 | 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. |
Kabluey
- Review Date: July 6, 2008
- PG-13
- Genre: Comedy
- 2008
Common Sense Media says
Dramedy with mature themes is light on substance.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that although this movie features child actors, centers around a family with young children, and even has a costumed character that appeals to children, it's rife with mature themes like infidelity, failure, and abandonment. One young character seems particularly enraged and forlorn and exhibits his frustrations by hitting and throwing objects. There's drinking, lots of swearing, and some partial nudity (though it's not sexual in nature).
What's the story?
Salman (Scott Prendergast) is a 32-year-old with no direction in life, let alone a job. But his brother's on extended deployment in Iraq, and his sister-in-law, Leslie (Lisa Kudrow), is at her wit's end caring for their two rowdy sons and fending off her loneliness and terror. Though Salman and his brother are estranged, he moves in with Leslie to help her out and even takes a job donning a giant blue costume, as the character Kabluey, to hand out fliers so he can help pay for daycare when it's clear he's not up to the task. But while Salman works to defy his slacker status and make things right, it's not without plenty of pain and suffering.
Is it any good?
Well-intentioned and at times inspired, KABLUEY is too slight to make any lasting impression. The script, written by Prendergast, who also directs and stars, clearly shows ambition. But the setup is far too thin to sustain the movie, despite the presence of Kudrow and a strong supporting cast that includes Teri Garr, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and Christine Taylor. It's beautifully filmed -- scenes in which a costumed Salman stomps through arid fields scream of the drudgery of life -- but a little too film-school; it definitely has more style than substance. Nevertheless, Kudrow is strong (though this is more of the same from her) and Prendergast is clearly talented.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about what the Kabluey represents. How does Salman change as he spends more time running around as Kabluey? Families can also discuss Salman's reason for helping out. Was it just because he was at a dead end? What does he gain from helping? At what point did his attitude change, and why? What about Leslie? Does she seem like a good parent? Why do you think she is the way she is? What does she think about Salman when he first arrives, and how does it change over the course of the movie?
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| Studio: | Worldwide SPE Acquisitions Inc. |
| Director: | Scott Prendergast |
| Cast: | Christine Taylor, Lisa Kudrow, Scott Prendergast |
| Genre: | Comedy |
| Run time: | 87 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | July 4, 2008 |
| DVD release date: | September 15, 2008 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | some sexual material including a crude reference, and brief strong language. |
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