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Parents' Guide to

A 2nd Chance

By Grace Montgomery, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Predictable, family-friendly sports movie addresses bullying

Movie NR 2013 90 minutes
A 2nd Chance Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 6+

Based on 6 parent reviews

Heawhite
Heawhite Parent of 1 and 7-year-old
September 7, 2022
age 6+

AMAZING

It is my daughter’s favorite movie
Nbulos
Nbulos Adult
January 8, 2021
age 11+
See all 6 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Hiding from the pain of secrets in her own gymnastics past, Kate (Nina Pearce) reluctantly takes over the middle school gymnastics team after their coach falls ill. The three gymnasts are struggling to compete against a rival team full of mean girls who pick on them at school, especially on Maddy (Emily Morris), the shyest but most talented of the group. With the help of fellow coach Shane (Adam Tuominen), Kate works to help the girls make it to the Australian Nationals gymnastics competition, while also trying to make amends with Sally Peterson (Amy Handley), current gymnastics judge and former friend.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (6 ):
Kids say (13 ):

Although A 2ND CHANCE isn't a bad movie, it's not really very memorable. It has most of the elements seen in most sports movies (the underdog who overcomes obstacles, the glamorous rival who's not as confident as she seems), but it doesn't really bring anything new to the table. The acting also feels a bit amateurish -- especially from the adults -- and the dialogue is a bit clunky at times.

Young kids will probably enjoy the scenes showing gymnastics routines, though they often have so many cuts, effects, and angle changes that you don't really get to see the full routine. And parents will probably enjoy the message about not giving up just because others say you can't do it. But they may find issue with Kate, who is a somewhat flawed role model. She spends a lot of the film bemoaning her own problems and doesn't always make the best choices. Overall, it's a fairly clean family film that makes for an enjoyable watch, but it may not warrant a repeat view.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about bullying. Why do you think Chelsea and her friends chose to pick on Maddy? Have you experienced bullying?

  • Do you think you have to like gymnastics to enjoy the movie? Or are there universal themes that everyone can relate to?

  • What's your favorite sports movie? Why is it your favorite?

Movie Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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