Osmosis Jones

  • Review Date: June 17, 2003
  • PG
  • Genre: Comedy
  • 2001
 Review

Common Sense Media says

The PG rating is deceptive.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this film's PG rating is deceptive. The ratings board doesn't take cartoon violence very seriously, but some kids may be upset that characters they care about are in peril and some characters die or come very close. More than that, the movie is extremely gross, with both tension and jokes relating to every kind of bodily fluid, excretion, and function. If you see this movie, pass by the snack bar, as you will not be in the mood to eat a bucket of popcorn or anything else. Parents should also know that the movie features a child whose mother has died and who is terribly worried about losing her father, who seems bent on suicide by junk food. Some kids will be upset by the way that the child has to assume the role of parent.

  • Comic peril, characters killed, one apparent sad death.
  • Not applicable.
  • Strong for a PG.

What's the story?

OSMOSIS JONES is a PG-rated, mostly animated movie about a very hip white blood cell (voice of Chris Rock) and a cold capsule (voice of David Hyde Pierce) who fight a nasty virus (voice of Laurence Fishburne) to save the scrofulous body of zoo attendant Frank (Bill Murray). The live action story, starring Murray with Elena Franklin as his daughter, Shane, Chris Elliott as his friend and a brief, effervescent appearance by Molly Shannon as Shane's teacher, takes up about a quarter of movie. The rest takes place inside Frank's body, a swarming metropolis with white cell cops fighting off everything from gingivitis to intestinal unpleasantness.


Is it any good?

 

The Farelly brothers, whose There's Something About Mary plumbed new depths of bodily function humor (and ended up on the American Film Institute's list of the 100 funniest movies) have plumbed new depths of internal plumbing in Osmosis Jones.

The details -- and many of the jokes -- may be a little hard to follow for anyone who does not have a working knowledge of anatomy. But the basic story line of a cop who likes to do things his way paired up with a straight-arrow, by-the-books partner joining forces against a lethal bad guy is standard movie stuff, and, as usual, it works pretty well.


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What families can talk about

Families can talk about how we keep our bodies strong enough to fight off infection and viruses, and the challenge of deciding between things that feel good now and those that feel good later. How does that relate to the choice between the two candidates for mayor? What does Osmosis mean about "being too careful?" Talk about the news broadcasts that the characters inside of Frank watch. If there was one going on inside you, what would it say? Think about how well your family does on taking care of yourselves and what you can do to do better.


This review was written by Nell Minow
Adult
October 10, 2010
 
Gross cartoon can be fun
This is both a gross and fun movie. The animated portions are clever and funny, but the real world ones are really quite gross and wierd. There's an intense scene near the end that kids may not be able to handle. Some of the caroon images are sadistically violent or vulgar. That was a warning for parents. Bottom Line: a good movie if you're open-minded, and do not get grossed-out easily. Thanks for reading! - Movie Man

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Kid, 10 years old
May 15, 2011
 
Saw this when I was younger, good movie.
I was browsing CSM today when I remembered this, just had to review it, its not a bad movie its actually a very fun movie for kids and parents.

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Adult
April 9, 2008
 
I do not agree
For any parents checking this movie is not as aprprote as you think there are very sad scenes at the end there is a big fight. Words such as hell are used. And a slopp is killed in a very sad way. [Don't worry after you cry he comes back to life.] This should have a PG-13 rating.

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Kid, 13 years old
September 12, 2009
 
i watched this movie when i was very little and it scarred me for life. it was pukey and disgusting and the poor little girl's father dies from sickness. i still am afraid to watch it not only because i had many nightmares that week when i watched it but it would be a waste of my good frickin time. this movie sucked. Don't bother watching it or the darn TV show either. Both are absolutely revolting!!! i say it has bad language because references to bodily functions like feces, urine, passing gas, ect.

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Teen, 16 years old
April 9, 2008
 

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Teen, 16 years old
November 25, 2010
 
Rated PG for bodily humor
you don't have to worry about the language. All it is is "He's one cell of a guy" "Get your nucleus down there!" lots of humor about the body. The only bad message is a hidden one, where Drix is telling Osmosis to go to the uvuella, when Osmosis asks where the cell it is, Drix says it's the little hangy ball. Osmosis exclaims that he knows where it's at, it's in the boxers, then Drix starts yelling the back of the throat. some violence and some scary sceenes, and some potty humor, but nothing really major.

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Teen, 14 years old
July 11, 2010
 
amazing movie
this movie is brilliant u HAVE to see it

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Kid, 11 years old
June 17, 2011
 
It's okay, but definatley not for under 8!
It's a great movie and all but I don't really like all the refrences to swerar word like "What the Frank?" and "He's on cell of a guy!" also "Dipstick!" I also don't like the scene where Osmosis is at the theatre watching Frank's dreams and the two red blood cells behind him are kissing. Also, there is an insane amount of violents. For example, the virus uses his nails/claws and slices open a germ violently.

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Teen, 15 years old
June 7, 2011
 
Are You Serious
I loved this movie. I watched it and the TV series when I was like 5. There is no real language just innuendos like "He's one cell of a guy" There is nothing that is inappropriate about this movie. It has it's sad deaths but nothing to bad. I think you all should grow up!

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Kid, 13 years old
November 28, 2010
 
Good Movie

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This review was written by Nell Minow
Topics:adventures, science and nature
Studio:Warner Bros.
Directors:Bobby Farrelly, Peter Farrelly
Cast:Brandy Norwood, Chris Rock, David Hyde Pierce
Genre:Comedy
Run time:95 minutes
Theatrical release date:August 10, 2001
DVD release date:November 13, 2001
MPAA rating:PG
MPAA explanation:bodily humor

This review was written by Nell Minow
 

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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.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

 

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