Margot at the Wedding (R, 2007)
common sense media says
Well-acted tale of crushing family dysfunction.
parents & educators say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this mature, sometimes-uncomfortable drama isn't for kids, even though Jack Black co-stars (this is definitely not one of his over-the-top comedy roles). Focused on the long-repressed conflicts between two adult sisters, its themes include competition, sexual desire and frustration, and passive-aggressive behavior. Several arguments include yelling and crying, and two brief fights show victims (men) getting kicked or hit. There are discussions and images of masturbation, rape, and abuse, and an adult man makes out with an adolescent girl. Language includes many uses of "f--k."
Violence:
Sisters recall their father's abuse (he beat them with a belt). Margot yells at a woman who's pulling on her daughter's arm; she yells back at Margot and calls her a "bitch." An argument results in a slap. A dog is hit by a car, and Jim tries to save it (some blood visible). A boy beats up and bites Claude (who yells loudly in pain). Dick chases and kicks Malcolm, who cries. Discussion of unseen sister's rape.
Sex:
Couple appears in bed, with woman's breasts visible. Margot listens to her sister having sex in the next room and masturbates in bed (no nudity, but obvious movement). Sisters discuss their sexual pasts several times, including that of another, unseen sister. Maisy tells Claude that his mom is "hot" and "I'd do her if I was gay." Dick kisses Margot in the car. An adult man admits to sexual activity with a female teenager. Claude admits to masturbating. Some body-part words ("testicles"). Suggestion that pregnancy prompted the wedding.
Language:
Lots of uses of "f--k," as well as "s--t," "bitch," "d--khead," and "a--hole."
Consumerism:
Margot is concerned with promoting her new book.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
Some cigarette smoking and wine drinking. Margot finds pills in a drawer.
More on Margot at the Wedding
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Most useful reviews by all members
bubbo
adult
adult
Margot at the Wedding
Absolutely, completely loathed this movie. I generally enjoy dark dramadies about dysfunctional families (Little Miss Sunshine is one of my favorite movies), but this movie was completely unrealistic and torturous. Basically, the film is about a group of some of the most despicable, sad people you will ever see being cruel to each other in sneaky ways. That's it. There's absolutely not point to it, the characters don't change at all through the film, the whole thing is one long waste of time. It actually took effort to sit throught the entire thing.
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lin2211
teen, 18 years old
teen, 18 years old
Great acting... that's pretty much it
It seemed like this movie was just a showcase for Nicole Kidman and Jack Black and I believe that they did an amazing job with mediocre script they were given. The plot was typical for a dyfunctional family movie; there were some points of brilliance and other times I thought the script could have been edited. I liked how the characters were complex and confusing but in the end it was impossible to connect to them because most of the characters in this movie had serious emotional problems. Of course, this is what makes the movie interesting at the same time, seeing how these people react to each other and different situations. I wouldn't recommend this movie to anyone under 14 because I think that it would bore them.
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johnwi312
adult
adult
Terrible. OK for older teens, but I don't recommend it for anybody.
I don't need all movies to be about happy, functional people - but Margot at the Wedding was just ridiculous. I felt like I was being infected by these aggressively awful, nasty people. The movie feels hugely pointless - it says nothing insightful, just mopes around and makes fun of its grossly self-centered characters. In the end, nothing has been learned, but plenty of time has been wasted.
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Elza
parent of 6 and 14 year old
parent of 6 and 14 year old
This was a very uncomfortable film, even for 40+ year old parents. It is very tense, sexually charged and one scene withe mother and her teacher son is just extremely deranged, bordering on sexual abuse (mother in bed with son, masturbates next to him). The mother mistreats her son in general and the whole feel is depressing and heavy. Hated it.
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