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My Life in Ruins

(2009, Rated PG-13, Comedy, Starring Richard Dreyfuss, Nia Vardalos, Rachel Dratch)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 11, age appropriate for kids over 13; suggested age 13.
  • Is it any good?

    3.0
  • Common Sense says

    Pleasant but overly predictable travel comedy OK for teens.

Themes in this movie include:   dating/crushes, friendship, gender issues

Why We Rated This on for Ages 13 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Although Georgia is an intelligent, educated woman, she's depicted as passionless and uptight until she's swept off her feet by an attractive, mysterious man. The movie's message seems to be that a woman isn't happy or successful unless she's "got a man." On the other hand, the tourists all help each other in one way or another. One kleptomaniac elderly lady stops stealing by the end of the tour, and the obnoxious American couple starts to be more sensitive to Greek culture, etc.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    When a tourist is told that his Greek T-shirt announces he's gay (in a crass way), he attacks the tour guide who gave it to him, pushing him into a pool and yelling at him.
  • Sex:

    Several references to Georgia's inactive sex life; a few bawdy jokes about the easily available Spanish divorcees on the tour. Several characters flirt and kiss, and one couple ends up going to bed together (they're shown, torsos covered, on the floor). It's implied that another character has a menage a trois, because his hotel door opens and he's in boxers and a robe and then two women in lingerie are visible behind him.
  • Language:

    Relatively mild for a PG-13 film: "ass/es," "idiot," "oh my God," "hell," "damn," "suckers," "stupid," and the words "his stick" misheard as "his d--k." A character's nickname is Poupi, and his last name is Kakas ("Poupi Kakas"; his nephew is "Doudi Kakas").
  • Consumerism:

    One of the characters is an exec at IHOP (International House of Pancakes), and he mentions IHOP constantly, gives everyone his business cards, and compares people and places to menu items. It's a running joke throughout the film. Another tour guide discusses taking his group to the Hard Rock Cafe.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Adults frequently drink beer, cocktails, and Ouzo on their Greek vacation. In one scene, everyone's at a bar, and a few characters get drunk. One tourist pulls out a cigar but is told he can't smoke it.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About My Life in Ruins

Parents need to know that this romcom probably isn't on most kids' radar, with the exception of teen girls who love romantic films. Sexuality includes discussions about the main character's sex life, some kissing, and a brief post-coital shot of a sheet-covered couple lying in each other's arms. There's less strong language than in most PG-13 films, with "ass" being the main offender. Violence is limited to a pool-side scuffle, and consumerism is tied to one character's job at IHOP, which is a running gag in the movie.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about what the movie seems to say about success versus happiness.
  • Does Georgia's decision at the end of the movie make sense, or is it counter to her personality?
  • Why do so many romantic comedies portray the female protagonist as "uptight"? Is that sexist?
  • Kids: Is Georgia a good role model for young women?

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. I rate this title iffy for age 10 and give it 2.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language

    Think twice before going with an adolescent

    well i've never seen this but i read what its about and based on that i can definetly say something..and definetly think twice about going to see this movie with any child under 10.

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