 | 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. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Shallow Hal
- Review Date: May 7, 2003
- PG-13
- Genre: Comedy
- 2001
Common Sense Media says
Romantic comedy is pretty tame for Farrelly bros.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this movie has very strong language for a PG-13, especially the sexual references. Characters drink, and several scenes are set at a bar/nightclub. The overall theme of the movie is the importance of judging people based on their behavior, not their looks. Robbins explains that Black is not hypnotized now -- he was hypnotized before, when he thought that all of the TV and movie images of beauty were what mattered. Some viewers may feel that the movie itself makes fun of people who do not fit current standards of beauty. A disabled character is treated with complete naturalness -- he is by no means perfect (because he gets around on all fourts, he tells girls he recognizes them by their panties), but he's good-hearted and respected.
What's the story?
Hal (Jack Black) and his best friend Mauricio (Jason Alexander) are two pudgy guys who insist on women with absolute physical perfection. Even though Hal is a pretty nice guy who is good at his job, when it comes to women, he is undeniably shallow. Then he and infomercial star Anthony Robbins get stuck in an elevator together, and Robbins gives Hal a gift -- from now on, Hal will see people the way they are, not the way they look. Suddenly, all around him are gorgeous girls who are very interested in him. They're interested in him because he thinks they are beautiful, and he thinks they are beautiful because they are kind, generous, beautiful people. Mauricio is horrified, especially when Hal falls for Rosemary (Gwyneth Paltrow), who volunteers at the local hospital and works for the Peace Corps. Mauricio looks at her and sees a hugely obese woman. Hal looks at her and sees -- Gwyneth Paltrow.
Is it any good?
The Farrelly brothers, known for gross-out comedies, have taken a couple of giant, if uncertain, steps toward the mainstream with this fairly conventional romantic comedy. SHALLOW HAL even has an undeniably sweet moral -- that true beauty is seen with the heart, not the eyes. Black's specialty is a sort of frenzied but charming energy, and unfortunately, this movie does not give him much opportunity to show it off. Paltrow has some nice moments as Rosemary, a vulnerable woman who has felt humiliatingly invisible all her life.
But one problem with the movie is that instead of the characters themselves being funny, the jokes in the movie happen around them. Black and Paltrow do the best they can, but there just is not enough comic energy at the core of the movie. Some Farelly trademarks make it into the movie, including a disabled character (athlete Rene Kirby, who has spina bifida) and a bizarre physical aberration. But overall, it seems as though it is something of a transitional film for the Farrellys, enjoyable on its own and as a suggestion of better things to come.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about what we look at and what we look for when we meet people. If we saw the way Hal does, who would be the most beautiful person you know? How would you look? Would you like to see people the way Hal does?
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AGE
Very funny movie with a good message
I thought this movie was really good. Had a lot of funny stuff in it, a good plot, and a very good message; Never judge someone for what they look like.
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AGE
Parents, this will give your kids positive messages!
Sex:
Preparing for sex is on screen for about three minutes, which is very inapropriate. Kissing in often shown.
Violence:
Not much violence, it's mostly about how there are sad parts, like when Hal's dad dies (shown on screen), and a little girl's burnt hair and face are shown for a while.
Language:
F*ck, sh*t, and maybe a d*mn.
Good Role Models and Positive Messages:
This movie has the greatest message ever: never judge people on how they look- if they have a tail (like Mauricio), if they are overweight (like Rosemary), if they're toe is bigger then another toe (like Lindi), if they had a bad face injury, (like Kaydance), or even if you look different and people think you're ugly (like Katrina), doesn't mean Hal didn't like them. Hal saw them as hansome and beautiful people- not to mention, a very pretty woman who had a bad personality- Hal saw her as an ugly old lady, when she was really a pretty young woman. Not exactly appropriate for young kids, but perfect for the older ones!
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AGE
Good for Teens
It was a good movie, kind of predictable but with a good message. Swearing is probably the only issue, along with at one part thin Rose-Marie strips while Hal watches from bed. But otherwise fine for teens.
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AGE
I think that it needs to be mentioned that skinny Rose Mary is in a thong & sheer top getting ready to have sex with Hal. Her naked butt is shown (when there is no need for it) for entirely too long.
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AGE
Great Movie for kids ages 12+!
Awesome movie! It definately sends out a message about not judging people by their appearances, has some pretty good role models, has some sexual content but not much just one breif scene, there is some drinking, the F-word is used once or twice but overall a good clean, funny comedy
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AGE
a great movie. A MUST SEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
language: lots of swearing in every scene, sex: Rosemary gets undressed to have sex with hal but only her butt is shown, drinking drugs and smoking: some smoking and a lot of drinking but no one gets drunk. this is a very good movie but if your going to take a kid under the age of 13 to see it then bare in mind that it has this content in it. But the content isnt all bad it teaches the most important lesson that highschool students and older need to know: it dosent matter what a person looks like on the outside it's the inside that counts.
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| Studio: | Twentieth Century Fox |
| Directors: | Bobby Farrelly, Peter Farrelly |
| Cast: | Gwyneth Paltrow, Jack Black, Jason Alexander |
| Genre: | Comedy |
| Run time: | 113 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | November 9, 2001 |
| DVD release date: | July 2, 2002 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | language and sexual content |
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