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The Mambo Kings

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 16, age appropriate for kids over 17; suggested age 16.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0

  • Common Sense says

    Cuban brothers bring dazzling music to NYC.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 16–17

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    The movie stays true to the Latin-American "macho" culture of the 1950s. The honorable heroes make a sincere effort to keep their distance from gangsters who have a chokehold on the New York nightclubs. Women are seen as little more than objects of desire in most instances.

  • Violence:

    Man is attacked with knife, his throat is cut; he's bloodied but survives. Girl punches obnoxious customer. Shooting, knifing in a nightclub. Deadly car accident.

  • Sex:

    Several scenes of passionate lovemaking with total nudity; one scene with partial nudity.

  • Language:

    Minor cursing on a few occasions: "son-of-a-bitch," "ass," "whore," "hell."

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Smoking and drinking throughout; lead character is drunk in a number of scenes.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About The Mambo Kings

Parents need to know that there are several scenes of explicit sexuality with total nudity, and other incidents with partial nudity. Characters smoke and drink throughout, with one character drinking to excess on a number of occasions. One volatile brother is the victim of a knife-wielding villain who, in a close shot, cuts his throat and leaves him for dead. Other violent moments include a nightclub shooting and a fatal car accident.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about how the Castillo brothers' lack of communication and/or miscommunication hurt their relationship. How did the movie's music reflect the character of the brothers?

    The filmmakers carefully created a certain look for this movie. How did the use of bright colors, vivid lighting, and authentic 1950s sets help them evoke a sense of time, place, and character?

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