In the Land of Women

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Touching-but-treacly chick flick for moms and teens.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that while it's been marketed as a teen-centric romance, the movie includes some heavy subject matter. Teen girls will want to see this drama thanks to star Adam Brody -- aka Seth from The O.C. -- but his character here isn't a teenager; instead, he's a man with women issues. A central character has cancer, and its onset affects her entire family. Plus, a teenage girl smokes, drinks, and has a combative relationship with her mother, and a sometimes-senile grandmother believes she's on the verge of death. There are a few passionate kisses, and the protagonist's job as an erotic-film writer is mentioned throughout the film.

  • Carter spends time with his ailing grandmother and encourages Lucy to take a closer look at her mother. Sarah and Lucy repair their damaged mother-daughter relationship. Sarah deals valiantly with her illness.
  • Lucy's ex-boyfriend clocks Carter in the face; another teen defends him by punching the ex.
  • Carter passionately kisses three different characters. In flashbacks, viewers see a montage of Carter and Sofia's relationship, including discreet glimpses of them making love in bed. Carter writes soft-core porn scripts and discusses a couple of scenes on the phone. Lucy confesses she had a pre-pubescent sexual episode. An extramarital affair is discussed in two pivotal scenes.
  • Regular PG-13 curse words: "s--t," ""assh--e," "screw," "hell," and a few sexual comments about orgasms, seduction, and pornography.
  • Less than expected for a film marketed to teen girls: iPod, iMac, Mazda, Dairy Queen.
  • Carter and Lucy smoke cigarettes. Underage drinking is evident at a high-school party.

What's the story?

Carter, a Los Angeles writer who pens soft-core porn scripts who has just been dumped by his gorgeous girlfriend (sexily accented Spanish starlet Elena Anaya), decides to recover by visiting his healthy-but-nonetheless-ready-to-die grandmother (Olympia Dukakis) in the Detroit suburbs. Carter strikes up a friendship with his grandmother's neighbor Sarah (Meg Ryan) -- the kind of cardigans-and-cargo-pants-wearing stay-at-home mom whose house looks like a Crate and Barrel catalog – and her daughter, Lucy. As he gets to know Lucy, her steely veneer of teen angst (she paints when she's "freaked out") gives way to a fraught confession of just why she's perpetually angry at her mom. And, naturally, both mother and daughter crush on Carter, lending the film even more teen-opera drama.


Is it any good?

 

To O.C. devotees, Adam Brody will forever be fast-talking, lanky-limbed, high-strung Seth Cohen. Writer-director Jonathan Kasdan (one of Lawrence Kasdan's two showbiz-savvy sons) plays up Brody's inherent Seth-ness in the role of Carter Webb, the kind of sensitive, witty soul to whom women want to bare their soul -- and eventually their hearts.

The predictable plot is the stuff of movies of the week, but thanks to the winning charm of the actors involved, it's emotionally satisfying to watch Carter help these women mend their broken relationships and overcome their self doubt. IN THE LAND OF WOMEN is exactly the kind of well-acted -- albeit formulaic -- "chick flick" that a mother and teen daughter would equally enjoy.


What families can talk about

Families can talk about women's roles and mother-child relationships. Does being a stay-at-home mom make a woman worthless, without anything to show for her life? Why does Lucy perceive her mom as a failure and a fake, and how does Carter challenge Lucy to change her perspective? How does the media depict housewives? Is this film an accurate portrayal? Families can also discuss the difference between Sarah's relationship with her two daughters and how Carter helps the women around him feel better about themselves.


This review was written by Sandie Angulo Chen
Adult
April 9, 2008
 
It was a good movie
It was a great movie. I loved it. A great script, and a great cast. Just excellent.

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Kid, 13 years old
April 9, 2008
 
a very sad movie a litte bit funny sad and aromantic condy loved it ages 14 and up

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Kid, 9 years old
April 9, 2008
 
this movie rocked my barbie world
It was rockin. Since I love the oc it was even better. Adam Brody is a hecka hottie....

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Adult
April 9, 2008
 
For Parents from Kid's point of view
I am suprised at today's media. This movie was revolved around a porn writer and his surroundings after he moves in with his grandmother. This story's plot was weak. It was just a love triangle- mother and daughter loved the same man. I caution parents to let their children see this. It encourages some behavior that shouldn't be encouraged- cheating on spouse, love with a minor, and love with a married woman.

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Adult
April 9, 2008
 
hi
its a good film, my daughters favorate

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Adult
April 9, 2008
 
Great Movie, Stupid Not To Let Kids See
This movie was absouloutly great. I can not believe that some parents would not let their kids see it. So he talks about "sex" and he writes "erotic stories" to clue all of you in, EVERY CHILD THAT IS OVER 9 knows about that kind of stuff. "Romantic KISSING" is no big deal, your kids will be kissing by the time they are 11, so you need to get used to it. You dont have to talk to your kid about sex until your ready but just to clue you in, they probably already know. The movie was great. Let um' see it.

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Parent of 11, 14, 15, 18, and 20 year old
July 6, 2010
 
One of those rare movies that you hate to see end!
One of my daughter's friends had seen the movie, so she of course was begging to see it as well. Her only being 11 at the time, so i agreed to watch it with her. We both loved it! It was one of those rare movies that is so unique and strange that you just have to love it! We own the movie now, and it may be one of the best I've seen in a long time. It covers some heavy material, such as breast Cancer, affairs, smoking, love, underage rape, etc. Nothing too graphic is shown, and violence isn't much of a problem. One teenage boy punches a man though. It was over all a good movie, but is rated PG-13 for a reason. If your kid is under that age, watch it with them. But it's worth watching. 4 1/2 stars!

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Teen, 17 years old
April 9, 2008
 
a great over all story alot of people can relate to

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This review was written by Sandie Angulo Chen
Studio:Warner Independent
Director:Jonathan Kasdan
Cast:Adam Brody, Kristen Stewart, Meg Ryan
Genre:Drama
Run time:98 minutes
Theatrical release date:April 19, 2007
DVD release date:October 30, 2007
MPAA rating:PG-13
MPAA explanation:sexual content, thematic elements and language

This review was written by Sandie Angulo Chen
 

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About our rating system
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.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

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