Common Sense Media Review
Tedious movie based on board game; some innuendo, violence.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Clue
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 27 parent reviews
Parents say this film offers a unique blend of comedy and mystery, appealing to both children and adults with its clever wordplay and absurd characters, although some reviews note that it contains sexual innuendos and themes that may require parental guidance. While many parents appreciate its humor and rewatchability, they also highlight the importance of discussing its more adult themes with younger viewers to foster understanding and critical thinking.
- wholesome experience
- clever humor
- parental guidance
- adult themes
- family-friendly
Summarized with AI
Based on 70 kid reviews
Kids say this is a hilarious murder mystery that blends slapstick comedy with adult themes, making it an entertaining watch for older kids and families. However, it also features sexual innuendos, objectification of women, and cartoonish violence, leading some reviewers to suggest it's not suitable for younger viewers due to its mature content.
- adult themes
- slapstick humor
- cartoonish violence
- sexual innuendos
- not for young kids
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Based on the Hasbro board game, CLUE attempts to explain how six unrelated, eccentric characters manage to become murder suspects while staying under one roof. The story is propelled and narrated by a character not found in the board game -- the butler (Tim Curry), who runs the show at a dinner to which the familiar characters of Miss Scarlet (Leslie Ann Warren), Colonel Mustard (Martin Mull), Mrs. Peacock (Eileen Brennan), Professor Plum (Christopher Lloyd), Mrs. White (Madeline Kahn), and Mr. Green (Michael McKean) have been invited. The guests find out they all have been blackmailed by the same man, Mr. Boddy (Lee Ving), who joins the party halfway through dinner. After Mr. Boddy's inevitable death, the murders compound as the group stumbles upon several more bodies, including those of the maid and the cook.
Is It Any Good?
There's really not much to this movie. There is a lot of recapping, which makes the already tedious story line even more tedious. Though the DVD offers three endings (and three murderers), none of the scenarios seems plausible or even likely.
Tim Curry is likable (and very energetic) and has moments of brilliance, but he isn't able to distract from the mess of plot holes and ill-planned nonsense. The rest of the main cast speak their weak lines as though their words are genius, but an understated style only works with a good script. Though there are moments of good comedic timing, most of the jokes and sight gags are obvious, flat, and crude. The juvenile humor and sexual innuendo will be best appreciated by the junior high and high school crowds.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about board games and which others, if any, might be good candidates for being adapted into a movie. How would the movie be different from the game?
If you could make your own movie version of Clue, what would it be like?
Which of the three possible endings did you like best? Why?
Movie Details
- In theaters : June 25, 2000
- On DVD or streaming : June 27, 2000
- Cast : Christopher Lloyd , Madeline Kahn , Tim Curry
- Director : Jonathan Lynn
- Studio : Paramount Pictures
- Genre : Comedy
- Run time : 96 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : mild violence; mild sexual innuendo
- Last updated : December 20, 2025
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