Takers (PG-13, 2010)

common sense media says

Heist movie lacks logic but has violence to spare.


parents & educators say
  • 67% say violence is an issue
  • 67% say sexual content is an issue

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that violence permeates this action-oriented heist movie, which co-stars headline-grabbing musician Chris Brown. Many characters die without consequence, and violence seems to be a way out -- or an ending -- for most of the characters. Language is strong, with many uses of "s--t," "goddamn," and "bitch." Many characters smoke cigars or drink champagne or fine scotch as status symbols, and a supporting character has a drug problem (though viewers never see her take drugs). In one scene, one of the robbers wades naked into a pool where two pretty girls are waiting for him, but nothing sensitive is shown. Don't look for positive messages or role models here; ultimately, this is a movie about a bunch of criminals doing what they do best.

Positive messages: The five robbers often demonstrate good teamwork, but it's always in the name of crime. Characters can't trust one another in this movie, and several are hiding something. Violence is committed without consequences, and more often than not, violence is seen as a way out.
Positive role models: The most "admirable" characters here are all thieves and robbers. They're the ones who exhibit the best teamwork and problem-solving skills, although always to bad ends. As for the other characters, there's a crooked cop and a cop obsessed to the point of neglecting his family and his health.
Violence: The movie is filled with over-the-top action and fighting sequences. Characters single-handedly take on many opponents, and there are acrobatic chase scenes throughout the city. Guns are drawn, and shots are fired, sometimes resulting in dead bodies. There are few consequences to these actions, other than "an eye for an eye." Several explosions.
Sex: After a successful heist, a character celebrates by wading naked into a pool where two pretty girls are waiting for him (no sensitive body parts are shown). A man proposes to his girlfriend, and they kiss passionately. Some sexual banter.
Language: Very frequent use of "s--t," plus "goddamn," "bitch," "ass," "damn," "hell," and "Jesus Christ" (as an exclamation).
Consumerism: A McDonald's billboard is seen in passing.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: A supporting character has a drug problem and is in rehab; she checks out early and falls off the wagon. She's never seen doing drugs, but another character refers to her as a "crackhead." She also smokes cigarettes. Other characters smoke cigars, as well as sample champagne and fine scotch (though no one gets drunk; these things are mainly used as status symbols).

More on Takers

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families can talk about the movie's violence. Was it exciting or gruesome? How did you feel about how many of the characters met their ends?
  • What are the consequences of the violence in this movie? Do they seem realistic?
  • Are the main characters sympathetic? Should they be? Does the movie glamorize the life of the bank robber?
  • One of the cops takes a bribe. Does this make him a bad guy? As bad as the bank robbers?

What's the story?

What's the story?

Five crafty robbers -- Gordon (Idris Elba), Jake (Michael Ealy), Jesse (Chris Brown), A.J. (Hayden Christensen), and John (Paul Walker) -- pull off an intricate heist that leaves the cops baffled. After the job, the rich robbers are about to disappear when their old partner, "Ghost" (rapper Tip "T.I." Harris), gets out of jail and shows up with a new offer. He has the route to an armored car delivery, and they'll have only five days to pull off this difficult job. (Worse, Jake has just proposed to Ghost's old girlfriend, Rachel, who's played by Zoe Saldana.)The robbers agree to take on the challenge, but  LAPD detectives Jack Welles (Matt Dillon) and Eddie Hatcher (Jay Hernandez) are hot on their trail. Oddly, the clues lead them to the Russian mafia. Just how dangerous is this armored car job? And who will survive?

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

TAKERS' disparate cast tries hard to bring some personality to the movie, but their characters seem short-changed by the bad writing. T.I. -- who also co-produced -- brings a kind of sinister, snaky quality to his ex-con, but poor Saldana fares the worst of all, showing none of the toughness she's exhibited in earlier movies. She's now just a "waiting, worrying" girlfriend.

Four credited writers and rookie director John Luessenhop can't make it credible that these five careful, meticulous planners would take on the armored car job based on information from someone they don't trust. From there, the movie falls to pieces in the midst of well-staged but poorly-shot (and ultimately ridiculous) action sequences; it's all rather rushed and joyless. The movie culminates in an increasing rain of violence, and since none of the characters has any redeeming values, it almost doesn't matter who's left standing.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Screen Gems
Director: John Luessenhop
Cast: Idris Elba, Matt Dillon, Paul Walker, T.I.
Genre: Action/Adventure
Run time: 107 minutes
Theatrical release: August 27, 2010
DVD release: January 18, 2011
MPAA Rating: PG-13
MPAA explanation: intense sequences of violence and action, a sexual situation/partial nudity and some language
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This review was written by Jeffrey M. Anderson
 
 

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What parents & educators say

13
Based on 3 parent & educator reviews:
  • 67% say violence is an issue
  • 67% say sexual content is an issue
  • 67% say language is an issue
  • 67% say there's too much drinking, drugs, or smoking

Most useful reviews by all members

Prototype79043
teen, 16 years old
 
Good Movie
The violence wasn't that bad, but frequent. But overall, this movie is age appropriate


kid, 12 years old
 
not for kids
has violence,language and nudity.not for kids


teen, 14 years old
 
not for kids
has violence,language and nudity.not for kids


kid, 11 years old
 
not for kids
has violence,language and nudity.not for kids

ironkid21
kid, 13 years old
 
This was the worst movie ever made. It was really boring. There was one scene were they are nude in the pool but it isn't very noticable. Don't see this movie. Watch Inception or something more entertaining. 9+

TheSuperman765
teen, 16 years old
 
i rate this title IFFY for ages 14+
What to watch out for * Messages: The five robbers often demonstrate good teamwork, but it's always in the name of crime. Characters can't trust one another in this movie, and several are hiding something. Violence is committed without consequences, and more often than not, violence is seen as a way out. * Role models: The most "admirable" characters here are all thieves and robbers. They're the ones who exhibit the best teamwork and problem-solving skills, although always to bad ends. As for the other characters, there's a crooked cop and a cop obsessed to the point of neglecting his family and his health. * Violence: The movie is filled with over-the-top action and fighting sequences. Characters single-handedly take on many opponents, and there are acrobatic chase scenes throughout the city. Guns are drawn, and shots are fired, sometimes resulting in dead bodies. There are few consequences to these actions, other than "an eye for an eye." Several explosions. * Sex: After a successful heist, a character celebrates by wading naked into a pool where two pretty girls are waiting for him (no sensitive body parts are shown). A man proposes to his girlfriend, and they kiss passionately. Some sexual banter. * Language: Very frequent use of "s--t," plus "godd**n," "bi*ch," "a*s," "d**n," "h**l," and "Jesus Christ" (as an exclamation). Consumerism: A McDonald's billboard is seen in passing. * Drinking, drugs, & smoking: A supporting character has a drug problem and is in rehab; she checks out early and falls off the wagon. She's never seen doing drugs, but another character refers to her as a "crackhead." She also smokes cigarettes. Other characters smoke cigars, as well as sample champagne and fine scotch (though no one gets drunk; these things are mainly used as status symbols).

Jadenp
teen, 15 years old
 
Not for kids. Very strong language for a PG-13. violence is strong too. 16+
Suggested MPAA Rating: R for intense sequences of violence, a scene of sexuality including nudity, and language throughout. I say this movie should be rated R because if there was any more language or sexuality or anything inappropriate it would have been R. There is about 30 sh**'s in the movie, including lines like "Godd**nit! That son of a b***h! Sh**!" It is not for kids at all.

a_r2012
teen, 17 years old
 
good film for the older croud
liked the film, but probably would not recommend for young kids. lots of violence and language.

 
no
Movie is not very good at all.

 
This movie, because there are so many adult themes, should have been rated "R." What has not been mentioned, (I assume, to not give away one of the "plot" outcomes), is the theme of "suicide." Additionally, there is no real "base" for the criminal behavior, other than simply being "criminal." It is an "entertaining" movie... but should be experienced only by adults.

Theguy521
teen, 14 years old
 
Really
Get a life you can watch a PG movie with worse things in it. Some commercials have worse scenes in it. School teachers have said worse things than in that movie.

 
Takers is an average movie stars with Chris brown filled with non-stop action and that means that some of your older teens will want to see this movie but parents you need to know that Takers has a lot of intense violence some sexual situation and partial nudity also some strong language used and characters smoke cigars and drink champagne or fine scotch.

slimshady24
teen, 15 years old
 
Mediocre heist film with good plot but poor acting
It's a pretty good movie and all the characters are solidly developed except for the T.I. character. All of them are intelligent then he comes in all gangster and kinda screw's up the atmosphere. over all worth viewing

taaayjuhxd
teen, 16 years old
 
Its violence, but i consider it action and in my opinion there's really nothing too bad about it. Its not too violent im 15 and i loved it

bananalover
teen, 16 years old
 
stupid!!!!!! chris brown and t.i.? you got to be kinding me!!!!!

4Spice
adult
 
great movie
this is a very good action movie it reminds me of the town but I think it's better no kids 15 and over for intense violence strong language and for partial nudity

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