The Whole Nine Yards

  • Review Date: July 10, 2003
  • R
  • Genre: Comedy
  • 2000
 Review

Common Sense Media says

Some very funny moments, but not for kids.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Not yet rated

Kids say

Not yet rated

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this movie is rated R for language, sexual references and situations (including sex used as a negotiating technique), substance abuse (including liquor used to cope with problems), and violence (including the death of a major character).

  • Not applicable.
  • Comic violence, including lots of guns, characters in peril, deaths.
  • Nudity, sexual references, and sexual situations.

What's the story?

THE WHOLE NINE YARDS stars Matthew Perry as Oz, a miserable dentist from Chicago, now living in Canada with a wife (Rosanna Arquette) who despises him. He is trying to pay off the debts of her father, who had been his partner, and who embezzled money and then committed suicide. When the notorious Jimmy "The Tulip" Tedeski (Bruce Willis) moves next door, Oz becomes involved in a series of double- and triple-crosses, involving Jimmy's former colleagues in the mob, an assortment of hired killers, and Jimmy's beautiful and lonely wife, Cynthia (Natasha Henstridge).


Is it any good?

 

Surprisingly enough, there is a nice little comedy genre about mob hit men living in suburbia. This one doesn't quite live up to Steve Martin's neglected gem My Blue Heaven, but it has some very funny moments.

The Whole Nine Yards is a fast and funny comedy that checks morality and political correctness at the door. Perry spends most of his time falling down, when he isn't getting beat up. Amanda Peet is simply terrific as Oz's sympathetic receptionist, with an unexpected expertise in hired killers. And the resolution, following a tough choice between love or money, is very satisfying.


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What families can talk about

Families can talk about the various ways the mob is portrayed in movies, and research the true history of the mafia.


This review was written by Nell Minow
Teen, 16 years old
February 14, 2009
 
Absolutely hilarious!!!
I dont get why its rated so high-- there is a bit of sex in it but isnt there in every movie(barring cartoons). I didnt think it was very violent either. On the funny side-- like I said---absolutely hilarious I recommen from 12+!!!

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Parent of 13, 18, and 21 year old
January 5, 2009
 

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This review was written by Nell Minow
Studio:Warner Bros.
Director:Jonathan Lynn
Cast:Bruce Willis, Matthew Perry, Michael Clarke Duncan
Genre:Comedy
Run time:98 minutes
Theatrical release date:February 18, 2000
DVD release date:July 18, 2000
MPAA rating:R
MPAA explanation:some sexuality/nudity and violence

This review was written by Nell Minow
 

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About our rating system
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.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

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