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Lean on Me

(1989, Rated PG-13, Drama, Starring Morgan Freeman, Beverly Todd, Robert Guillaume)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 13, age appropriate for kids over 15; suggested age 15.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0

  • Common Sense says

    Inspirational movie about a controversial teacher.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 15 and Up

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    The protagonist uses intimidation as much as inspiration to motivate his students.

  • Violence:

    None gratuitous, but plenty of fighting.

  • Sex:

    Teen pregnancy.

  • Language:

    Lots of profanity, though the principal's humiliating language is often worse than swearing. Heavy use of racial epithets.

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Lean on Me

Parents need to know that this true story of one teacher's crusade to reform a violent high school has many inspiring moments, but the lead character's tactics are often questionable. Kids will hear lots of profanity, heavy use of racial epthets and other humiliating language, often aimed at teen characters by adults.

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Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the advantages and limitations of using films to dramatize real stories. Can movies tell a real-life story in ways that other media, such as books or radio, can't? Where do they fall short? For example, are the conversations dramatized onscreen what was really said? Can you trust that everything you see onscreen really happened? What might filmmakers change in order to make a story more engaging or dramatic?
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Our Members Say

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Adult Reviewer
    dansham
    Lives in North Carolina
    I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it 4.0

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  2. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    fullofbdawg
    Lives in Minnesota
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    Great Movie

    it is an amazing movie and i love the story plot

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate

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