 | 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. |
Love and Other Drugs
- Review Date: November 21, 2010
- R
- Genre: Romance
- 2010
Common Sense Media says
Sex, drugs, and disease clash in racy, uneven romcom.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this racy romantic comedy based on Jamie Reidy's memoir about his time as a pharmaceutical rep for Pfizer is filled with nudity (including erstwhile Princess Diaries star Anne Hathaway's breasts), sex, and sex talk. There's also a fair bit of drinking (sometimes to excess), heavy swearing (including "f--k" and "s--t"), and many references to prescription drugs -- though the main characters are rarely seen taking them. And it's not all laughs: There's a serious subplot about Parkinson's disease. Ultimately, though, the movie has a good heart, and the characters do learn to become better people.
What's the story?
After serial seducer Jamie Randall (Jake Gyllenhaal) loses his job selling audio equipment when he sleeps with the boss' girlfriend, he gets hired as a pharmaceutical rep for Pfizer -- and quickly finds that his way with the ladies helps get his foot in the door. Then he meets Maggie Murdock (Anne Hathaway), and she steals his heart, despite the fact that she has stage one Parkinson's disease. With Viagra on the way and untold wealth to be made, can shallow Jamie knuckle down and build a life with Maggie? And can Maggie trust that he won't run away when the going gets tough?
Is it any good?
Juggling the tricky mix of romantic comedy, sentiment, and serious issues is a job for a very graceful filmmaker (like, say Ernst Lubitsch). Unfortunately, heavy-handed director/co-writer Edward Zwick is about as far from that job description as possible. In LOVE AND OTHER DRUGS, he relies on too many obvious romantic comedy staples -- like the "goofy best friend" -- and then flips over to heartstring-plucking moments relating to Parkinson's disease. (All of which is spiced up with tons of sex and language.)
In between, the movie tries to strike up some chemistry between Gyllenhaal and Hathaway, who previously played an unhappily married couple in Brokeback Mountain. It has its moments. Gyllenhaal never quite loses himself in his character, but Hathaway goes all the way. She gives a marvelously instinctive performance that brings Maggie to life, even when the movie doesn't.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the way the movie treats sex. The characters think and talk a lot about it and are seen having sex quite often. What role does it play in their relationship? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values surrounding sex and relationships.
The movie was based on someone's real-life experiences. Does that make it a true story? How much of the movie feels "true"? Why might filmmakers change some parts of it?
Why would Maggie be so reluctant to accept that Jamie could love her?
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AGE
Great story...WAY more sex than necessary
I thought this movie had a great, heartwrenching story that was almost lost by the gratuitous amount of sex. So much of this story is worth hearing, and enligtening, but the frequent graphic sex scenes really detract from the overall tone. Jake Gyllenhall & Anne Hathaway both did a fantastic job acting, and the more serious scenes were spot on and truly heart wrenching.
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AGE
MUST SEE MOVIE!!!!!
Yeah there is sex in it but if your mature enough its okay. Its not just about having sex, its about two people coming together who eventually realise they love each other. It also deals with health (as Maggie is sick) and other relationship stuff. The film is also is very comic and you can have a good laugh. This is a must see movie!
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AGE
i heard about this movie and im supposed to see it Saturday and im young - 14- and apparently i shouldn't see it because of what people are saying.
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AGE
Great Rom Com but not for kids
As an adult I really liked this movie. Its a twist from the typical romantic comedy but for teens and younger it is very inappropriate. There are alot of messages that are negative although there is a happy ending. I do not think anyone under 16 or 17 should watch this movie.
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Kid, 12 years old
December 18, 2010
AGE
NOT FOR KIDS.
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AGE
Even adults should beware
I wish I would have read the reviews before seeing this movie. Waaaaaaay too much sex and exploitation. This could have been done well without all the sex--the Parkinson's subplot and on-screen chemistry between Gyllenhaall and Hathaway really lend themselves to an excellent romantic comedy, but the producers ruined it by over-indulging in sex. My husband and I would have walked it, but we wanted to see what happened in their relationship.
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AGE
could have been much better ............
2.5/5
A salesman competes in the cutthroat world of pharmaceuticals to hawk a male performance enhancement drug. Based on Jamie Reidy's memoir "Hard Sell: The Evolution of a Viagra Salesman."
the first trailer of this movie made quite a good impression on me, i started waiting for this movie and it became on of the most anticipated movie of 2010 for me. knowing that it is directed by Edward Zwick and seeing the trailer kind of made me think that it will be a very new, different and not so usual Rom com, a totally intelligent and smart romantic dramedy. the reviews that i saw were disappointing and the anticipation level wen't down and down day by day and as i saw the movie yesterday i was heavily disappointed by everything in this movie. and why the hell were people considering this movie for few categories in Oscars? thats Dumb, sorry to say that but its true. movie disappointed me, very below average it had somewhat cuteness and awwww factor but still not a complete satisfying rom com or romantic dramedy to be more precise.
screenplay of this movie is not that bad i would say, it looses its grip at few places but its not very bad which is good. nice plot and story. direction is weak somehow. Acting is good specially by Anne Hathaway, she is excellent in this movie. Jake Gyllenhaal is ok and very charming and attractive for sure. other supporting actors were ok, specially Oliver Platt was excellent. this movie had very sexy pants down bare breasts and butt scenes, lol. that does not bother me that much.
it has its somewhat charm and freshness but the weak direction and somewhat weak screenplay really makes it a downer for me, somewhat dull at places too. it was promoted to be a romantic dramedy with equal comedy and drama but i was shocked that there wasn't much comedy in it, the scenes were you think is comic trys to hard to make you laugh but they falls flat but the romantic, charming, serious scenes somewhat makes you melt a little bit.
i would say if you are a rom com fan watch it, generally skip it, but don't lol, watch it for the lead pair.
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AGE
Not a teen movie!
Only the adults in the household watched this movie, but it was iffy for us. There is a LOT of nudity and sex (duh) in the movie, but I was taken aback by just how much there was. Very thinly-veiled story-line.
I would not recommend it for teens or as a date-movie.
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AGE
Hated it. way too much nudity and sexual images. the language and suggestive conversation is completely inappropriate. Not appropriate for kids or teens. It might as well have been a porn movie.
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AGE
Not suitable for anyone who would not watch an x-rated movie.
This is a soft porn movie! I could not believe all of the sex in the film and sat with my mouth hanging open in shock. If I had not gone with someone who wanted to see this movie, and paid $9 for me to get in, I would have gotten up and left. If they took all of the sex out of the movie, it would have lasted 10 minutes. The story could have been told without all of the sex and it would have been a beautiful story. I thought I was going to see a romantic comedy not an X rated show! Also, Maggie, the main character smokes a joint in the movie. The reviewer seemed to have missed that part. There is a ton of drinking and there IS abuse of Viagra going on in the movie. There is an "adult party" with girl on girl too. Just freaking ridiculous. I can't believe that it was just an R!
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| Studio: | Twentieth Century Fox |
| Director: | Edward Zwick |
| Cast: | Anne Hathaway, Jake Gyllenhaal, Oliver Platt |
| Genre: | Romance |
| Run time: | 112 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | November 24, 2010 |
| DVD release date: | March 1, 2011 |
| MPAA rating: | R |
| MPAA explanation: | strong sexual content, nudity, pervasive language, and some drug material |
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