Parents' Guide to

City Island

By S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Wacky film makes smoking, teen fetish part of the joke.

Movie PG-13 2010 103 minutes
City Island Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

See all
age 15+

Based on 2 parent reviews

wonder dove
wonder dove Adult
May 4, 2012
age 14+

Enjoyable!

City Island is great! Not as funny as I was hoping, but very cute & original story about a dysfunctional American Family. Sexual content is minor (no nudity - except for a very quick flash of a nude woman on a porn site), a few scenes from a strip club. A teenaged boy is obsessed with fat women and subscribes to an obese woman's "cooking" website (found that hilarious!) and there is some cheating. Language isn't too bad. Great for ages 14 and up I think!

This title has:

Great messages
Too much sex
Too much swearing
MAXTHEKINGOFALLWILDTHINGS
MAXTHEKINGOFALLWILDTHINGS Adult
May 30, 2010
age 15+

Great film with good messages for 15 and up.

I really enjoyed this film, and although there is frequent smoking and sexual references, there are positive messages here, such as: families should not hide things from each other, people should be honest and fair when dealing with friends and family, and that luck is not always the best thing to count on. The iffy content is never glorified, and if your kid is an early teen, I think they will really understand what this film is saying. It's really smart, well-rounded, funny, and heartfelt. Definitely one of my favorites so far for 2010.

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
Great messages
Great role models
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Vince Rizzo (Andy Garcia), a correctional officer, has a dream: He wants to be an actor. While he's attending classes in Manhattan and making friends with a mysterious woman (Emily Mortimer), his wife, Joyce (Julianna Margulies), stews at home in the picturesque part of the Bronx known as City Island, convinced he's having an affair. That's not his only secret, either. A son (Tony Nardella) unaware Vince is his real father, is an inmate at the prison, and though he's ready to be paroled, he has no family to go home to, so he's still locked up. Stricken with guilt, Vince brings him home, introducing him as a friend. In the meantime, Vince's teenage son, Vince Jr. (Ezra Miller), is busy skipping school and viewing fetish websites, and his daughter (Dominik García-Lorido), can't bear to tell them of a big problem, too. Together, they make for one hugely dysfunctional, and amusing, family.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2):
Kids say (2):

CITY ISLAND could've easily gone wrong, with all its twists and turns, but for the most part, it gets family dysfunction just right. Irreverent and surprising, it's a hilarious way to lose a few hours, especially when those hours are spent with a cast that's on its game. Garcia, who shot to fame for his broody, sensual roles, plays the paterfamilias here with great zest. (His real-life daughter is cast as his oldest here, too.) Margulies, also known mostly for her dramatic turns, gives him lots to work against as his combustible wife, Joyce. But it's Miller as his droll, sarcastic son who commands the screen; his disaffected teen could almost join a pantheon that includes the likes of Ferris Bueller and nearly every character portrayed by Michael Cera.

The film's a riot, but it could've been much better with focus. City Island seems to be a metaphor for authenticity, but it's not made clear. The film starts off shrouding the area with a distinct identity, but all that gives way to a comedy that could've been set anywhere. Alan Arkin as an acting teacher is underused, and Mortimer seems more plot device than actual player. Like City Island itself, they're woefully wasted.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about smoking. Did you know that exposure to smoking in the media is connected to teens taking up the habit? Did smoking appear sexy or cool in this movie? Why do you think the makers of the movie decided to include smoking in the story?

  • Why does Vince feel the need to hide his aspirations? What does acting give him that's missing in other parts of his life? Why doesn't his wife talk to him about her suspicions? What hampers their communication? Does any of this storlyline resonate with your family issues?

  • Talk about the singular way relatives can get under your skin and yet be the ones who have your back. What is it about this dynamic that makes it so rife for conflict? What kinds of conflicts arise in your household? How do parents and kids manage conflict in healthy and unhealthy ways?

Movie Details

Inclusion information powered by

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.

See all recommended movie lists

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate