What Happens in Vegas (PG-13, 2008)

common sense media says

Raunchy romantic comedy has a softer side, too.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this fairly raunchy comedy starring teen faves Ashton Kutcher and Cameron Diaz revolves around a drunken, ill-advised marriage after a night of debauchery in Las Vegas. Forced to stay together due to an unexpected windfall, the leads feud, fight and argue constantly in an effort to get the other to violate their "union." There's a lot of sexual content (making out, underwear shots, breasts flashed off-camera, etc.), constant iffy (albeit inventive) language, and frequent drinking. But although there's plenty of questionable material -- including Kutcher's character feigning being the victim of spousal abuse, a topic that's hard to laugh about -- there's also a surprising amount of positive material about the nature of a real marriage and what it takes to make one work.

Positive messages: The plot revolves around the question of what makes a committed marriage; in order to break up their sham union, the main characters encourage each other to seduce their partners into infidelity. Toward the same end, Kutcher's character pretends to be a victim of spousal abuse. Some toilet humor, including urination on-screen.
Violence: Scuffling, tussling, and feuding; characters are punched in the face and the "junk" slapping.
Sex: Implied sexual activity; lots of making out; a character flashes her breasts (not shown) as a form of payment to a cabbie; characters appear in underwear; role play as part of a committed relationship; sexual exploration and more.
Language: Constant sexually suggestive language, with many references to "getting laid," "having sex," and more. Repeated use of words/phrases like "ass," dick," "balls," "douche," "junk," "ball sack," "jack off," "whore," "sluts," "s--t," "bitch," "buttload," "vagina," and "effing," plus "shortbus" and "retard" as insults.
Consumerism: Characters stay at the Planet Hollywood hotel in Las Vegas and drink Bud Light and Michelob Light. Tampax is referenced by name.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Alcohol is consumed and abused, with ramifications ranging from hangover to vomiting to an impulsive marriage. Alcohol is also consumed socially in lower volumes and with less dire ramifications. A reference is made to "a bag of weed."

More on What Happens in Vegas

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about Las Vegas' reputation -- does what happens in Vegas in fact stay in Vegas, or do actions always have consequences? Talk with your kids about some of the real-life problems caused by drinking too much. Families can also discuss how the characters' sham marriage turns into a real supportive relationship, as well as the real challenges and rewards of marriage. Finally, families can talk about the recent trend of raunchy romantic comedies -- what makes these films so popular?

What's the story?

What's the story?
After each suffering a setback, Jack Fuller (Ashton Kutcher) and Joy McNally (Cameron Diaz) go to Las Vegas for the opportunity to unwind; a chance meeting turns into a night of drinking ... which culminates in a hasty, booze-fueled marriage. The next day's regrets and recriminations are capped off by Jack winning a $3 million slot machine jackpot -- which is now community property. Back in New York, a judge freezes the funds and forces Jack and Joy to "try and make the marriage work." Jack and Joy then begin a cold war of plots, stratagems, and schemes to get the other to show bad faith and abdicate their half of the money, but the relationship between the two gradually thaws -- and then even warms. Could their drunken, irresponsible wedding turn out to be the foundation of a real relationship?

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
Even as their unwelcome marriage becomes a battleground over possession of the money, anyone who doubts that Diaz's busy go-getter and Kutcher's slacker will learn from each other, come to respect each other, and, in time, have real feelings for each other has clearly never seen a romantic comedy before. Neither Kutcher nor Diaz are working much outside of their established personas here -- he's an overgrown child, and she needs to loosen up -- and their on-screen chemistry is a bit more convincing when they're angry than when they're not, but they do get a nice rhythm going.

What Happens in Vegas is a mix of sour and sweet, as Kutcher and Diaz's combat eventually turns to affection; the film also benefits from a great supporting cast (including Rob Corddry, Queen Latifah, Dennis Miller, and Zach Galifianakis) that provides solid laughs whenever the film slows down. Director Tom Vaughan keeps the pace brisk, and that swiftness keeps What Happens in Vegas from bogging down or becoming a chore. It tries to follow the template set by Judd Apatow's recent successful comedies like The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Knocked Up, mixing naughty, bawdy jokes with sweeter, more sincere sentiments; while the execution may not be as impressive here as it is in Apatow's films, it's also far better than anything the Farrelly brothers (The Heartbreak Kid, Me, Myself and Irene) have made in years. What Happens in Vegas isn't a comedy jackpot, but it's hardly a losing bet.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox
Director: Tom Vaughan
Cast: Ashton Kutcher, Cameron Diaz, Rob Corddry
Genre: Comedy
Run time: 98 minutes
Theatrical release: May 7, 2008
DVD release: August 25, 2008
MPAA Rating: PG-13
MPAA explanation: some sexual and crude content, and language, including a drug reference.
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This review was written by James Rocchi
 
 

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What parents & educators say

17

Most useful reviews by all members

ironkid21
kid, 13 years old
 
This was a very funny movie but the whole getting drunk and sleeping with someone you don't know and get married to them without knowing thing was kinda raunchy. Other than that it's really funny but gets a little boring in the middle. 11+

silly_samsters
teen, 17 years old
 
Movie you must see
This movie is really good! The only part that parents would have to worrie about is when there is this party and there is girls in there bra and underware and guys with no shirts on! But otherwise it was really good! A must see movie

Tiffany756
kid, 11 years old
 
Not That Bad
i seen it and it isnt really bad yes it has some bad stuff in t but just enjoy the show and ignore all the bad stuff its funny

theoreo
teen, 17 years old
 
What Happens In Vagas
i love this movie. He is sooooo hot

rotten brat
teen, 15 years old
 
i laghed till i joked
funny movie it reminded me of school

LaceY
adult
 
I Loved it!
I thought that this movie was funny and maybe not that great for kids, but if you think about it everything that is in this movie is plastered everywhere. Sex, swearing, violence on t.v anywhere you go. Its in schools, so even if my boy didn't see this movie he is going to see it at school or somewhere else. This didn't have gangs or shooting did it or drugs .....no why look always at the negative things? your kids are going to get a preview somewhere and it could be a lot worse.

 
BLEECK!!
Vulgar laughs, stupid plot , not really appropriate for a 13 year old. 15 plus , but no way 13.

JesusLuvsYew
teen, 18 years old
 
Funny.
I haven't seen this in so long! I remember watching this at a hotel and it was laugh-out-loud hiliarious! I was fourteen when I first saw this. Maybe I'm wrong because it's been a long time since I last saw this.

fort32
adult
 
never getting that 93 min back
Sex, disgusting behavior and foul language is about all this movie offers. Not funny, pretty raunchy and would NOT let a 13, 14 or even 15 yr old watch it. Irresponsibly rated film

 
Funny for adults
I wouldn't send my thirteen year old.

 
DISGUSTING
THE MOST STUIPD MOVIE I HAVE EER SEEN . SINCE WHEN DOES SEX BECOME THE MAIN PLOT OF THE MOVIE!!!!! wAY TOO MANY BAD WORDS AND SEX SECENES

Coolchris330
teen, 15 years old
 
Great Movie!
"What Happens in Vegas" is a comedy about a couple, one of which has just been fired, the other dumped. They both go to Vegas to forget about their troubles, but when they get drunk together, the trouble has only just begun. When they ask the judge for a divorce, he states that love is a passionate thing and sentences them to 6 months 'hard marriage'. Suggestive Content (Pause) Crude references to sex. The main couple get married while drunk in Vegas. Violence (Not an Issue) A woman falls off a table while drunk Language (Pause) Mostly mild, some stronger expressions, crude references to Sexual Behaviour. Social Behaviour (Pause) The main characters get married in a drunken haze at Vegas which could be considered a bad role model. Drugs/Alcohol (Pause) The main characters are drunk when they are married in Vegas and this is demonstrated through a video shown towards the end. Commercialism (Not an Issue) Vegas, that's it! Coolchris330

Ergtjg
teen, 15 years old
 
I don't reallly know why the adults are freaking out so much...
This movie is very formulaic, but has good acting. You know what will happen the second you walk in. Sex and alcohol are shown lightheartedly. Lots of innuendo, but hardly anything shown - nothing beyond underwear, and even that is not shown very provacatively. Kinda cute, actually.

Hs Mom
educator and parent of 18 year old
 
This is the kind of stuff that harms our kids
I made my 15 year old daughter and her 15 year old girlfriend turn this off after the first simulated clothes-strategically-placed sex scenes that flashed by on the night the couple met. This is the kind of stuff that teaches girls that it is perfectly fine and lots of fun to enter a hotel room in a strange city, (Vegas, of all cities) with a stranger she got drunk with and have sex. Why is it that in these movies it is all depicted as a great time without consequences--no unwanted pregnancy, no genital warts, and no HIV.

 
Sends the wrong message
"Getting drunk and getting married to a stranger will leave you with the perfect person and $3 million!" Not in this world. This movie is not for kids or families.

 
great movie! Histerically funny.
I thought this was a really funny movie. i felt that it had a pretty good story also. However i did not feel that it was inappropriate in the least bit. Obviously for someone about 12 or under, yes it would. I would not worry about it though if you have a mature child over the age of 13. It was a great movie and i recommend you see it for yourself!

Amojo10
adult
 
Supremely inappropriate for 14 and younger
As an adult, was really hilarious, but there is no way this film should have been rated PG-13. I couldn't imagine allowing anyone I know who is 13, 14, or 15 to watch this movie, but once again you really have to "know" your child. The story is pretty good, and as the movie goes forward you see the two main characters start helping one another. It's really a great movie if you are married, or close to getting married to see how guys and girls live so differently. peace

 
funny date movie
check it out.have a girlfriend tske her if she wants

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