 | 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. |
Merry Christmas, Drake & Josh
- Review Date: December 4, 2008
- G
- Genre: Comedy
- 2008
Common Sense Media says
Stepbrothers' hijinks are jolly -- just not very realistic.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that some young viewers who watch this made-for-TV holiday movie starring the cast of Nickelodeon's hit series Drake & Josh may need a reality check afterward. Older tweens will understand the fantasy nature of what they see, but littler kids may need a few reminders about responsible teen
behavior. As in the sitcom, responsible Josh repeatedly falls victim to his impulsive stepbrother's antics, and while the situations are always spun for laughs, this time Josh lands in federal prison -- and both teens wind up in court. Felonies aside, even some of the guys' everyday actions are pretty iffy, including driving erratically, not wearing seatbelts, and lying to make their sister help them evade a parole officer. Predictably, none of this behavior results in any relatable, lasting consequences. But at least there's no swearing, drinking, or sex (other than a couple of kisses), either!
What's the story?
With their parents away on a tropical vacation, stepbrothers Drake Parker (Drake Bell) and Josh Nichols (Josh Peck) are left to fend for themselves for the holidays. Ever the traditionalist, Josh's plans include baking cookies and singing carols, but a mishap at Drake's rooftop holiday party lands him in the slammer instead. When Drake is caught trying to break Josh out, both teens face hard time, but the judge (Henry Winkler) suspends their sentence pending their promise to fulfill a young girl's (Bailee Madison) holiday wish for her foster family. With a vindictive parole officer on their tail, the guys are hard-pressed to spread holiday joy, but with a little help from crafty sister Megan (Miranda Cosgrove), Josh's wacky co-worker Crazy Steve (Jerry Trainor), and a big-hearted ex-con named Bludge (Kimbo Slice), the brothers might uncover the true Christmas spirit after all.
Is it any good?
Bell and Peck won over young fans with their comic portrayal of mismatched stepbrothers during Drake & Josh's four-year run, earning the show two Kids' Choice Awards for Favorite TV Show. MERRY CHRISTMAS, DRAKE & JOSH will surely please the duo's established tween fans by reuniting the entire original cast and not missing a beat with the characters' trademark tomfoolery. Add to that some holiday fun, the spirit of giving, and a couple of toe-tapping tunes from charming guitarist Drake, and it's sure to appeal to the tween crowd.
That said, despite the fact that Drake and Josh are now seasoned teens (apparently old enough to be trusted at home alone, anyway), they indulge in a fair bit of iffy behavior in the name of comedy, including driving erratically, not wearing seatbelts, evading a law officer, and breaking into a federal prison. In the real world, most of the brothers' actions would result in far more serious consequences than they suffer in sanitized TV land. Older tweens can probably put the exaggerated content (and, at times, acting) into context, but if they're not already fans, they may be turned off by the corny plot and overacting. If your kids do end up watching, it's worth having a talk afterward about responsible behavior and real-life repercussions.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about how the media portrays teens. Do you think this movie gives an accurate impression of teen life? Why or why not? How are Drake and Josh's circumstances different from yours? How are they the same? Do you think the media tends to stereotype teen roles? What other shows do you watch with teen characters? How do their actions compare to Drake and Josh's? Do you find any to be more believable than others? Which ones?
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- Teens & kids
AGE
ok
it really isnt for younger children, but its not horrible. i will let my 6 yr old watch if me or his dad is in the room. it is funny
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AGE
10 +
This movie is not so bad. It does; however, tell the false meaning of Christmas.
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AGE
The perfect holiday film for kids 8+
This movie and is funny for older kids ages 8+. Some Iffy content that parents need to be aware of is that There is some teenage romance that goes on and Drake and Josh walk home naked but nothing sensitive is shown. Also for vilonce drake and josh slap eachother when they get mad at eachother (the slapping isnt that vilont most kids will find it funny) Also drake and josh go to jail and come face to face with a very scary looking criminal... but none gets hert. And lastly for vilonce josh falls of a building but isnt hert.
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Kid, 12 years old
December 6, 2009
AGE
Great Movie, But iffy
I really liked this movie, but it is a little bit inappropiate. It was kinda gross when Drake was making out with that girl. I recommend this movie to anyone who likes the show Drake and Josh. :)
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Kid, 12 years old
November 16, 2011
AGE
25% lame + 35% lamer + 40% super epic lame = merry xmas drake & josh
Good flash, bad substance. What I mean by that is the whole "best-Xmas-ever" premise is so stiff. Topped off with annoying-to-bear Christmas caroling and Drake and Josh's first ever nude scene (the most inappropriate part of the movie), this movie is nothing but a soggy mess of what was supposed to be something you could call a holiday film.
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Kid, 12 years old
July 5, 2010
AGE
lives in cali.....
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AGE
OK TV movie
I've seen this and it's an ok TV movie. It has very little content that's bad for young kids, and while the parole officer, Perry, is potrayed as selfish and cruel in the beginning of the movie, he turns into a better person toward the end. Good for kids 8+ Violence: Some slapstick violence, and a monkey attacks a young boy, but nothing graphic is shown and it doesn't lead into any serious harm. Sex: Drake is shown kissing girls and Drake and Josh get their clothes stolen and it's implied their naked, but nothing graphic is shown. Consumerism: Based off the popular TV show, Drake & Josh.
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AGE
Not very funny.
Messages: Crude.
Violence: Minor.
Sex: Drake and Josh walk home naked.
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| Topics: | book characters, holidays |
| Studio: | Nickelodeon |
| Cast: | Drake Bell, Josh Peck, Miranda Cosgrove |
| Genre: | Comedy |
| Theatrical release date: | December 5, 2008 |
| DVD release date: | December 19, 2008 |
| MPAA rating: | G |
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