 | 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. |
Kicking & Screaming
- Review Date: October 9, 2005
- PG
- Genre: Comedy
- 2005
Common Sense Media says
This sometimes-obnoxious comedy is no Elf.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this PG movie includes repeated scenes of physical violence against children. Though this is staged as humor -- specifically, a function of the immaturity and insecurity of perpetrators Phil (Will Ferrell) and his father Buck (Robert Duvall) -- it's also annoying and even startling (Phil kicks his own 10-year-old son, Buck pushes another child into a pool). The soccer game scenes are mostly fun, but do include a few rough action sequences. A couple of characters are slapped, punched, and kneed in the groin, adults smoke and drink (Phil becomes addicted to coffee, and very jittery). In one scene, the kids' team emerges from a van covered in blood (following an afternoon chopping meat in a butcher's shop), and so intimidate their opponents into forfeiting the game. Phil instructs his team members to bay at the moon like dogs. One child on the team has lesbian parents, who make Phil nervous, though he does his best to be "correct."
What's the story?
A poor athlete as a child, Phil (Will Ferrell) was traumatized by his dictatorial father Buck, a hypercompetitive sporting goods salesman. A vitamin salesman as an adult, Phil can't win his father's respect. Phil's decision to coach the Tigers, his son Sam's (Dylan McLaughlin) little league soccer team, puts him into direct competition with Buck, who coaches the rival Gladiators (which includes Buck's own 10-year-old son, Bucky [Josh Hutcherson], born to a second, sexy, young wife after Phil's mom divorced Buck). Though Phil's wife Barbara (Kate Walsh) does her best to help him keep the season in perspective, he devotes himself wholly to beating his father. Phil enlists the help of Mike Ditka (playing himself, smoking cigars, and apparently just as glad that he didn't run for Senator from Illinois), who in turn finds two Italian boys -- Gian Piero (Francesco Liotti) and Massimo (Alessandro Ruggiero). The Tigers begin to win, leading them at last to the championship match with the Gladiators.
Is it any good?
KICKING AND SCREAMING is essentially a series of annoying episodes that are disconnected and obnoxious. Phil is one of Ferrell's characters in which the immaturity isn't outweighed by his natural appeal, and the film ends up feeling clunky and, frankly, unfunny.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about the basic lesson it offers: that playing fairly and having fun are more important than winning. Though the movie spends more time on the cheating and excessive investment in competing, you might talk about how kids can play games to practice skills and enjoy each other's company. The film also demonstrates the lingering effects of an emotionally abusive parent, so you might discuss the best ways parents and children can communicate needs, praise, and affection. As well, the presence of adopted child Byong Sun (Elliott Cho) might encourage discussion of how you define families.
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- Teens & kids
Teen, 14 years old
April 9, 2008
AGE
NOT A COMEDY!
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Kid, 11 years old
April 9, 2008
AGE
Hilarios
A great soccer/football movie with loads of "Old School" comedy
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AGE
Hated it!!!
They showed the funniest parts with the kids in the previews which made kids want to see it... but it was chocked full of adult themes - Will Ferrell's character was terribly whiney!!! Annoying... Not for kids....
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AGE
Hated it!!!
They showed the funniest parts with the kids in the previews which made kids want to see it... but it was chocked full of adult themes - Will Ferrell's character was terribly whiney!!! Annoying... Not for kids....
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Kid, 10 years old
May 14, 2011
AGE
SIX +
I loved Kicking and Screaming. It's funny and really cute. I would allow any child over 6 to watch it. There are a few uses of 'hell', but, when your watching, point it out that it's not right. A few little bits about sex (Bi parents) but, it will go over their heads.
What other families should know:
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Kid, 11 years old
August 5, 2009
AGE
Hillarious!
I love this movie. Will Ferrel and the little funny boy, are hillarious! I love this movie!
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Kid, 9 years old
March 22, 2009
AGE
kicking and screaming review by critic07
I thougt it was a hillarious laugh out loud comedy. I would recommend it if you like will ferell or robert duvall. Has tones of crude humor and a good moral: winning is not everything. A great family comedy tha has only one bad word where a kid tackles will ferell and screams "thats like a jackle from hell!"
What other families should know:
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Teen, 13 years old
June 11, 2011
AGE
Good for kids, young tweens
overall it is a very funny movie that I remember enjoying before I saw the "other" laugh die-hard ferrel movies. It is a good comedy with ferrel, Duvall and the "Italians".
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| Topics: | sports and martial arts, misfits and underdogs |
| Studio: | Universal Pictures |
| Director: | Jesse Dylan |
| Cast: | Kate Walsh, Robert Duvall, Will Ferrell |
| Genre: | Comedy |
| Run time: | 87 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | May 13, 2005 |
| DVD release date: | October 11, 2005 |
| MPAA rating: | PG |
| MPAA explanation: | thematic elements, language and some crude humor |
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