 | 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. |
Swingers
- Review Date: July 10, 2005
- R
- Genre: Comedy
- 1996
Common Sense Media says
Funny modern comedy of manners and cool.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this film contains a lot of very strong language, which the main characters use freely. Mike and Trent spend a lot of the film discussing women in unflattering ways. Although there are no scenes of nudity, but ther'is a scene where Mike interrupts Trent and a woman during sex. Much of the film takes place in bars, and the main characters drink a lot of alcohol, smoke, and gamble. There]s also a scene of potential violence where a gun is drawn during a fight but not fired.
What's the story?
Ripped from a moment in the 90's when hipsters embraced a neo-Ratpack aesthetic, Trent (Vince Vaughn) and Mike (Jon Favreau) are two hip young guys in LA who swig martinis and dance to "swing" bands like Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. Mike's girlfriend broke up with him after he left her in New York to try and make it as a comedian in LA. Trent is desperately trying to get Mike back into the dating scene, dishing out dubious advice while dragging him from club to club. What's more, Trent's sleazy style seems to really work for him; the more condescending and manipulative he is, the better he does with women. To Trent's horror, Mike constantly rehashes the tragedy of his break-up to every girl. We follow the pair from a big trip out to Las Vegas and on through bars and clubs, Mike repeatedly trying, and failing, to pick up a girl. Along the way, we meet their other friends, including Rob (Ron Livingston), a struggling actor with a major creative crisis, Charles, too hip for the scene, and Sue, a twitchy guy with some violent tendencies.
Is it any good?
A modern comedy of manners and cool, SWINGERS will entertain and embarrass teenagers and their parents. Teenagers will probably (hopefully!) find the 10-years-ago swing revival aesthetic too square for words, while parents may find themselves reflecting back on their own youthful excesses. But charming, funny performances by the cast, especially Vince Vaughn and Ron Livingston, will make it worth the pain.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the different ways the main characters deal with women and one another. What is the cost of Trent's predatory, manipulative behavior? Why does he lose his cool in the diner at the end of the movie? The film looks at both positive and negative aspects of peer pressure -- in the scene where Sue pulls out a gun, his friends make it crystal clear what a major violation of cool he's committed. How does this contrast with their other behavior?
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AGE
Good movie, but only for older teens
There is a lot of talk about sex, but by about 15 most teens are talking about this same stuff everyday at school, so it won't be anything new. There is also a surprisingly positive message at the end of the movie that I won't give away, but it lessens the chance that teens will see one of the more morally ambiguous characters as a good role model. The only major concern is that the movie glorifies drinking & smoking. Overall, a pretty good movie that will be fine for older teenagers.
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| Studio: | Miramax |
| Director: | Doug Liman |
| Cast: | Heather Graham, Jon Favreau, Vince Vaughn |
| Genre: | Comedy |
| Run time: | 96 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | July 11, 1996 |
| DVD release date: | September 24, 2002 |
| MPAA rating: | R |
| MPAA explanation: | language |
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