You Can't Take It with You

  • Review Date: January 10, 2005
  • NR
  • Genre: Comedy
  • 1938
 Review

Common Sense Media says

Kid-friendly Capra classic stars a quirky family.
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 Frank Capra classic is delightful family viewing. The only red flag is the slightly condescending treatment of two African-American characters.

  • Overall the movie has extremely positive messages about pursuing your dreams and supporting the people you care about. Reflecting the time in which the movie was made, the two
    African-American characters, a maid and her out-of-work boyfriend, are
    treated with some affection but also condescension.
  • Not applicable.
  • Not applicable.

What's the story?

In YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU, Tony Kirby (Jimmy Stewart) and Alice (Jean Arthur) have fallen in love. The problem is that they are from drastically different families. Tony's is straight-laced. Alice's is loving but eccentric, presided over by Grandpa (Lionel Barrymore). Alice invites Tony and his parents over for dinner, but they arrive a day early. The chaos that ensues leads Alice to believe she and Tony cannot be married, but it only serves to strengthen his resolve that they can.


Is it any good?

 

The well-loved play by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart is given the Frank Capra treatment, sometimes called "capra-corn." The entire populist subplot about the land being sold and the appearance of most of the characters in court are the additions of Capra and his screenwriter, Robert Riskin, and they make the film seem a bit dated. But children will enjoy the way that everyone in the family joyfully pursues his or her own dreams, and the way they all respect and support one another.


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What families can talk about

Families can talk about whether they would like to live in a family like this one. Which family member is most like you? Why did Tony tell his parents the wrong night for dinner at the Sycamore's? Notice the difference between the way that the Sycamores and the Kirbys react when they get arrested. Why? What does the title mean?


This review was written by Nell Minow
Adult
June 2, 2010
 
By today's standards this movie is ab it slow moving. Children may not want to sit through it. Has a very nice story in it though and teens should be able to appreciate it.

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Teen, 16 years old
October 18, 2009
 
Charming but slow-moving
Kids won't understand what nearly half of the stuff they're dealing with means. Mature tweens may get it, but I doubt they want to see it. It can be very funny at times and has a very good message that if you have family and friends, that's better than all the wealth in the world.

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This review was written by Nell Minow
Studio:Columbia Tristar
Director:Frank Capra
Cast:James Stewart, Jean Arthur, Lionel Barrymore
Genre:Comedy
Run time:127 minutes
Theatrical release date:August 23, 1938
DVD release date:February 13, 2003
MPAA rating:NR

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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