 | 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 Story
- Review Date: October 2, 2005
- PG
- Genre: Romance
- 1970
Common Sense Media says
Mega-hit of the 1970s isn't as powerful today.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that some of the dialogue is peppered with mild expletives. Although Jennifer supports Oliver in law school, she promptly gives up her musical aspirations to be a housewife as soon as he finds a job.
What's the story?
Radcliffe music major Jennifer Cavilleri (Ali McGraw) and Harvard man Oliver Barrett IV (Ryan O'Neal) fall in love despite the differences in their backgrounds. Oliver is from an affluent WASP family while Jennifer grew up in her father's bakery in Rhode Island. Oliver is destined for Harvard Law School, while Jennifer's planning to study piano in Paris, but all of that changes when they announce their engagement. Unwilling to give in to his father's demand that they postpone their marriage, Oliver is cut off without a penny. Jennifer gives up music and takes a job as a teacher to support him while he's in law school. Her investment pays off when he graduates with honors and finds a well-paying job in New York. When Jennifer tries unsuccessfully to get pregnant, she's discovered to be terminally ill. She and Oliver spend their last days savoring every moment together.
Is it any good?
A free-spirited musician (Ali McGraw) and a preppy law student (Ryan O'Neal) fall in love despite their differences, but their time together is short lived. Released in 1970, LOVE STORY was adapted from Erich Segal's best-selling novel and was equally popular onscreen. But the highly romanticized handling of Jennifer's death makes it unlikely to appeal to viewers today. Instead, audiences may cringe when they hear the famous line, "Love means never having to say you're sorry." These words were ubiquitous when this tearjerker was released, but their message hasn't aged particularly well.
Although this corny reworking of Romeo and Juliet is almost saved by Ryan O'Neal's quietly smoldering charm, young viewers may be quick to hit the eject button. Jennifer's constant putdowns and continual sarcasm are so irritating that they undermine the plausibility of Oliver's love for her. Jennifer's illness and death is designed to evoke strong emotions, but viewers who can't get past her abrasive personality may have trouble summoning sympathy. However, sensitive teens may share in Oliver's intense feelings of loss and sadness.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about how death and dying are portrayed in films. Was Jennifer's death portrayed realistically? Families who have experienced the dying and death of family member might compare that to the movie. Why do movie makers make death and dying either seem idyllic, as in this case, or gruesome, as in horror movies? Would you like to see movies that portray death realistically? Why or why not?
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AGE
This movie does have a sexual scene in it, where the two sleep together (not married) and it is quite a long scene. Checked the review and let my kids watch it, then got quite surprised by the scene. Just a warning for parents who are concerned about that kind of stuff.
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AGE
Boring tearjerker
Really really bad there is a scene where they are having sex and there is a lot of bad language. This movie is not worth your time.
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Classic Tearjerker!
Love Story is the legendary tale of two polar opposites finding solace in eachother. I found this movie very appropriate for kids my age (I first saw it when I was 12, and loved it!). Evertime I watch it, I always find myself balling, however, I am an emotional person, so most people my age probably wouldn't have that problem. There really isn't anything objectable within the film, only a sex-scene and a little language. Five out of five stars!
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I love this film!
Although this film is very sad- it makes me cry everytime I watch it- it is also classic and beautiful.
I could watch this film every week and still think it
is amazing.
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| Topics: | book characters |
| Studio: | Paramount Pictures |
| Director: | Arthur Hiller |
| Cast: | Ali MacGraw, Ryan O'Neal, Tommy Lee Jones |
| Genre: | Romance |
| Run time: | 100 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | December 16, 1970 |
| DVD release date: | April 24, 2001 |
| MPAA rating: | PG |
| MPAA explanation: | language and a love scene |
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