 | 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. |
Life as We Know It
- Review Date: October 6, 2010
- PG-13
- Genre: Comedy
- 2010
Common Sense Media says
Predictable romcom explores mature aspects of parenting.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that although this Katherine Heigl/Josh Duhamel romantic dramedy features a baby, it deals with mature themes related to relationships and parenting that will go over kids' head. Although there's no graphic depiction of sex, there are lots of references to sexual relationships, and Duhamel's character has one-night stands and casually makes out with several different women. Another scene includes heavy kissing and then shows two bodies in bed. Grown-ups drink at dinners, parties, and holidays, and in one scene Heigl's character is shown finishing off a bottle of wine. Marijuana is shown twice and eventually baked in brownies. Language includes "a--hole," "s--t," and "bitch," and there are a surprising number of product placements (particularly household goods and cars), though they're just shown rather than mentioned. On the bright side, teens may learn a valuable lesson about the meaning of family.
What's the story?
Put-together caterer Holly Berenson (Katherine Heigl) and womanizing TV-sports producer Eric Messer (Josh Duhamel) were once set up on a blind date by their best friends, Alison (Christina Hendricks) and Peter (Hayes MacArthur), but they quickly realized that they couldn't stand each other -- but that doesn't prevent Alison and Peter from naming the "frenemies" godparents after they get married and have a baby girl, Sophie. When Alison and Peter are killed a car accident, Sophie, now 1, is left with Holly and Messer, who are expected to live in their friends' house and raise their daughter. As the odd couple settles into their unconventional routine, they find themselves falling in love, despite instructions from the child welfare case worker not to "complicate" their situation by getting together romantically. And when a tough choice arises, things get even trickier.
Is it any good?
Heigl, who's an undeniably charming actress, has made quite a few stinkers, particularly The Ugly Truth, which was full of sexist messages. And while this movie at first affirms the tired idea that hardworking, career-minded women like Holly are somehow less desirable than the beautiful but "easy" women that Messer beds, the irresistible baby and the relatable theme of juggling parenthood with being yourself makes this a slight improvement -- albeit still overwhelmingly clichéd (and nowhere near the greatness that was Knocked Up).
Director Greg Berlanti -- who has an impressive track record with TV dramas like Dawson's Creek, Everwood, and Brothers & Sisters -- can't help relying on certain clichés that are OK in hourlong dramas you grow to love season to season but bog down a romantic comedy in eye-rolling predictability. A story about an uptight, organized woman clashing with a carefree, fun-loving man until they stumble into love and tumble into bed together can lead to a satisfying arc on primetime, but here it's simply amusing, because we know exactly what's going to happen. Heigl and Duhamel have passable chemistry, so for moviegoers who like watching good-looking people fall in love -- with a baby and each other -- LIFE AS WE KNOW IT is an easy (if unremarkable) film to see.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the movie's messages about family. Do the characters make a believable family unit? Why or why not?
Holly and Messer drink on several occasions and also make and eat pot brownies. What's the impact of portraying grown-up characters who like to drink regularly and use marijuana "once a year"?
Is the movie predictable? Does that make the end any less satisfying?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
good for ages 11 and up. some kissing-not that bad
It was very approperate. Not nearly as much sexuality as I would have expected. It was extreamly funny, and had some good parenting humor. (not perverted) I expected it to be worse because it was rated PG13, but really it wasn't bad.
If you dont want the end spoiled- quit reading,
At the beginning it is just a boy and girl that tried dating and failed, but at the end they fall in love and become very mature.
*Note at the beginning, the male isnt a good role model, but he becomes one at the end.
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AGE
12 and up
love u must watch this amazing comedy
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AGE
Great for parents but not lower than teens.
Great for grownups, but ot a kids movie.
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AGE
i rathe this title ON for ages 12+
The good stuff
*
Messages:
Overall, the movie has positive messages about family and career balance, the sacrifices you make for unconditional friendship, and the importance of teamwork among parents. That said, there are some iffier messages earlier in the film about the way you handle sexual relationships (Messer is a love-'em-and-leave-'em type) and what attributes make women attractive to men (Messer calls Holly boring and predictable).
*
Role models:
Holly pursues professional success by working hard at her bakery and catering business. She accepts help from others but doesn't allow the men in her life to tell her what to do. She's also a caring and thoughtful caretaker who loves Sophie like a mother. Messer is ultimately a positive role model as well, but for the first half of the movie, he's an unrelenting, superficial jerk.
What to watch out for
*
Violence:
References to the car accident that kills Sophie's parents. Holly accidentally lets go of Messer's motorcycle, and it crashes into a bus. A few baby pratfalls played for humor.
*
Sex:
Many references to sex and sexual relationships. Messer is a "player" who's shown after a couple of one-night stands (the women are bare-shouldered in bed) and making out on many occasions, mostly in flashbacks. Two characters are shown kissing passionately, bumping into furniture, and tumbling into bed (sex is implied, with them in bed together afterward).
*
Language:
A few uses of "s--t" and "a--hole," plus "bi-ch," "d--k," "d--n," "laid," "hell," "oh my God," "idiot," "stupid," and more.
*
Consumerism:
Product placements in several scenes include: SmartCar, the Atlanta Hawks, Volkswagen Routan, Cuisinart, BMW, The Wiggles, Wonder Pets, Adidas, Whole Foods, and Kitchen-Aid.
*
Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
In several scenes, the main characters drink beer or wine at dinners and parties. Holly drinks nearly an entire bottle of wine by herself. In one scene, a dad confiscates marijuana from three teenagers; in another sequence, Holly and Messer decide not to smoke the weed but instead bake it in brownies (and then eat them).
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AGE
It will make you laugh
This is a fine film that will make you laugh. Seriousy it will make you laugh
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AGE
Good movie
this was a really cute movie the baby's parents die and there 2 friends have to take care of the baby and a the end of the movie they realize that they were perfect for each other a very romantic movie and it's pretty funny too
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AGE
i absolutely loved this movie!! it was very sweet and there was many very sweet moments. The only thing that tainted it was the frequent innapropriate talk and marijuana in the brownies but besides that i think it was a perfectly good movie
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AGE
Funny!
I love this movie. It's really funny. Not what I call a kids movie but my 7-year-old sister enjoyed it.
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| Studio: | Warner Bros. |
| Director: | Greg Berlanti |
| Cast: | Christina Hendricks, Josh Duhamel, Katherine Heigl |
| Genre: | Comedy |
| Run time: | 112 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | October 8, 2010 |
| DVD release date: | February 8, 2011 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | sexual material, language and some drug content |
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