We were on the border of walking out with our 6-yo daughter after 15 minutes. Jokes for adults about anal probes, penis-as-antenna. Too much violence between characters. Male alien staring at female alien's cleavage was made into a joke. Astronaut teaches main character into how to seduce women. Chick-magnet talk. Horrifying threat of brain removal via circular saw, revisited at end credits. Lots of "gunplay". Minor character growth does not redeem the gratuitous lowbrow stimulation. Product placements were pretty obvious. I think this would be fine beginning early teens.
Planet 51
(2009, Rated PG, Family and kids, Starring Jessica Biel, Gary Oldman, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, Justin Long)
-
Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
-
Common Sense says
Underwhelming alien comedy has some suggestive humor.
Themes in this movie include: dating/crushes, friendship, growing up
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 7 and Up
The good stuff
-
Educational value:
-
Role models:
What to watch out for
-
Violence & scariness:
-
Sexy stuff:
-
Language:
-
Consumerism:
-
Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of Planet 51 was written by Sandie Angulo Chen
Parents need to know that this animated alien comedy earns its PG rating with a fair bit of sexualized humor -- including jokes about anal probing and penises which may go over younger kids' head (though middle schoolers won't be duped -- in fact, they'll probably find it hilarious). There's also some mostly mild violence -- though weapons are involved -- as the alien army attempts to capture and subdue a human astronaut (voiced by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson), as well as references to a maniacal doctor's desire to suck out Chuck's brain for scientific reasons. The language is mostly tame ("moron" and "stupid"), if disrespectful; beyond the sometimes-crude jokes, the sexuality revolves around one character's infatuation with another, which culminates in a kiss. Despite taking place on another planet, there are a few brands featured in the movie, including Volkswagen, Twix, and iPods.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about how the movie plays on the media's standard jokes about and portrayal of aliens. Who is the "real" alien in Planet 51? How do the movies and comic books that characters read on Planet 51 affect the way its population reacts to Chuck?
- What purpose do all of the pop culture references -- particularly to well-known movies -- serve? Is it funny? Is it original?
- To what kind of movies is Planet 51 an homage? How are the '50s portrayed?
Have you seen it? Review It!
More on Planet 51
What’s the Story?
On a distant planet that's exactly like an idealized version of 1950s America but inhabited by green aliens, adolescent Lem (voiced by Justin Long) works at a planetarium and spends his time hanging out with his best friend Skiff (Seann William Scott) and pining over his pretty neighbor Neera (Jessica Biel). When NASA astronaut Chuck Baker (Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson) lands on the planet, he's astounded to realize that there's already life on Planet 51 -- and that all the "aliens" speak and understand English and enjoy the diners, muscle cars, drive-ins, and B-movies reminiscent of the '50s. Unfortunately for Chuck, the most popular movie is about a "humaniac alien" that turns everyone into brainwashed zombies, so the planet's military tries to hunt Chuck down. But Lem and his pals strike up a friendship with Chuck and agree to help him get back to Earth before he's captured, studied, and imprisoned.
Is It Any Good?
Even if you take Pixar's incredibly sophisticated, high-grossing movies out of the running as a comparison, PLANET 51 is uninspired and forgettable. The movie's animation (particularly the landscape backgrounds) is flat, the dialogue is overly cluttered with pop culture references (to everything from The Right Stuff and E.T. to The Terminator and the Macarena). Allusions and double entendres work when they're seamlessly woven into a family-friendly script (as in the Shrek movies), but the lame penis and anal probing jokes are just off-putting in Planet 51.
Young kids may be drawn to the alien characters, especially comic book-obsessed Skiff and the dog-like creature that has toxic pee and a penchant for terrorizing the local mail carrier. And adults may get a laugh or two out of Neera's suitor Glar (Alan Marriott), a VW-van-driving, guitar-playing hippie who protests the planet's violent reaction to Chuck. But Johnson, who has proven he's a surprisingly talented family movie star, isn't given much to work with as the cocky astronaut, and Lem and Neera's "romance" is only slightly amusing when Lem goes to Chuck for dating advice. Ultimately, if you're hankering for '50s nostalgia, check out Back to the Future -- and for animated alien comedies, stick with Monsters vs. Aliens.
Movie Details
Studio: Tristar Pictures, Director: Jorge Blanco
Run time: 90 minutes
Theatrical release: 11/20/2009
MPAA Rating: PG for mild sci-fi action and some suggestive humor
Run time: 90 minutes
Theatrical release: 11/20/2009
MPAA Rating: PG for mild sci-fi action and some suggestive humor
Our Members Say
See all 20 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
-
I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Excessive consumerism
- Negative role models
Character growth does not compensate for negative messages throughout
-
I rate this title on for age 7 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Excessive consumerism
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
funny
funny and quite good
-
I rate this title on for age 5 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate language
- Excessive consumerism
-
I rate this title iffy for age 5 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
- My highlights are:
It is worth taking your little ones to the film, however any other age group would find it boring
This film is quite funny at some parts, and even small children will like the slapstick comedy. There was a joke about someone's private parts but other than that, it's safe for anyone to watch. I only had a few chuckles and those parts was all from the trailer. But your little ones will probably love this movie.
-
I rate this title off for age 6 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
TERRIBLE
This was the most dissapointing, annoying, boring, and most well bad movie i have ever scene!!!! It was boring and not even slightly entertaining! A TERRIBLE DISSAPOINTMENT!
-
I rate this title iffy for age 3 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
- My highlights are:
alright....
it was fun to watch but i have seen better. and the joke with the penis whould have been funny if it was in a movie for teenagers
-
I rate this title off for age 6 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
this was a terrible movie skip it not too inappropreate but preety bad for a pG MOVIE.
-
I rate this title iffy for age 9 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
- My highlights are:
Very Funny Movie!
This movie was surprisingly good. I expected it to be OK, but it turned out to be a really good film. There is some suggestive humor, such as a reference to a human's "antenna", sticking corks up your butt to avoid probing, and a few other things. It was overall a really good movie, and I don't understand why Common Sense says it was "underwhelming."
-
I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it
- My highlights are:
Ok, but missing something.
It was ok not the best movie. The message was about accepting peoples difference and looking under the skin, but I did not like that the message got lost in the alien propaganda. All the similes to earth while cute were missing the pop of a good kids movie. I probably would not watch this movie again and diffently wouldn't buy it.
-
I rate this title iffy for age 10 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Excessive consumerism
- My highlights are:
I thought it was very entertaining. I did not appreciate the humor about body parts and cavities. It DID NOT go over my 5 year old's head about the "antennae" - she promptly shouted "That's not an antennae, that's his p...." It was unnecessary and really annoyed me that the movie company put some of that stuff in there - it made me feel a bit "tricked" into seeing a family movie that was questionable even for my 8 year old. That said, I really liked the characters - the astronaut was fun, and I did like the message about friendship, and also about diversity.
-
I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
animated movie with lots of sexual humor does not fully satisfy
I just watched this movie yesterday with my friend at the movie theater and it was really really boring. I mean there a couple funny bits that made us laugh but besides that it was awful! And this movie is really inapropreat for younger kids. 1. because of the sci-fi action 2. because of some language like Freakin and 3. Because of the none stop sexual humor. That is the biggest concern i would have there is way to much of it!!! I would recomend this to kids ages 8-9. But kids older than that will find themselves falling asleep.
-
I rate this title iffy for age 6 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate language
Pass on this one
My 5 year old son and I saw this and we both agreed that it wasn't a very good movie. He didn't like it at all, too scary for him, although I thought it was tame compared to some movies aimed at this age group. There are some crude jokes and negative messages.
-
I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
It's an average kids movie, but it had a few inappropriate jokes.
-
I rate this title on for age 6 and give it
This movie is cute. It has a few references that lean more toward adults, but other wise a fairly good movie.
-
I rate this title on for age 6 and give it
This movie is cute. It has a few references that lean more toward adults, but other wise a fairly good movie.
-
I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
ok
i thought it was a pretty good movie but i feel like the directer could have put a little more effort into the movie
-
I rate this title on for age 7 and give it
Rent it
I was quite disappointed in this movie. I took my two sons, ages 9 and 5. They only laughed / chuckled maybe twice throughout the entire show. There were also several references that I would rather not have them see or hear in a children's movie. There are several, although vaugue, references to anal probing. One character uses the word "freakin'." Also, during a scene where the astronaut is naked, one of the "aliens" says "that's a funny place for your antenna." I would recommend this movie as a rental - but it's not worth the money spent at the theatre.
-
I rate this title iffy for age 8 and give it
Best part were in the trailer.
Totally lame. The adults did not like nor did the kids (10 year old boy and two 7 year old girls. Might be worth renting, but save your money on the theater tickets.
-
I rate this title on for age 7 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
- My highlights are:
Funny and good message.
We loved it. Son 9 & daughter 7, thought it was hilarious. I did not like the anal probe or a few other things but I thought the message about us not prejudging and being more accepting of others different from us was good and open a good dialogue with my kids. We enjoyed it.
-
I rate this title on for age 2 and give it- My highlights are:
- Educational
- Good role models
Give Recommendations, Get Them, Too!
Become a member and get recommendations from other parents based on your child's age.Tell us your child's age:
Already a member? Log inOur Members Rate It
Ratings at a Glance
| 40% | of parents say the sexual behavior isn't age appropriate |
| 40% | of parents say it gives kids positive messages |
| 30% | of parents say it has language their kids can't use |
Have you seen it?
For Your Family
Get age-based recommendations for your kids:
Customize based on your child's age
