Pleasantville

  • Review Date: January 10, 2005
  • PG-13
  • Genre: Drama
  • 1998
 Review

Common Sense Media says

Thought-provoking look at past and present teen life.
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 Pleastantville raises many ideas about modern troubled times versus old-time simplicity, as well as freedom, responsibility and tolerance. The movie contains many sexual situations, as the naïve TV characters learn about sex for the first time, but the movie handles them gracefully. A woman loudly masturbates in a tub, and we see a nude painting in a shop window. Language is infrequent, but includes one "f--k" and several uses of "s--t." One teen, a main character, is seen smoking, and there's a brief fistfight that results in a bloody lip.

  • The movie has many messages buried in its fabric, but the one it leaves you with is: don't try to control your life, or assume that you have a set path. You can make your own choices. At the same time, the movie seems to have the idea that teens of the 1990s (and today) have it pretty tough, and that the teens of Pleasantville are rather blessed. In another reading, a viewer could say that the modern teens corrupted the good and decent folks of Pleasantville. At one point, though, a group of good teens try to teach the older town members about tolerance.
  • David (who becomes "Bud") and Jennifer (who becomes "Mary Sue") are fairly strong teen role models. David learns to overcome shyness and insecurity, and Jennifer stops living her life as a "bad girl" and tries to better herself. David takes responsibility for his situation, tries to help others when he can, and exhibits tolerance in the face of intolerance.
  • We see a brief fistfight (one punch) that results in a bloody lip. An angry mob trashes a soda shop.
  • Mostly we see flirting, kissing, and couples making out in cars, with perhaps some feet sticking out of a car window. (These teens are just becoming aware of sex.) A mom character masturbates in a bathtub and moans loudly. She is married, but begins an affair with another man; he paints her nude and displays the painting in his shop window. Overall, the movie manages to imply sex-on-the-brain without resorting to talk, such as showing the image of a double-bed in a store window, complete with a concerned crowd of onlookers outside.
  • Language somewhat strong, but is not frequent. "F--k" is used once, and "s--t" can be heard a half-dozen times or less. The biggest issue is the frequent use of "God" as an exclamation or declaration. We also hear "Jesus Christ," "hell," "Goddamn" and "damn."
  • Not applicable.
  • A main character, a teen, is seen smoking cigarettes, but when she arrives in Pleasantville, she can no longer get them. At one point she says she's "dying for a cigarette," but that's the last of it.

What's the story?

David (Tobey Maguire) and Jennifer (Reese Witherspoon) are well aware of the messy complications of the modern world. David retreats into reruns of "Pleasantville," an an idyllic black and white 1950s television show. And Jennifer is something of a self-described "slut." When they get ahold of a magic remote control, David and Jennifer are changed into Pleasantville's Bud and Mary Sue. The twins can't help reveal Pleasantville's limits, and begin to transform it. Mary Sue mischievously introduces the idea of sex to classmates, and then, more sensitively, to her Pleasantville mother (Joan Allen). Bud tells them about a world where people can go against status quo. As the characters begin to change, they and their surroundings bloom into color. But some residents of Pleasantville are threatened and terrified by the changes. "No colored" signs appear in store windows, new rules are imposed, and tensions mount.


Is it any good?

 

High schoolers may appreciate the way that the twins, at first retreating in different ways from the problems of the modern world, find that the rewards of the examined life make it ultimately worthwhile. Parents and teens alike will find many things to think and talk about after watching PLEASANTVILLE, including the movie's parallels to Nazi Germany (book burning) and American Jim Crow laws ("No colored" signs), and the challenges of independent thinking.

Also intriguing is the path of Jennifer's character. At first, she thinks that it is sex that turns the black and white characters into color. But when she stays "pasty," she realizes that the colors reveal something more subtle and meaningful -- the willingness to challenge the accepted and opening oneself up to honest reflection about one's own feelings and longings.


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What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about the sex as portrayed in the movie. Is it exploitative, or educational? How much is shown and how much is implied?

  • When the community begins splitting over the "coloreds," what kind of emotions does this evoke? How similar is it to other periods in American history?

  • Would you prefer to live in the 1950s, or in modern times? Which does the movie seem to prefer?


This review was written by Nell Minow
Adult
April 9, 2008
 
Great Movie
This is one of my favorites. Mostly because of the creative way that the social issues of the 50s and 60s are presented. It's a great story full of laughs. There's only one scene where you might need to make a judgement call. The way the sex scenes are presented, it's bluntly obvious what's going on for those who are old enough to know and those who aren't it isn't. It's all set ups and kissing and such. There are some mentions of sex but nothing more than a sex-ed class. Most teenagers will be more than ok with this movie on their own. Even younger kids would be ok with this movie if you watch it with them. They're likley to have questions but mostly about the social situations and not any of the sex related scenes.

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Parent of 18 year old
July 19, 2010
 
Could've had a good message, but inappropirate scenes
Too many uses of God's name, many uses of Jesus Christ, some mild cuss words. Scene where Reese Witherspoon is talking to a boy in a car about his physical reflex to sexual talk, then they're having sex in the car. Inappropriate for conservative families.

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Adult
April 9, 2008
 
Good...
Pleasantville is a very good film with an original story, and some amazing visuals. Watching the black and white town slowly turn to color is absolutely enchanting! But parents, be warned--there is some strong sexual content for a PG-13, including one especially akward scene where a character masturbates.

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Parent
April 26, 2010
 
Every Teen Should see this film.
Thematic elements in this richly layered film are deep and most often overlooked. Yes, the book burning and the racial elements are there, are important and are relevant, but there are other themes present as well. This movie is in large part about change. How people handle change, how change affects society and the individual. (this could be a political film as well but I didn't see it that way change and how change affects people is relevant everyday!) It's perfect for anyone struggling to find their independence as the mother character deals with finding her independence. The role models are excellently acted and I don't have enough good things to say about this film. If your teen is immature it may be best viewed by the parent first.

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Adult
April 9, 2008
 
Very Different Movie
This movie address a lot of social issues via the back door. It uses parallels and symbolism to make a great point against many things including racism and parent child misunderstandings

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Adult
April 9, 2008
 
Good Movie

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Adult
April 9, 2008
 
Not for younger than 13
This movie covers good issues - but a daughter teaching her mom to masturbate, then watching it as her husband listens, is a bit much for most kids not in high school!

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Teen, 15 years old
March 30, 2011
 
My opinion
I thought this was a good movie,its not one of my favorites but i own it and i watch it once in ahwile at my grandmother's house.

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Teen, 16 years old
March 6, 2011
 
to look at the past and the present teen life
this movie is so funny

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Teen, 18 years old
May 3, 2011
 
Recommend for teenagers >= 15 years old
Changes, as we all know, are necessary. Without changes, we cannot even identify who we are, what are our real characters and what are our own mistakes to be washed away. Even in Pleasantville, a town of perfection in a TV show with the same name where things are supposed to be always perfect, had to change no matter the way it is changed into. That is the message that Gary Ross, the director of the film Pleasantville, wanted to tell us. Set in the common modern family background of the 1990s, Pleasantville features David and Jennifer “Jenny”, the twin children of a broken marriage who live with a mother who’s always away from home. They are quite different from each other. David is introvert, shy, kind and mainly likes to watch the b&w (black and white) 1950’s TV show Pleasantville while Jenny is an extrovert, kinky, lazy and flirty girl who only likes dating and kissing boys. One day, a mysterious TV repairman comes and gives David a special TV remote control which he and his sister then fight upon. During their fight, they are strangely transferred to be the main characters, Bud and Mary Sue Parker, in the b&w TV show. They had entered the place of conformity where parents are always caring and protective of children, basketball players never miss a shot, the weather is always sunny, everyone treats each other kindly and sex as well as profanity is forbidden (George and Betty’s beds can be seen separated from each other). David got thrilled about the changes but then excited about them as Pleasantville has always been his favorite TV show. Jenny, on the other hand, is horrified and wanted to go home immediately. However, since they cannot get back until the repairman shows up again, they have to get used to this new life. Soon after, their futuristic, 1990’s ideals bring such changes into Pleasantville as colors start to fill in the b&w scenes. Such extreme and negative feelings appears (the resident and David argue angrily upon each other in the court). Eventually sex starts emerging (can be seen in scenes such as Skip and Jenny make love with each other, Betty masturbating in a bathtub and the picture of a naked woman is shown). Besides, even Jenny changes herself (it was not until her appearance in Pleasantville that she read books in a library) and the old family values also begins evolving to be more 90’s. Above all, perfection has begun to slip away from Pleasantville since David and Jenny appeared. Pleasantville, as considered by many audiences, is one of the few films which are both thought-provoking and entertaining. The director has skilfully implicated thinkable lessons behind hilarious scenes. This implication can be seen when Pleasantville residers are curious and a bit horrified about the rain falling down in the town for the very first time. This scene is thoroughly funny for most audiences, but on a deeper scale, it means the Pleasantville people are starting to learn how to accept changes. Not only themes of changes and sexuality as mentioned before are clearly shown, other themes, though auxiliary, are secretly implied. Examples of these can be identified as the themes of personal freedom (a list of rules mentioning some particular colors and music Pleasantville people are allowed to use or listen to is read aloud at the court) or discrimination between people (‘No coloreds allowed’). Another massive, important factor contributing to the film’s success is the visual technology effects. Throughout the movie, color is used impressively and effectively. As Pleasantville starts to change gradually from partly-colored (a red rose growing against the other b&w ones) to fully-colored (when the local kids are gathering in a park), the theme of change is emphasized stronger as more colors are filling the b&w vistas. According to the producers, the film needed a highly-technology type of digital special effects which is almost new to the current-time cinematography, and it should be seen more than once to absorb how the color scheme has been built and carried out. Moreover, all the actors performed in a solid, deep and meaningful way. Tobey Maguire (Spider Man) played a comfortable and charming boy whom audiences can hardly dismiss. Academy Award winner Reese Witherspoon (Walk The Line) is successful in playing both a typical American “bad girl” in the 90s modern society and another “good girl” in the 50s Pleasantville despite their opposition. William H. Macy is successful as the Father-knows-it-all who is frightened upon the town’s changes as well as Joan Allen as the amorous, protective Mother. The supporting casts, Jeff Daniels as Bill the soda shop owner, Don Knotts as the mysterious TV repairman and the late J.T.Walsh as the resident who reject all changes are all highly appreciated for their performances. In brief, Pleasantville can be said as a modern-time fairytale, but it’s unlike the other old-fashioned fairytales which only take us to have-it-all realms. In fact, it not only entertains us with its extraordinary plot and excellent visual effects but it also encourages us to think about its themes and learn the lessons derived from such situations. I myself have learned a valuable lesson from what David told his real-life mom at the end of the film – “There’s no right house, no right car, no right husband.” In fact, there’s no Pleasantville. Nothing is perfect. We should learn to accept changes as well as identifying who we are and what we mistake so we can grow up and complete ourselves.

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This review was written by Nell Minow
Studio:New Line
Director:Gary Ross
Cast:Reese Witherspoon, Tobey Maguire, William H. Macy
Genre:Drama
Run time:124 minutes
Theatrical release date:October 23, 1998
DVD release date:June 1, 2004
MPAA rating:PG-13
MPAA explanation:some thematic elements emphasizing sexuality, and for language

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.
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