Reign Over Me (R, 2007)
common sense media says
Grief-stricken Adam Sandler deals with 9/11.
parents & educators say
- 33% say language is an issue
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this isn't an Adam Sandler comedy. Rather, it's a drama about a man's ongoing response to losing his family on 9/11. For much of the film, Sandler's character is ragged-looking, distraught, aggressive, and foul-mouthed -- though he can also be charming in a childish way. His visits to a therapist are mostly sad, as is his eventual lengthy description of his loss. There's lots of swearing and derogatory slang, as well as discussion of suicide (one nearly successful attempt is shown), insanity, institutionalization, and oral sex. Some yelling, pushing, and hitting takes place during a fight, and minor drinking in bar leads to an argument.
Violence:
References to 9/11 (none visual) make Charlie and other characters upset; a character's father dies, causing grief; video game shooting, exploding, crashing; Charlie pushes and hits Alan; Charlie pulls a gun on a cabbie, hoping that nearby cops will shoot him ("suicide by cop") -- instead, they tackle him.
Sex:
Woman offers her dentist oral sex in his office, then stalks him, returning to see him and threatening him with a harassment lawsuit (discussion of this problem includes body part names and slangy words and phrases like "penis," "she wants to do down on me," "she wants to blow you"); when Charlie visits a therapist, he talks about her "tits."
Language:
Frequent uses of "f--k" and "s--t", plus "ass," "asshole," "damn," "sucks," "bitch," "p---y," "chrissake," and "hell." A lengthy barrage of insults includes repeated uses of "faggot." Other phrases include "suck my ass, retard!" and "he's a giant dork!" A movie-within-the-movie screening of Blazing Saddles includes a bleeped-out series of jokes using the "N" word (the audience laughs at the jokes).
Consumerism:
Starbucks, Shadow of the Colossus video game, Colonel Sanders (stand up display in an apartment), Captain America, many mentions of bands (Pretenders, The Who, Bruce Springsteen) and a Mel Brooks marathon.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
Beer drinking in bar, wine drinking in restaurant.
More on Reign Over Me
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Most useful reviews by all members
punk
adult
adult
very good
i think it is a good movie to see if u want to see what the impact on a person that lost everything from 9-11 i wish it wasn't rated R so i can see it by myself!!! but adam sandler is the best actor ever.
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poopshi
parent of 17 year old
parent of 17 year old
Great movie, even though there is the swearing you don't tend to notice it as much when your paying attention to the grieving messed up guy. Excellent show, I have recommended it to others. Not a comedy... Adam Sandler does the swearing in the movie, but that should be a given.
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jenchristo17
parent of and 4 , 8 , 11 year old
parent of and 4 , 8 , 11 year old
great for discussion when watched with an adult
good example of Christlike love
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damoviecritic
adult
adult
Excellant film good for the average teenager
This is truly a great film. It is a study of greif, loss, coping, and male friendship. Sandler gives the performance of his carreer as a man suffering trauma, and Don Cheadle backs him up, giving a powerhouse performance. This is a film that, while it certainly won't appeal to most teenagers, is certainly one to be enjoyed by them. The language is fairly coarse, but it is probably about 1/3 as bad as the average stuff they hear in the school cafeteria.
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