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The Thing Called Love

(1993, Rated PG, Drama, Starring Samantha Mathis, Dermot Mulroney, River Phoenix)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 13, age appropriate for kids over 15; suggested age 14.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    A star is born in Nashville.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 14–15

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Not an issue.

  • Violence:

    Fist fight.

  • Sex:

    The two leads neck. Non-married couples have sex and they are filmed lying in bed, implicitly naked, but little is actually shown.

  • Language:

    Occasional extreme profanity.

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Plenty of drinking by all the young 20-somethings.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About The Thing Called Love

Parents need to know that the subject matter of this PG-13 movie is too mature for younger kids. Viewers will see drinking, fist fights, and some sexual material, from kissing to couples in bed together (though nudity is only implied).

Read our full review by Randy White

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about predictable endings. It's no surprise that Miranda finds her voice at the end; do you like movies that end happily or do you prefer more ambiguous endings? Why do we see movies when we know what's going to happen in them?
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