write about relevent, world topics while she is forced to write about fashion how-to's. This is her story of having fun with a guy for a column who hopes to dump him in two weeks but falls head-over-heels in love with him. It's funny, cute, and very appropriate. There were two scenes that might be a little bit embarassing to watch with your parents if you aren't comfortable with slight sexual conduct, but it was clean and nothing was shown that wouldn't normally be seen.
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madz.moviefreak
kid, 13 years old
11
 
great cheer up film
great movie. i am 11 and loved it to death
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greysfan001
teen, 15 years old
13
 
best chick flick
kate hudson isn't the best role model, she pretends to be someone she's not for a newspaper article. language isn't all that bad, mostly h--l, bulls--t but that's about it, sex content is kinda strong for a pg-13.
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Grady508
adult
 
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moviecritic
adult
 
Loved It!
This is now my absolute favorite movie. I've seen it about 4 times and can simply not get over how funny it was. As for content the big thing is that there is quite a bit of sexual humor (i.e. there are scenes in this movie that are full of it), mainly they are supposed to be geared to an older audience but there is nothing explicit shown. The language is pretty typical for a PG-13. the s word is used several times in a few scenes but nothing stronger than that. Overall this movie is great and if your at least 14 this is a great movie for you to see!
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jazzyjammrz
teen, 18 years old
 
Yay!
This is a really great movie! it's witty, funny, and has a good ending. I really like that it's not too predictable either. yay. Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey were very convincing. The whole movie was good and alot more appropriate than they're saying. it had nothing really "explicit." Language wasn't that bad, and sexual stuff wasn't that bad either. 15+? i dont think so. try 9+.
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mistycat115
teen, 14 years old
 
Great movie!
There are a few iffy scenes. Probably better for 13+.
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terra100
adult
 
excellent comedy
I really liked this comedy. I laughed out loud during much of it. I don't think it's appropriate for a child or younger teenager. Probably you need to be over 17 or 18 to even get a lot of the humor anyway.
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dancegirl3697
teen, 14 years old
12
 
Cute and Sweet!
I adore this movie. I saw it when i was pretty young. Then again I didnt know anything that was going on really. But I think this is a very cute movie. They have such great actors in it! There is a little bit of cussing, and a little bit of innapropriate stuff, but overall a very cute movie.
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MovieFan777
teen, 16 years old
14
 
Cute But Nothing More
This cute romantic comedy is nice, but it is really lacking alot of the stuff that makes a great romcom. But other than that Hudson and McConaughey are sweet and comedic in their roles, and some of the supporting cast is also charming. Yet, these performances don't make up for the weak story.
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