 | 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. |
Some Like It Hot
- NR
- Genre: Comedy
- 1959
Common Sense Media says
One of the wildest romantic farces ever.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that in this classic black-and-white comedy, everything is played for laughs -- from the St. Valentine's Day Massacre, in which gangland hoodlums execute seven other thugs with machine guns, to the broad gender-bending humor that finds the two male heroes masquerading as female musicians for most of the film. Marilyn Monroe as Sugar is at her most voluptuous; clothes are revealing; leering at women is a primary male activity; and attempts at seduction move the plot along. But the only sexual activity is some passionate kissing. There's lots of drinking and smoking; Sugar knows she has a problem with alcohol.
What's the story?
Musicians Joe (Tony Curtis) and Jerry (Jack Lemmon) accidentally witness the St. Valentine's Day massacre of a group of bootleggers by Spats Columbo (George Raft) and his mob. Desperate to get out of town, they accept a job with a band on its way to Florida -- an all-girl band -- and they dress as women, calling themselves "Josephine" and "Daphne." When they get to Florida, Joe adopts yet another disguise, this time as a wealthy bachelor, and attempts to woo the band's lead singer, Sugar Kane (Marilyn Monroe). Meanwhile, Osgood (Joe E. Brown), an actual wealthy bachelor, is interested in "Daphne." Meanwhile, Spats and his gang arrive at the hotel for a conference with other gang leaders, which results in even more bloodshed. Can Joe get the girl and get away from Spats?
Is it any good?
SOME LIKE IT HOT is one of the wildest farces ever filmed, but it has a lot of heart as well, with brilliant performances by all three stars. Monroe is heartbreakingly vulnerable as Sugar, explaining that she always gets "the fuzzy end of the lollypop." Joe must become someone else in order to learn the truth about Sugar (who would never have confided in a man) and about himself (as he sees the consequences of his exploitive behavior and feels what it is like to have men try to force their attentions on him). Jerry, hilariously, turns out to be as suggestible as a woman as he was as a man. As himself, he ends up going along with whatever Joe tells him. In women's clothes, he starts to think of himself as a woman. The scene where he tells Joe he and Osgood are engaged is a classic.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about how the characters change from their experiences. How does Joe change, and what makes him change? What does he learn from being dressed as a woman? How do Joe and Jerry react differently to dressing as women? How does Sugar behave differently with "Junior" and "Josephine"?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
Funniest Movie Ever? I Don't Think So...
...But don't get me wrong: I liked it. It was just average, though. A lot of hype for not very much. Good news: it isn't graphic or egregious. Innuendos are rampant in the film, but they are silly and harmless. Violence is really the main concern. By COMMONSENSE's review, I took the "off-screen" shooting to mean that it was implied. Not so. It is very much onscreen. Gangster slayings are shown (with blaring machine guns and bloodied bodies), and several men are shot when a weapon-wielding henchman pops out of a birthday cake. The two main characters are in peril for most of the film.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
So funny! Great family movie!
This is a great family movie. My dad showed it to me and my ten year old sister and we loved it. WATCH THIS MOVIE. There is some kissing on a fancy boat near the end kinda, and there is a small 'slumber party' where the girls are all drinking when they're not allowed to. Nothing too bad. :)
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
It's far from the funniest movie ever made, which many critics call it, but it isn't really a bad one by far.
Was this review useful?
|
|
Kid, 12 years old
February 12, 2010
AGE
perfect for 10 year olds or older
this movie was tereffic! I loved when the gangsters start to fight and when the girl is unhappy they had sugar drinks.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
i love this movie great for family's hilarious
Was this review useful?
|
|
Kid, 4 years old
June 24, 2009
AGE
hannah montana is way better
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
simply fantastic!
A winner!! Very funny and entertaining.
Was this review useful?
|
|
| Studio: | MGM/UA |
| Director: | Billy Wilder |
| Cast: | Jack Lemmon, Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis |
| Genre: | Comedy |
| Run time: | 121 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | March 29, 1959 |
| DVD release date: | May 22, 2001 |
| MPAA rating: | NR |
Review It
Register now to save reviews and advice articles to your personal lists!
Great alternatives handpicked by our editors
Already seen it? What do you think?
More from Common Sense Media
Top advice and articles
