Common Sense Media Review
By Sandie Angulo Chen
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Charming lead performance in quirky but mature comedy.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
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Where to Watch
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Crash Pad
What's the Story?
CRASH PAD is a comedy that follows 30ish slacker Stensland (Domhnall Gleeson), who's horrified to find out that Morgan (Christina Applegate), the beautiful older woman he's just been with, is actually married. Heartbroken, Stensland -- whose roommate is about to move out -- stays home for a week to smoke pot and cry over old episodes of Dawson's Creek. Then Morgan's alpha-male husband, Grady (Thomas Haden Church), finds out about the affair. At first, he threatens to kill Stensland. But then, instead of beating Stensland up, Grady decides to move in with the blubbering younger man and relive his youth (and annoy his wife). Grady forces Stensland to head to bars and parties every night to pick up women so that both of them can "get over" Morgan -- but it's clear that Grady doesn't really want to betray his wife.
Is It Any Good?
Gleeson's adorkable melancholy and Church's alpha-male charm make this an amusingly watchable if not particularly memorable comedy. Gleeson's heartsick romantic (with a capital R) is utterly sweet as he mourns the loss of a possible relationship with Applegate's Morgan. Considering how often a jilted single woman is shown sitting on the couch crying, eating takeout, and watching reruns of sappy TV shows, it's refreshing to see a man indulging in heartache. But Stensland's affair with Morgan, even though it sets up the story, ends up secondary to his roommate relationship with Grady, a "fancy" lawyer who's planning to even things up with his wife by having sex with a stranger.
Despite his perceived loserdom, Gleeson's Stensland is easy to cheer on, while Church's Grady seems like a variation on pretty much every character he's played since Sideways: straight-talking, slightly morose, dealing with relationship baggage. The men's roommate chemistry is funny, even if the overall story doesn't wrap up in an original way. Applegate and Nina Dobrev, who plays Morgan's executive assistant, have considerably less to do while the guys are out drinking and flirting. In his first directorial gig since 1990, Kevin Tent, an Oscar-nominated editor best known for his collaborations with Alexander Payne (a producer of Crash Pad), shows potential for quirky comedies. This one is a decent, if not perfect, start.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Crash Pad's messages. What does Stensland want to teach Grady and Morgan about love and relationships? Does he succeed?
Do you consider any of the characters role models? Why or why not?
How does the movie depict drinking? Are there realistic consequences? Why does that matter?
Movie Details
- In theaters : October 27, 2017
- On DVD or streaming : December 5, 2017
- Cast : Domhnall Gleeson , Christina Applegate , Thomas Haden Church
- Director : Kevin Tent
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Vertical Entertainment
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Friendship
- Run time : 93 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : strong crude sexual content, language, some nudity, drug use and alcohol abuse
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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