Parents' Guide to

Clover

By Jeffrey Anderson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Solid crime movie has tons of violence, strong language.

Movie NR 2020 101 minutes
Clover Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

See all

There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.

What's the Story?

In CLOVER, Jackie (Mark Webber) has racked up a huge gambling debt and owes $50,000 to gangster Tony (Chazz Palminteri). Jackie's twin brother, Mickey (Jon Abrahams), is furious, afraid that they'll lose the family bar. Dragged in to see Tony, they're given a chance to redeem themselves: pulling the trigger on another man who hasn't paid his debt. The brothers go to the man's house with Tony's son Joey (Michael Godere), but Jackie and Mickey can't do the deed. A teen girl named Clover (Nicole Elizabeth Berger) appears, and Joey is shot dead. So Jackie and Mickey find themselves on the run with Clover in tow, trying to avoid getting killed by an army of gangsters. Unfortunately, two highly skilled female killers have also been called in.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

This crime movie's basic framework is wearily familiar, but it gets bonus points for a sense of place, a wry sense of humor, and the clever way it shifts female characters into positions of power. Clover -- the title refers to both the teen girl character and to a four-leaf clover the brothers covet -- has all of the typical mob movie scenes. There's also a tough boss yelling at his underlings (and killing anyone who gets out of line) and ne'er-do-well heroes who are in way over their heads. And there are usual hide-and-chase scenes, bloody shoot-outs, and constant swearing.

Yet as Clover goes along, it becomes clear that the filmmakers -- actor-director Abrahams and screenwriter Michael Testone -- have a very clear sense of this world, the lifelong relationships, and the sharp, harsh way that people deal with each other. The relationship between the brothers grows more nuanced, and their bickering becomes funnier. But the real surprise is how the movie handles women -- not only the hired killers, but also the proprietor of a club and a hard-as-nails ex-girlfriend who agrees to help the fugitives. Sadly, Clover herself is a bit of a weak link. She seems to try a little too hard, when a dash of subtlety might have worked better. But Jake Weber adds a wonderfully weird touch as poisons expert Terry, who helps the brothers. He's the good luck charm who edges the movie into "worth seeing" territory.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Clover's violence. Does the fact that it's so stylized make it exhilarating? What parts were more shocking than thrilling? Why?

  • Why are gangsters and criminals so appealing in stories? Why are we drawn to them?

  • How does the movie portray its female characters? Do they occupy positions of power? Are they in command of their destinies? Are there stereotypes?

  • How does the movie portray drinking and smoking? Does it make hanging out in a bar look like fun? Are there consequences?

  • How is sex depicted? What values are imparted?

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.

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