 | 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. |
New Year's Eve
- Review Date: December 9, 2011
- PG-13
- Genre: Romance
- 2011
Common Sense Media says
Shallow, star-studded romcom has some drinking, swearing.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this star-studded romcom is heavy on familiar faces (including Ashton Kutcher, Lea Michele, Zac Efron, Michelle Pfeiffer, Robert De Niro, and many more) and short on depth. New Year's Eve follows several interconnected storylines as people try to make amends for the past year and ring in the new one; the stories are simplistic and saccharine, and though the messages are well meant and everyone's striving to be a good person, there aren't many believable role models. There's plenty of kissing and romance, plus some drinking and swearing (including "s--t" and one memorable "f--k"), and tons of enormous billboards touting products in Times Square.
What's the story?
It's New Year's Eve, and New York City is teeming with revelers and possibilities. Ingrid (Michelle Pfeiffer), an assistant to a record company exec (John Lithgow), is tired of being mousy and has a list of resolutions she'd like to make real, perhaps with the help an intrepid bike messenger (Zac Efron); a dying man (Robert De Niro) evaluates his life with the help of a nurse (Halle Berry); a back-up singer (Lea Michele) may not make it to the biggest gig of her life if she doesn't get out of the elevator in which she's stuck with her jaded neighbor (Ashton Kutcher); a rock star (Jon Bon Jovi) can barely keep his mind on his performance since the one who got away (Katherine Heigl) is working the same event; a single mom (Sarah Jessica Parker) is battling with her 15-year-old (Abigail Breslin), who wants to have her first kiss when the New Year's Eve ball drops; a recording mogul (Josh Duhamel) hopes to re-encounter a fleeting flirtation; and a city executive (Hilary Swank) must make sure the ball actually drops.
Is it any good?
What made Love Actually so remarkable was an ineffable quality that allowed it to be memorable despite the pitfalls of trying to do an ensemble romantic comedy. It broke ground by doing it quite well. And the cast was just so good. The problem with NEW YEAR'S EVE is that it's trying to replicate Love Actually. And although the ingredients are virtually the same -- big-name actors; an emotional holiday; quirky, silly storylines that converge at one spot -- the dish served up here doesn't hit the spot the same way.
Why? Not to hammer home the analogy, but it's overcooked. Aside from a few Academy Award winners and nominees (Swank, De Niro, Berry) and the respectable Parker (and to some extent, Heigl), everyone else is trying far too hard to be effortless with material that's far too thin and set-ups that are far too canned. (Director Garry Marshall had the same problem with his very similar Valentine's Day.) Expository dialogue, plot points that can be spotted towns away, and a crowded cast -- it's all here. Very few moments in the movie feel authentic; instead, it incessantly strains to evoke hope, nostalgia, and optimism. Yes, New Year's Eve is highly charged. But no one likes to feel manipulated, not even for auld lang syne.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about how New Year's Eve portrays dating and romance. Ask your teens if this is what they think adult relationships are really like.
Did you identify with any of the characters' storylines? Which ones seemed the most believable? Which ones felt completely implausible?
What's the significance of New Year's Eve as a holiday? Is it important to have someone special to celebrate it with? What does the beginning of a new year mean to you?
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- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
Adult aimed but good guilty pleasure for teenagers.
This is an adult targeted movie. But teenagers may like it. The only reason it may appeal to your teens is because of the sexy storyline. Research says it is not surprising. Because the teenage brain, especially girls love racy films. Because it provokes their imagination.
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AGE
Good Role Models
New years eve was full of good role models! I was surprised.
I wasn't a fan of Zack Effron kissing a 50 year old lady though.
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Kid, 12 years old
December 23, 2011
AGE
loved it
i loved it but some of the content may be inapropiate for kids 10 or under. so 11 and up. but it was so funny my mom even liked it!!!!!!!!!
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AGE
LOVE IT!!!!!!!!
i love the movie!!!!!! its very funny! i am 12 and saw the movie and i think it is great for tweens, as long as they dont mind the occasional bad words.
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AGE
great movie for teens and up
Really good movie with a lot of good actors. all the different stories are funny and interesting. There were a lot of inappropriate comments and some brief language, but other wise it was an great movie.
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AGE
Amazing Holiday Movie!
This is an awesome movie! You'll love everything about it, especially the amazing characters and actors! Only concern is language. Sure, a couple you've heard all before here and there, then the big F bomb comes in for a quick second, but when you hear it, for some reason it doesn't seem as inappropriate as it actually is. I also just clicked product placement, because there is a lot of that, but it's not like that's actually an issue, is it?
Overall, LOVE this movie and its characters and actors especially, it's a MUST-SEE, especially during this time of year! The cast and crew did a wonderful job!
<3333333333
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AGE
Fine
Took my 13 year old daughter and her friend. I think it was fine for them to see but wouldn't have taken anybody any younger.
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AGE
Good movie for pre teens
This movie is okay for kids 9 & up. The only thing that is bad is that they cuss a little. Over all the movie is good for kids. If you are a parent of a 10 or 9 year old child take them to see it because the movie is amazingly good!!
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| Topics: | friendship |
| Studio: | Warner Bros. |
| Director: | Garry Marshall |
| Cast: | Ashton Kutcher, Jessica Biel, Sarah Jessica Parker |
| Genre: | Romance |
| Run time: | 118 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | December 9, 2011 |
| DVD release date: | May 1, 2012 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | language including some sexual references |
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