Jack and Jill

Movie review by Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media
Jack and Jill Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 9+

Few laughs in crude, kid-targeted Sandler comedy.

PG 2011 91 minutes
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Parents say

age 12+

Based on 21 reviews

Kids say

age 10+

Based on 98 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that, like all Adam Sandler movies aimed at families, Jack and Jill includes lots of potty humor and crude jokes at the expense of women who don't fit the Hollywood ideal of beauty. Since Sandler plays both Jack and his twin sister, Jill, the movie "allows" him to make many jokes about women's bodies and personalities -- not to mention bodily functions. There's also plenty of insult language ("freak," "stupid," "loser," etc.), some suggestive comments/humor, and an extended sequence featuring a stereotypical Mexican family that may offend some viewers. Parents concerned with commercialism should note that the comedy is chock-full of product placements, from Sony (which is also the movie's distributor) to Dunkin Donuts and many, many more.

Community Reviews

JackBauer
JackBauer Adult
October 22, 2020
age 9+

So so movie, bit disappointing

This is not a rubbish movie but it is not great. Don't watch unless it is all that you can find. There is a lot better out there.
iluvpitz
iluvpitz Adult
June 16, 2020
age 15+

Entire focus on a "Match" for Jill

I really read the Common Sense reviews before selecting movies for my 11 year old. I read all 19 of them & figured it'd be ok. Not so. The movie itself is hilarious if you like that style. However, what every single review missed is the fact that the ENTIRE MOVIE focuses on pairing Jill with someone. Dating sites, expectations, etc. I was on pins & needles, wondering what innuendo we'd witness next. Some went over my kid's head but ALOT stuck, making for some discussions & questions.... Not cool...

This title has:

Too much sex
See all 21 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Jack (Adam Sandler) is a successful Hollywood advertising agent who dreads the annual Thanksgiving visit he receives from his Bronx-dwelling twin sister, Jill (also Sandler). Tactless (and loud) but sweet, Jill incessantly annoys Jack. When, during her most recent visit, Jill decides to stay past Thanksgiving through Hanukah -- and then New Year's -- Jack threatens to kick her out ... until Al Pacino (the star that Jack's client, Dunkin Donuts, wants to land for their new "Dunkaccino" campaign) shows a romantic interest in her after a brief encounter at a Lakers game. Jack is forced to decide whether he should respect Jill, who isn't interested in actor, or pretend to be her to score his business deal.

Is It Any Good?

There is precisely one reason to see JACK AND JILL: Pacino. The Academy Award winner chews up the scenery while poking fun at himself (particularly his penchant for losing his cool and channeling his iconic characters like Michael Corleone and Tony Montana), and he's hands down the movie's one hilarious gag. Once Pacino enters the picture, it's redeemed by his simultaneously self-deprecating and self-aggrandizing performance.

Without him, watching Sandler times two would be torture, not entertainment. How many fart and Mexican jokes can boys (and men!) endure before realizing that it's just not funny? How many times must Sandler play another version of a very rich man with few redeeming qualities whom the audience is supposed to root for? Gone is Sandler the underdog, the Everyman of his youth. He's been replaced with Sandler the King Midas of rude comedy geared toward boys who don't care whether his movies are more or less 90-minute commercials for the many products stuffed into them.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about why Adam Sandler's movies are so popular. Are fart jokes and gags about people's appearance that funny? What's the difference between his "family" movies and the ones for older audiences?

  • How does Jack and Jill portray women? What message is it sending about appearance and body image?

  • Does the movie undermine or reinforce stereotypes? When does portraying an ethnic group shift from comedy to insulting?

  • Do you think that all of the companies and products featured in the movie are necessary to the plot? If not, why are they included?

Movie Details

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