Common Sense Media Review
By Sandie Angulo Chen
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Hayek is terrific in relevant, complex, issues-based drama.
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Beatriz at Dinner
What's the Story?
The plot of BEATRIZ AT DINNER, as the title suggests, centers on Beatriz (Salma Hayek), a homeopathic massage therapist who pays a house call to Cathy (Connie Britton), a wealthy client who invites Beatriz to stay for dinner after her car won't start. Cathy has a soft spot for Beatriz, who used to do body work on Cathy's college-aged daughter when she had cancer. But Cathy's husband, Grant (David Warshofsky), is uneasy about the additional dinner guest, considering it's a celebratory work dinner with two other couples: commercial real estate billionaire Doug Strutt (John Lithgow) and junior colleague Alex (Jay Duplass) and their wives. The men are partners in a somewhat shady but lucrative development deal. Early on, Doug mistakes Beatriz for the help, and things get considerably worse (and tenser) from there, culminating in an awkward dinner during which Beatriz checks Doug for his privilege, poor stewardship of the earth, and lack of compassion for the indigenous people he displaces (to name just a few of his flaws).
Is It Any Good?
Hayek is riveting in her restrained performance as an empathetic Mexican immigrant forced to engage with a boorish, racist, egomaniacal billionaire during an awkward dinner party. Unlike many Hollywood movies, Beatriz at Dinner favors substance over style. Despite a few touches of magical realism, the story is incredibly simple: After Beatriz' car trouble, Cathy misguidedly invites her to an important dinner, not considering how uncomfortable it will be for the hardworking healer to have to interact with domineering, casually racist businessman Doug. Playing against type, the usually glamorous Hayek is stripped of all of make up and couture -- and delivers a career-bolstering role that highlights her soulful eyes, expressive face, and fundamental talent.
Hayek gets a lot of help from Lithgow, who looks like he's having a ball playing Doug. His character bears more than a passing resemblance to Donald Trump: Doug is a real estate billionaire with a brash personality who has un-PC views on everything from immigration to environmental protection laws. His interactions with Beatriz are what creates the drama's delicious tension. Without Doug, there would be no vehicle for Beatriz' growth. The other supporting characters are also to the task. Director Miguel Arteta and screenwriter Mike White have worked together on two other movies (Chuck and Buck, The Good Girl); their third feature outing is a fascinating, funny, sad look at life in our current politically divided era. To the filmmakers' credit, Doug isn't pure evil; he has a point about Beatriz' seeming inability to just relax and enjoy herself. Beatriz is gentle but humorless, quiet but intense, and ultimately she's naive to believe that anything she says could change the dinner party's superficially self-congratulatory nature. This isn't a particularly easy film to watch -- the tension can border on cringe-inducing -- but seeing Hayek and Lithgow square off is a thing of acting beauty.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the messages in Beatriz at Dinner. What do you think the filmmakers are trying to say? Are any characters in the movie clear role models? Why or why not?
How does the movie handle complex themes like class, politics, and race/ethnicity?
What do you think about the movie's unexpected moment of violence? Was it necessary? How does realistic, close-up violence affects viewers compared to stylized, grand-scale violence?
Do you think the character of Doug Strutt is intended to represent any real-life person/people? Why or why not?
How is Beatriz different from the other people at dinner? Is it just a matter of her background? Do you think the movie is trying to send a particular message/make a specific statement?
Movie Details
- In theaters : June 9, 2017
- On DVD or streaming : September 12, 2017
- Cast : Salma Hayek , John Lithgow , Connie Britton
- Director : Miguel Arteta
- Inclusion Information : Latino Movie Director(s) , Puerto Rican Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Latino Movie Actor(s) , Middle Eastern/North African Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Roadside Attractions
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Friendship
- Run time : 83 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : language and a scene of violence
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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