 | 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. |
Thank You for Smoking
- Review Date: September 29, 2006
- R
- Genre: Comedy
- 2006
Common Sense Media says
Mostly clever comedy about lobbyists. For adults.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this film includes frequent use of the f-word (over 20 times). Lobbyists discuss their devious tactics and corrupt employers (firearms, alcohol, and Big Tobacco), comparing death tolls, diseases (fetal alcohol syndrome, cancer), and gruesome inspirations (the gun lobbyist was moved by the shootings at Kent State). Nick is kidnapped and covered with nicotine patches, landing in the hospital. Characters do not smoke on screen, but they do drink occasionally. Characters discuss sex and lust using slang; one sex scene. A primary theme suggests that lobbying is a form of lying to sell product and ideas.
What's the story?
Employed by Big Tobacco, Washington DC lobbyist Nick Naylor (http://www.commonsensemedia.org/reviews/Aaron-Eckhart/ ">Aaron Eckhart) argues that even if cigarettes are toxic, they're not illegal, so it's up to the individual whether to smoke them. Part of a threesome that call themselves the M.O.D. Squad (Merchants of Death), Nick's fellow lobbyists include alcohol lobbyist Polly (Maria Bello) and firearms lobbyist Bobby (David Koechner). They spend their lunchtimes drinking in a red leather booth at Bert's, comparing notes and numbers of deaths with regard to their hurtful, well-paying jobs. Other characters in Nick's world include a skuzzy Hollywood producer (Rob Lowe), a righteous Senator Finistirre (William H. Macy), and a tobacco magnate (Robert Duvall). Nick's revelation begins when he meets the debilitated, lung-cancerous Marlboro Man Lorne Lutch (Sam Elliott). Nick is supposed to convince him to give up his threat to out tobacco's malicious intents. Nick's talking gets him into trouble with Washington Post reporter Heather Holloway (http://www.commonsensemedia.org/reviews/Katie-Holmes/ ">Katie Holmes) when he blabs crucial secrets.
Is it any good?
Based on Christopher Buckley's popular novel, THANK YOU FOR SMOKING isn't as clever as it seems to be, and it doesn't exactly condemn or admire Nick. But it does question his nihilism, in part through his adoring and inquisitive son, whose big-eyed reaction shots underline that Nick has responsibilities, beyond the job. While Nick thinks for a minute he wants to raise up Joey in his own image, when he starts to doubt the moral relativism of his soulless arguments, the relationship changes. "If you argue correctly," he tells Joey, "you're never wrong." Nick's a great talker, Thank You submits, but he's not right.
The film's smartest scenes involve The M.O.D. Squad. The group's honesty provides sharp contrast with the film's other fall guys who, whether callous or dumb or egotistical, are stereotypes that offer no new insights, just easy targets.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about Nick's relationship with his son Joey: How does the son challenge his dad's thinking? How does his admiration of his father make Nick question himself? How does the Marlboro Man serve as a kind of father figure for Nick, who sees in him a victim of the product he pitches?
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AGE
I learned alot!
I watched this movie afterschool in my government class. After watching the movie we were required to write a paper about how the movie simulated lobbyists from the real thing. Very knowledgable!
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AGE
A thinker movie for the light hearted
This is actually a really funny movie - not that I wasn't expecting it to be, but it was funnier than I thought it would be. It somehow manages to take the concept of smoking, and make it funny and horrific. The entire movie is very clever, every line very witty, so it's definitely more of a thinking movie. But even so, there are still some sexual scenes and swearing that may be a little over your kid's heads for now. So if your kid can tolerate it, 14+ is my recommendation. :) Hope I helped!
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AGE
indie classic
this is a hilarious film but not for your kids because they could pick up smoking lol. the reason it is funny is because it is sooooooo politically incorrect and shows how every thing we do has to be politically correct , but for that reason it is not saying sorry or I didn't mean it because it does and that is why it is a classic
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AGE
Very funny!
I laughed a lot. This movie is a good time, if you're mature enough to handle it. You just have to remember that smoking is bad.
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AGE
funny but....
this was a good movie. for people that already know that smoking will kill you. there is also some sexual content. (shows nick naylor having sex in different positions with TV reporter)
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AGE
What's the big deal?
So the characters promote smoking. Big deal. I've watched the movie at least a dozen times and I've lost count of how many times I read the book. I've never even thought about smoking. I know that smoking can cause cancer and kill you, but if an adult who understands the risks wants to smoke, it's nobody's business to tell them they can't. The characters in the movie don't smoke, so the actors and film-makers aren't promoting smoking. Also, the movie is rated R for a reason (namely, sex and language). If you let your child watch this, you need to ask yourself: who's really the bad one here? The people defending the rights of legal adults who choose a behavior, or the parents allowing their children to watch a movie chock-full of sex and language?
The movie is great, full of very good actors and very funny lines. Definitely worth watching, plus I recommend the book.
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AGE
Talk to your kids
This is a great vehicle for discussing critical thinking and healthy skepticism with your children, once they have the appropriate maturity level to see deeply enough into the characters. Why is this person saying what he is saying?
I really don't care about the language or the smoking. Low, self-destructive behavior is all around us. We choose to participate or we don't. Another good discussion point.
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AGE
I laughed!
This was in fact a pretty good movie, but i do not recomend it for chilren under the age of 15 because it includes alot of language, sexual behavior,and it might cause some people to try smoking.This movie has alot of humor that is good, but it is not humor that kids should be hearing. This movie is about a spokesperson for a cigarette company. Because he is the spokesperson for a company that kills so many people he ends up being hated.
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AGE
Avoid at all costs!
For some reason, the makers of this movie thought it was necessary to use a sex scene to create a message about tobacco lobbyists.
I never watched the entire movie, since I found it so horribly offensive.
Although it is a very interesting subject, I would not recommend it to anybody under 18, if not older.
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| Studio: | Fox Searchlight |
| Director: | Jason Reitman |
| Cast: | Aaron Eckhart, Katie Holmes, William H. Macy |
| Genre: | Comedy |
| Run time: | 92 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | March 17, 2006 |
| DVD release date: | October 3, 2006 |
| MPAA rating: | R |
| MPAA explanation: | language and some sexual content. |
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