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 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
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One for the Money
- Review Date: January 27, 2012
- PG-13
- Genre: Thriller
- 2012
Common Sense Media says
Lackluster bounty hunter romp has some startling violence.
Parents say
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that One for the Money is a mystery comedy based on the best-selling Stephanie Plum novels by Janet Evanovich. Following a Jersey girl (Katherine Heigl) who's down on her luck until she learns the basics of bounty hunting, the movie offers some empowering lessons about what women can do. But there's some troubling violence in the movie's second half, as well as frequent language (especially "s--t," "a--hole," and exclamations like "goddamn"). Although there aren't any real sex scenes, there are plenty of references to sex, virginity, and prostitution, as well as two moments of partial nudity: one when an elderly nudist shows his bare butt, and the other when the main character is handcuffed to a shower rod, revealing the outline of her naked body (with strategic parts covered by her free arm).
What's the story?
Stephanie Plum (Katherine Heigl) is a Jersey girl with no prospects: She's just lost her job, her car gets repossessed, and she has no love life. But everything changes for Stephanie when her cousin Vinnie (Patrick Fischler) offers her a temporary gig as a bail bond recovery agent. Her biggest score would be to find missing cop Joe Morelli (Jason O'Mara), Stephanie's former high-school fling who's wanted for shooting an unarmed criminal while off duty. As Stephanie learns the ropes of her new profession from a seasoned bounty hunter, Ranger (Daniel Sunjata), she realizes that Moretti isn't a killer after all and helps him track down the real criminals responsible for the murders.
Is it any good?
Based on Janet Evanovich's best-selling Stephanie Plum mystery series, this Heigl-produced film is a lackluster adaptation. The script is full of cliches, annoying phrases, and flat dialogue, so even though the actors all try to rise above the shoddy lines, they rarely succeed. Heigl once again proves that Knocked Up and the first couple of seasons of Grey's Anatomy remain her best work; these days she's charming but unable to find a great leading role -- ONE FOR THE MONEY included.
Considering that the book series has several installments, the written Stephanie Plum must be the kind of underdog character you can't help but love. But in this big screen adaptation, she's at times laughably inept or embarrassingly clueless. At least the interactions between Stephanie and Ranger are amusing (particularly when he tries to teach her how the job is done). What isn't as believable is how casually the fatal violence of the climactic scenes is introduced. After being played for comic relief in the first half, the violence escalates to a startling level in the last sequences. But since there's no substance to the plot, viewers may feel the entire story is underwhelming and predictable -- precisely what the mystery genre must avoid.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about the role that gender plays in the story's appeal. Would the movie work -- or be considered funny -- with a male protagonist?
Talk about the movie's violence. Is all of it necessary to the plot? How does the movie's tone affect the impact of its violent scenes?
Does the movie make you want to read the books? Parents familiar with the books, discuss any major differences between the novel and the movie.
One for the Money shows that someone with little initial knowledge can learn the ropes and succeed in a new profession. What are some other movies that follow a character who slowly but surely becomes an expert at his or her new job?
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Teen, 13 years old
March 28, 2012
AGE
this movie really doesn't suck
I personally really liked this movie, but according to Rotten Tomatoes only 2% of the Critics liked it. Having said that the critics hate a ton of good movies. This movie did not suck it was hysterical. Debbie Reynolds who played the grandma, and the two hookers were hysterical. Stephanie Plum, who was played by Katherine Heigl was quite a character too. I tink Katherine did an awesome job. Thumbs up if you hate the critics!!!!!!!
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Teen, 16 years old
June 30, 2012
AGE
One For the Money Movie Review
Bounty hunter story is funny but nothing else.
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Teen, 15 years old
June 28, 2012
AGE
Alright
It wasnt as great as I thought it would be, but it was pretty funny and had some good action. Only one time you see Katherine Heigl somewhat naked in the shower, but she is covered up. This movie is alright for ages 12 and up.
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Kid, 11 years old
May 26, 2012
AGE
One for the Money
This wasn't very good. 'The Bounty Hunter' was better, and I really didn't enjoy that. Some shooting and blood. A few shots of Stephanie naked in a shower (just implications), and you see the rear of someone she picks up. There is some flirting between Stephanie and Morelli. Two characters are prostitutes. Some mild language. And dope, heroin, and pot are mentioned. This wasn't great, and I almost stopped watching it.
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Teen, 14 years old
May 31, 2012
AGE
Absolute Idiocy.
This is the stupidest movie I've ever seen. The story is incredibly far-fetched, hard to follow, and boring. It's almost nonsensical how thin the plot is, and there's no precedent for almost anything in the entire movie. If that's not bad enough, she narrates every other second, which gets obnoxious instantly. The violence is personal, and particularly against woman (lots of references to rape, and a prostitute gets horribly beaten). The lines are corny, the performances are overacted, and the writing is ludacris. If that's not enough incentive not to see the movie, look at the litany of disturbing violence (most of it's off-screen, but still makes the impact almost as strong as if you'd actually seen it).
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Parent
June 25, 2012
AGE
Unnecessary swearing
This movies has quite a bit of unnecessary language. The overall movie was ok but the language was excessive.
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Teen, 16 years old
July 18, 2012
AGE
one for the money
this is a fine movie bit chessy but still enjoyable
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Teen, 13 years old
November 16, 2012
AGE
I guess i'm just not for the money
This movie was boring. Katherine Heigl's role was really good and I really liked the character but the movie is just so unappealing, and at times gets darker than it needs to be. I laughed on some parts but that wasn't enough to make up for this mess. Katherine Heigl's acting is really charming and I liked her "27 Dresses" and "Killers" movies but after this would it hurt to put her in a good movie? 10+
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| Topics: | adventures, book characters |
| Studio: | Lionsgate |
| Director: | Julie Anne Robinson |
| Cast: | Jason O'Mara, John Leguizamo, Katherine Heigl |
| Genre: | Thriller |
| Run time: | 106 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | January 27, 2012 |
| DVD release date: | May 15, 2012 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | violence, sexual references and language, some drug material and partial nudity |
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