Parents' Guide to

Committed

By Nell Minow, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 17+

Somewhat bizarre chick flick. R for language.

Movie R 2000 98 minutes
Committed Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

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What's the Story?

Joline (Heather Graham) believes in commitment. When she gets married, she has the ring tattooed on her finger. Less than two years later, when her husband Carl (Luke Wilson) leaves her without telling her where he's going or why, she tracks him down. She parks near his new home and watches him, inadvertently disrupting his relationships with his new girlfriend (Patricia Velasquez) and his boss (Dylan Baker). Joline becomes friends with his girlfriend, Carmen, and gets advice from Carmen's grandfather (Alfonso Arau), ultimately ending up "committed" in both senses of the word.

Is It Any Good?

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

After watching this movie, you may find yourself committed to the idea of finding a better (or at least less offbeat) chick flick. Joline is less committed to Carl than she is to the idea of commitment. Her sense of herself is so deeply tied up in the idea of permanence that she doesn't stop to think about whether Carl is the one she should be committed to. It's not a terribly compelling premise.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the challenge of maintaining a balance between supporting the person you love and enabling destructive or self-destructive behavior. They may also want to talk about Joline's terms, "spiritual wheelchair" and "spiritual coma," and the metaphor of the rattlesnake poison.

Movie Details

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