Common Sense Media Review
By S. Jhoanna Robledo
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Realistic look at teen culture has drinking, sex, language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 17+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The We and the I
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
On the last day of school, a high-spirited crowd of New York high school students pile onto a city bus to make their way home through the Bronx. Director Michel Gondry sets all of THE WE AND THE I during this journey, as kids flirt, bicker, brag, and show off. The young actors look and sound just like real teens, and it's easy to see the shifting dynamics of friendships, sometimes fraught with conflict and tension and sometimes marked by the easy-natured interactions between close pals. Boys loudly jockey for position within their group, while girls do the same thing, though quietly and with more subtlety. All the while, potential couples warily circle each other, sometimes managing to make a connection.
Is It Any Good?
The We and the I is a thrilling look at youth, capturing the mood so perfectly that it almost feels like it could be a documentary. The stakes are low -- who will get invited to a party?, which couples will manage to connect? -- but they're exactly the things that seem so crucial to young people, and Gondry nails every rebuff and tentative connection.
The characters all have history with each other; they've been together in school for years, and they ride home together most afternoons. The film reveals the casual shorthand of people who know each other well and gradually makes it clear which ones have real connections and which are just long-time acquaintances. The beauty of the movie is discovering that so many of the passengers on the bus are just like people we all know.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the teens in The We and the I. Do they seem like real people? Do they remind you of anyone you know? How do they compare to other movie teens?
How does the movie portray teen drinking and sexuality? Is it realistic? Are there realistic consequences for the characters' decisions/actions?
What do you think about the various groups of friends in the film? Is it easy to tell how the characters relate to each other? Do the cliques seem familiar?
Movie Details
- In theaters : March 8, 2013
- On DVD or streaming : September 17, 2013
- Cast : Michael Brodie , Raymond Delgado , Teresa Lynn
- Director : Michel Gondry
- Studio : 108 Media
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Friendship , School ( High School )
- Run time : 103 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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