Parents' Guide to Chasing Happiness

Movie NR 2019 96 minutes
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Common Sense Media Review

Andrea Beach By Andrea Beach , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 13+

Engaging JoBros documentary has some language, drinking.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 13+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 11+

Based on 3 kid reviews

What's the Story?

CHASING HAPPINESS follows the now grown-up Jonas Brothers as they reunite after years of estrangement. They look back on their past successes and failures, and talk openly and honestly about their experiences as a phenomenally popular boy band. Hopefully by revisiting the past, they'll be able to put it behind them and move into the future with their bonds of friendship and family intact.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say ( 3 ):

This engaging documentary about the likable Jonas Brothers makes it easy to see how the talented trio became enormously popular as young teens in the mid-2000s. And what's not to like? They're talented, grounded, and hardworking, and their love of performing together is infectious. Chasing Happiness offers a substantial, mature look at the brothers and their story that can even be enjoyed by people who aren't fans of their music.

The documentary covers a lot of ground, but some topics that feel worth pursuing, or at least worth more mention, get left by the wayside. Nick's life-threatening diabetes, for example, or the fourth brother, Frankie. Cynics may see it as a carefully crafted strategy to prepare their fans for a different, more mature Jonas Brothers in the future, and that's no doubt a factor. But it succeeds as an entertaining look behind the scenes at three brothers who absolutely love making and performing music together. It's also an emotionally satisfying look at their lives and brotherly bonds. The mature perspective, strong language, and brief drinking to excess make it best for teens and up.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how Chasing Happiness portrays the Jonas Brothers. What are their character strengths and weaknesses? What do you like, or not like, about them?

  • Did you learn anything new or surprising about the Jonas Brothers after watching this movie? Were you a fan of theirs before? Did the movie change your opinion about them?

  • Nick says that he was so busy chasing happiness he couldn't see that it was right there all along. What did he mean? What do you think happiness means to him, and what does it mean to you?

Movie Details

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