The Man

  • Review Date: January 12, 2006
  • PG-13
  • Genre: Comedy
  • 2005
 Review

Common Sense Media says

Sad excuse for a movie, not for younger teens.
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

Not yet rated

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that the movie features crude humor and ridiculous violence, involving vehicle crashes and physical abuses (trash can lids and phone books slammed into heads, and various other brutalities staged as comedy). The film premises much of its humor on the imbalance between the timid Midwestern salesman and the tough Detroit cop, including repeated discussions of who is whose "bitch" (a term also heard in a hip-hop song on the soundtrack), and other definitions of masculine prowess. The villains -- including an arrogant, young British boss -- are excessively violent as well, shooting a noncompliant client on the toilet. One black character threatens to beat another "like a runaway slave." The film includes brief gross images of bad teeth (during a presentation at a dental appliance convention), dead bodies, bad language (especially combinations of "ass," "shit," and the f-word), and fart/flatulence jokes. Characters smoke and drink, sell drugs.

  • Cops and criminals are equally obnoxious and violent; film resorts to fart and pee jokes.
  • Frequent physical abuses, shooting, car crashing; Andy bites an opponent.
  • A couple of cleavage shots, Andy in his boxers, references to homosexual anxieties, and fears of rape in prison.

What's the story?

Dental appliances salesman Andy Fiddler (Eugene Levy) comes to Detroit from Wisconsin for a convention. ATF Agent Derrick Vann (Samuel L. Jackson), whose partner was just killed, is working on a case involving gunrunners, headed by Joey Trent (Luke Goss). When Vann arranges an undercover buy, Fiddler is mistaken for the buyer, and Vann then needs his help on the case.


Is it any good?

 

The time limit on the interracial buddy-cop formula has surely expired. And yet, THE MAN rehashes all the old jokes and inanities, bringing precious little that's entertaining or new.


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What families can talk about

Families can talk about the film's use of rude jokes to get to a seemingly "family-friendly" point. Andy convinces Vann that he needs to pay attention to his young daughter (now living with her mother and stepfather). How does the movie maneuver between cop-buddy themes and PG-13 comedy themes? How do Andy's morality and idealism affect Vann's amorality and cynicism? How does the movie compare criminals and cops, so both look aggressive, self-absorbed, and small-minded?


This review was written by Cynthia Fuchs
Adult
April 9, 2008
 

Flag as inappropriate 
Adult
April 9, 2008
 
I was shocked!
Foe someone to think that this movie was appropriate for a 13 year old is absurd. Foul language! Yes, I'm sure some children(13) have heard these words but the movie was filled with bad language from beginning to end. (Even the "f" word was used numerous times and I thought that was only allowed in "R" movies.)Thnaks for allowing me to share.

Flag as inappropriate 
Kid, 12 years old
May 11, 2010
 
b*tch, as$ and s*x? what does that mean?

Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 14 years old
May 11, 2010
 
b*tch, as$ and s*x? what does that mean?

Flag as inappropriate 
Kid, 11 years old
May 11, 2010
 
b*tch, as$ and s*x? what does that mean?

Flag as inappropriate 

This review was written by Cynthia Fuchs
Studio:New Line
Director:Les Mayfield
Cast:Eugene Levy, Luke Goss, Samuel L. Jackson
Genre:Comedy
Run time:104 minutes
Theatrical release date:September 9, 2005
DVD release date:January 17, 2006
MPAA rating:PG-13
MPAA explanation:language, rude dialogue and some violence.

This review was written by Cynthia Fuchs
 

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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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