Little Manhattan

  • Review Date: July 20, 2007
  • PG
  • Genre: Comedy
  • 2005
 Review

Common Sense Media says

Refreshingly realistic tween tale of first love.
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 this movie about tween romance shows a little kissing and some wrestling around on the floor. The kids disobey their parents, leave their neighborhood, and take the subway alone. There's some mild peril when they encounter bullies. Gabe deals with his parents getting a divorce. He also speeds across the street on his scooter without looking.

  • Gabe's friend talks about shoplifting candy. Gabe and Rosemary lie to their parents and leave their neighborhood on the subway alone. There's a lot of dangerous speeding across the street on Gabe's scooter. But the overall message is to follow your feelings and be honest about them.
  • A lot of karate-related kicking, punching, and tripping. Gabe falls off his scooter but isn't hurt. A bully throws a ball hard during dodgeball and hurts some kids, but not seriously. Rosemary and Adam beat up the bully using karate. Gabe breaks his hand trying to break a board in karate.
  • Young Adam and Leslie kiss, and again later, the adult versions of them kiss. Gabe and Rosemary sit on a subway train where a couple is making out next to them. Gabe kisses Rosemary once on the lips, and replays it in his head many times. The pair wrestles a little on the floor.
  • Two uses of the word "hell."
  • Two references to Haagen-Dazs ice cream.
  • During a night out on the town, Gabe and Rosemary drink Shirley Temples while Rosemary's parents drink wine.

What's the story?

Gabe (Josh Hutcherson) is 11 3/4 and living in a weird world. His mother and father (Cynthia Nixon and Bradley Whitford) are separated and getting a divorce but still live together. When Gabe starts karate, Rosemary (Charlie Ray) captures his imagination. He's known her since kindergarten, but now, as his sparring partner, Rosemary's strength and beauty enchant Gabe, and he grapples with how he's suddenly changing.


Is it any good?

 

Teens are often shown images of romance that are either unrealistically sweet or unbelievably raunchy. Between the two sits LITTLE MANHATTAN, a revelation of a small film that's essentially When Harry Met Sally for the tween set. In fact, it's a little creepy how alike the movies are. In one scene where Rosemary and Gabe are at a birthday party that Rosemary's toddler sister is attending, Rosemary somewhat snootily says, "See, she's using her hands and talking, and he's drooling over a cupcake." The girl toddler, it turns out, is three months younger than the boy.

Anyone who's ever had a crush is likely to relate to Gabe. He feels the need to ride his scooter past her house constantly. His hands sweat. His heart pounds. "You're weak and pathetic and you're going to be alone for your entire life," he berates himself when he finally sees Rosemary on one of his stakeouts. Finally, viewers eventually get to the scene where Gabe races to find Rosemary and profess his love for her. But the refreshing difference here is that the true love story is saved for the adults -- mercifully, Little Manhattan doesn't force its child stars to grow up too fast.


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What families can talk about

Families can talk about the ideas of love that movies, including this one, give viewers. Is love really the way the movie describes? Do you have to suffer to be in love? Do you believe Gabe when he says that love is about "grand gestures" instead of small things? Is that true in Gabe's parents' relationship? What other messages about love does this film give you? Do you think they're accurate?


This review was written by Heather Boerner
Kid, 12 years old
December 31, 2009
 
Ok
If you hate it when people throw up, ont watch this movie......I learned that the hard way!

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Adult
December 27, 2009
 

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Teen, 18 years old
April 9, 2008
 
Excellent
I think this movie is GREAT! Its funny and romantic. The actors do a good job in this movie and it has a great message. I dont have a problem with the rating for this movie, cause it does have some language and other things that arent so appropriate, so PG is fine with me. I didnt have a problem with this movie at all and I love the message it sends to the audience: Love comes in all ages.

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Adult
April 9, 2008
 
One of the best romances of all time!
This is one of the sweetest, most honest, and wonderful family movies of all time! It is absolutely amazing and a must see for 8-10+

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Kid, 13 years old
April 6, 2009
 
Touching. :)
So great! It was touching, funny- but a lot of violence. I loved it so much! It was about a young relationship of love and it was just so cute, but be aware that there is a lot of kissing (because it replays, and replays and replays and etc.). And violence, that is not appropriate. (karate).

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Teen, 15 years old
April 9, 2008
 
WOW.... I love this movie a little too much!!
so... this movie is a little inappropriate... but it is such a good and true move... love stinks is pretty much what the message is saying.. a beauitful movie representing a new york love story.. The casting had to be the best... JOSH HUTCHERSON... CHARLIE RAY!!!!!!!!!!!

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Kid, 12 years old
September 2, 2011
 
Little Manhattan
It is a good movie overall, but there is some kissing, and swear refrence wich is normal for middle school kids

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Kid, 11 years old
August 20, 2010
 
Puppy love perfect for any age 5+
I love this movie soo much I first saw it when I was six. I thought the puppy love was so funny and cute. It was very realistic and actually kinda mature. The only thing that creeped me out was this old man told Gabe to run away from Rosemary.

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Kid, 11 years old
March 20, 2011
 
best movie ever
this is my favorite movie ever i rated it 8 and higher beacause thats the age you grow up in in this movie is a perfect example

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Teen, 16 years old
October 4, 2009
 
Very cute
First love is a big thing... especially when you're 10 years old.

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This review was written by Heather Boerner
Studio:Twentieth Century Fox
Director:Mark Levin
Cast:Charlie Ray, Cynthia Nixon, Josh Hutcherson
Genre:Comedy
Run time:90 minutes
Theatrical release date:July 20, 2005
DVD release date:April 4, 2006
MPAA rating:PG
MPAA explanation:mild thematic elements, language and brief action

This review was written by Heather Boerner
 

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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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