August Rush

Movie review by S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media
August Rush Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 9+

Pleasant, emotional, fable-like family drama.

PG 2007 113 minutes
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Parents say

age 12+

Based on 25 reviews

Kids say

age 10+

Based on 37 reviews

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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 this emotional is fairly good family entertainment, with sexual content at a minimum and lots of warmth and great musicianship. That said, there is a bit of violence (a man flashes a knife at children), some social drinking, and a few iffy words ("damn," "pissed," etc.). And since the first half of the movie relies on lots of flashbacks -- which could be confusing for younger kids -- it's probably a better pick for tweens and teens.

Community Reviews

B H.
B H. Adult
November 5, 2016
age 13+

What Is The Message?

This movie bothered me a little bit. Sure it was a good family movie, and covered the beautiful journey of a young boy searching for where he belonged. That was fine. However, I wasn't sure what the movie was trying to get across? The overarching story is that a young woman met a guy somewhat like her on a roof. After five seconds of talking to him, they make out and end up having sex (nothing shown until the morning) on a random roof. They part ways and battle work and family life to find each other. Both are unaware of their son, who is wandering through New York trying to find them. Apparently, after thinking about each other for the ELEVEN YEARS they've been apart, they drop everything and rush back to the place they met to find each other again, and also find their son. Yes, it's cute, yes, it's heartwarming, yet it's also kind of disturbing. First of all, they had a kid without even meeting a second time and completely disregarding birth control. After being separated, they both spontaneously decide that they were meant for each other and rush off to New York. I want my kids to see realistic love stories, like that between me and my husband, or some of our couple friends, not flimsy, weepy, unrealistic stories like this. After finishing this movie, my 11-year-old and I had a conversation about true love. Both of us agreed that "love at first sight" is merely a first impression, and that what they did was irresponsible. Other than that, I think it was a cute movie, and the story of the boy was great, but the parents' backstory is just a little too unbelievable. I don't want my kids thinking that's love.

This title has:

Too much sex
obsrvr
obsrvr Adult
January 13, 2012
age 10+

This movie is now #3 on my list of favorite artistic movies

While I agree with the parent who wrote that it should not be treated as a shining example of "true love", you can discuss that fact with your children. It's just a story. I had a harder time explaining the mysticism to my son. That said, I agree with the principal view that music is all around us, even though not everybody can "tune in." I did roll my eyes when little August, with only one lesson on actual theory and practice, writes this beatiful piece and gets accepted to Julliard and goes straight to conducting the Phil. You will need to explain that this is completely unrealistic; even musical geniuses need to study and practice to achieve such goals.
See all 25 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Ah, young love. It's the heady cocktail that entwines two young musicians -- Irish singer-guitarist Louis (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) and reserved, brilliant cellist Lyla (Keri Russell) -- in this imperfect-but-winning film. After meeting cute in Greenwich Village, they spend the night together. But morning brings the harsh glare of sunlight -- and reality: Lyla is whisked away by her protective father (William Sadler), never to see Louis again. Nine months later, when a pregnant Lyla winds up in the hospital after an accident, she's told that the baby she and Louis conceived that night has died. Only he hasn't. Instead, Evan (Freddie Highmore) is sent to a home for wayward boys, where he pines for his parents, believing he can will them to find him through his music. (He's a prodigy, able to tap into the harmonies of nature -- grass rustling, wind howling -- and command new instruments the moment he picks them up.) So when they fail to materialize at the dreary institution's doorsteps, he sets out to look for them. And with the help of a social worker (Terrence Howard), and the propulsive force of his music, he just might.

Is It Any Good?

AUGUST RUSH proudly wears its heart on its sleeve. Despite the lows -- and there are lows -- you just know there will be a happy ending. Allegorical and not altogether literal, the movie is part musical and part fantasy, a combo that doesn't always quite mesh. But the stars -- particularly Highmore and Russell -- are charming, and so innocent that you can almost believe a story like this could happen in real life. However Robin Williams strikes the wrong chord as Wizard, an aging busker, who, Fagin-like, rounds up a bunch of musically inclined street urchins, encourages them to play, then keeps much of their take at the end of the day. (Evan takes up with them, and it's Wizard who renames him August Rush.) With his hat and swagger, Williams seems to be channeling Bono by way of Saturday Night Live. The effect is humorous, but not for the right reasons; you keep expecting him to go off on one of his riffs to signal that he's joking.

August Rush does a great job of establishing the connection between Evan and his mother; in two separate scenes, they discuss how many days they've been apart, using nearly the same syntax. But there doesn't appear to be the same bond between Evan and his father (though seeing them play guitar together is somewhat moving). Director Kirsten Sheridan draws the link between Louis and Lyla much more clearly, making their coupling seem completely inevitable and, consequently, dreamy and meant-to-be. (Just like the movie's happy ending...)

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what kind of movie this is -- is it a drama? A fantasy? Both? How can you tell? Do you expect a movie like this to be realistic? Families can also discuss how the movie portrays music. Does it really have the power to connect people? To heal their wounds? Why? Can you think of other movies that depict music's enormous, and sometimes magical, reach? And, last but not least, what can viewers learn from how Evan keeps believing in a kinder, gentler world, despite his background and everything that happens to him? What's the big lesson here?

Movie Details

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