2:22

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2:22
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that 2:22 is a mystery thriller with some violence, peril, and non-graphic sex. After nearly causing a mid-air collision between two planes, air traffic controller Dylan Branson (Michiel Huisman) starts to spot patterns in everyday life and predicts a deadly occurrence due at 2:22pm each day. The recurring action takes place at New York's Grand Central Terminal rail station and features panic, explosions, and guns. Characters are shot with one being shot and killed by police. As well as the near-miss plane accident, there is a graphic car crash, with the impact filmed from inside the vehicle. Dylan and his girlfriend, Sarah (Teresa Palmer), share a non-explicit sex scene in bed, with their naked bodies covered with sheets. Sarah's jealous ex, Jonas (Sam Reid), displays violent and threatening behavior. Language includes "bitch," "bastard," and "bulls--t." A character alludes to having a mental illness, but is non-specific. A man contemplates suicide at the edge of a rooftop but decides against it.
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What's the Story?
In 2:22, Dylan Branson (Michiel Huisman), a man with a knack for spotting patterns, notices a potentially deadly fate brewing at New York's Grand Central Terminal rail station. With his new girlfriend, Sarah (Teresa Palmer), he tries to uncover the time-hop mystery before it's too late.
Is It Any Good?
The ultra-glossy look of this movie makes every scene feel like a perfume commercial (or when Dylan's checking his glimmering Bering timepiece, a watch advertisement). There's nothing wrong with a good-looking film, but 2:22's model looks are paired with a shallow storyline with as much depth to match a perfume ad. The science fiction and fantasy element is the movie's weakest link, but to its credit, it still wraps up nicely. As a young teen's first step into fantasy time-loop mystery movies, it should pass the time pleasantly. But anyone expecting it to measure up to Groundhog Day, Source Code, or Edge of Tomorrow will find it lacking. It doesn't have the wit, depth, or intelligence to reach those high benchmarks.
An Australian movie filmed in New York, the largely Australian cast provide a mixed bag of performances. Some accents are shaky but that's made up for with a couple of standouts. Palmer gives her all to play Sarah, a character who unfortunately amounts to little more than a concerned onlooker. Along the way it's clear 2:22 was planned as a slow-burning mystery. But Huisman's voiceover is more detached and disinterested than enigmatic and compelling. Ultimately, the sub-par writing, pacing, and pixel-perfect sheen add up to very little.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in 2:22. Did the violent scenes help tell the story in an effective way? Was it shocking or thrilling? Why? Does exposure to violent media desensitize kids to violence?
How did the movie portray sex? Was it affectionate? Respectful? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values regarding sex and relationships.
Did the movie remind you of any others you've seen? Which ones and in what ways?
Movie Details
- In theaters: June 30, 2017
- On DVD or streaming: September 26, 2017
- Cast: Michiel Huisman, Teresa Palmer, Sam Reid
- Director: Paul Currie
- Studio: Magnet Releasing
- Genre: Thriller
- Character Strengths: Empathy, Perseverance
- Run time: 98 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG-13
- MPAA explanation: violence and some sexuality
- Last updated: August 4, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
For kids who love thrills
Character Strengths
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