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Parents' Guide to

Nurse Betty

By Nell Minow, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 17+

Offbeat comedy has a few violent scenes.

Movie R 2000 110 minutes
Nurse Betty Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

age 15+

Based on 1 parent review

age 15+

Great film, not for children.

One of Renée Zellweger's most accomplished performances, elevates this comedy-thriller to unexpected heights. Extremely violent and sexual scenes are here, but Zellweger and Morgan Freeman give it a touch of humanity. The only weak element in this film is Chris Rock's character; he's insensitive, loud, rude and downright unpleasant (going so far as using the C word). But Betty is a model of a friendly, compassionate and beautiful human being.

This title has:

Great role models
Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (1 ):

Zellweger's lips should be eligible for their own Oscar. As the waitress who is such a big fan of a soap opera that she becomes convinced she is a character on it, she does more to convey her essential sweetness and strength of character with her lips alone than most actresses could manage using a couple of bodies.

Betty's trip from Kansas to Los Angeles recalls the journey of that other famous Kansan, Dorothy. Both go to a fantasy land only to find that the answer is within themselves. As someone tells Betty, "Honey, you don't need anybody. You know why? Because you've got yourself." Both Betty and Charlie seek a dream that will let them leave their pasts behind.

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