• Is it age appropriate?

  About our ratings

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  Not age appropriate for kids under 16, age appropriate for kids over 18; suggested age 16.

• Is it any good?

  3.0

• Common Sense says

  Pitch-black Robin Williams comedy too edgy for young teens.

Why We Rated This for Ages 16–18

What to watch out for

• Messages:

  Although the movie has a few positive messages about admitting the truth -- even when it's embarrassing -- and how adolescents cover up their true feelings in order to go with the flow, most of the take aways are negative. Kids who abhor a fellow student pretend to have been his friend after he dies and becomes posthumously popular. A shallow woman is torn between two men and seems to choose based on which one is more successful or attractive at any given moment. A frustrated writer fakes another character's suicide and then capitalizes on the cult status of the "suicide note" he writes, profiting from the death.
• Role models :

  The only positive role model is Kyle's best friend, who is loyal to him, in life and death. Otherwise, almost all of the characters are shallow, hypocritical, and, in the case of the main character, virtually unconscionable in their actions.
• Violence:

  Two high-school guys get in a fight after one overhears the other saying something "perverted" to a girl. A character dies accidentally in a disturbing, compromising position.
• Sex:

  Most of the sexuality is related to graphic conversations about sexual practices and shots of pornographic magazines. Kyle is shown masturbating several times -- to porn magazines and Web sites and even photos of his dad's girlfriend. Kyle also discusses various sex acts (such as felching, cunnilingus, and German "Scheizer porn") with his best friend, peeps on his middle-aged neighbor as she undresses, and tries auto-erotic asphyxiation. Lance and Claire kiss a few times and eventually have sex, during which Claire makes explicit requests. Lance is briefly shown naked (backside) walking to a pool, and for a second his penis is visible underwater as he swims.
• Language:

  Nearly every scene has very strong language. "F--k," "s--t," and "a--hole" are the most commonly used words, with insults like "fag," "whores," "pervert," "bitch," and "dumb" also said often. Sexual language includes "p---y," "dick," and "freak." "Jesus Christ!" is exclaimed a couple of times.
• Consumerism:

  Only a few brands/products are visible -- a Mini Cooper car, the video game Doom, and New Yorker magazine.
• Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

  Lance drinks and smokes a joint, which he offers to his neighbor -- who declines but suggests he make pot brownies. In another scene, Lance makes the brownies for her and lets his son's best friend have one, although the teenager doesn't know there's pot in them.

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