Damsels in Distress

Name: Damsels in Distress
Item: Damsels in Distress
Rating: 4
Author: Sandie Angulo Chen

Movie review by

Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media

Common Sense says

age 14+

(i)

Wry college comedy may go over young teens' head.

PG-13
2012
99 minutes

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Parents say

age 15+

Based on 1 review

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Damsels in Distress

A lot or a little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

Positive Messages

It's hard to say exactly what the messages are, since there's a good bit of lying and personality changing in the story. But one lesson is to stay true to your own voice and ideas even when surrounded by those who don't care or don't understand you. The girls have a mission and they're not afraid it will fail, because they're sure about themselves.

Positive Role Models & Representations

The girls are genuinely interested in helping others, but they also do so to make themselves feel better. The girls think it's better to date guys who aren't as intelligent as they are in order to mold them. Some of the girls' ideas are laughably naive, but they almost always have good intentions. On the other hand, two of the girls lie about who they are, where they come from, etc.

Violence

No actual violence, but since the central clique of girls runs a suicide prevention center, several supporting characters are suicidal.

Sex

Sexuality is mentioned or referred to on many occasions, but there aren't any graphic love scenes. After a make-out session between one of the girls and her beau, he explains that his religion requires him to make "non-procreative love" (an obvious allusion to anal sex, although the words aren't used). She nods in agreement, they begin to kiss, and the scene fades away. This belief is mentioned a few more times. Other characters kiss (in a couple of cases, the guy is with another one of the girls at the time), and one girl refers to a guy as a "player."

Language

"Bitch" is said the most often. Other curse words and insults include "bastard," "damn," and "ass." The word "retard" is also used two or three times.

Consumerism

One of the girls wears a Longchamp purse, but otherwise, there aren't any overt product placements.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Drinking at college parties; some attendees are presumably underage.

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Damsels in Distress is a quirky indie that isn't the crude raunchfest audiences might expect from a college-set comedy. It's actually very tame, with the exception of some making out and a few references to a sexual relationship based on the boyfriend's unorthodox religious beliefs. The issue of suicide prevention is dealt with in a wry manner (the main characters get depressed students interested in tap dancing and musicals). Language includes several uses of "bitch," as well as "damn," "retard," and "ass"; drinking is limited to a scene at a fraternity party. It's notable that the main characters are female, since so many college movies feature guys in the spotlight. But with so much dialogue, it's likely younger teens may not be ready for Damsels in Distress' sophisticated humor.

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User Reviews

Parents say
Kids say

Parent of a 1-year-old Written byMbenz1962 July 11, 2013

age 15+

Dull movie with uncomfortable sexual references.

The movie is a little slow but has some good parts. There was some objectionable language. The biggest issue was the sexuality. There is two scenes where anal s... Continue reading

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What's the story?

At the esteemed fictional college Seven Oaks University, a trio of co-eds -- Violet (Greta Gerwig), Rose (Megalyn Echikunwoke), and Heather (Carrie Maclemore) -- attempts to make the campus tolerable by promoting good hygiene, dating oafish frat boys, and running a suicide prevention center. When transfer student Lily (Analeigh Tipton) arrives on campus, Violet's trio takes her under their wing, explaining their philosophy about everything from dating to the healing powers of tap dancing and free doughnuts. But Lily's membership in the do-gooding clique becomes fraught when she introduces smooth-talking Charlie (Adam Brody) to Violet.

Is it any good?

Director Whit Stillman's comedies are like a mix of the dialogue-heavy humor in Woody Allen, Wes Anderson, or Alexander Payne films. There's not much that happens in DAMSELS IN DISTRESS, but through all of the beguiling characters' hyper-articulate conversations, the audience grows to love them, even as they laugh at how earnest and naive and misguided they are most of the time. Indie darling Gerwig steals the show with her portrayal of caring but narcissistic Violet, whose dreams include starting an international dance craze (stay tuned for the credits) and overcoming campus body odor one perfumed bar of soap at a time.

But all of the four central girls are fabulous in this whimsical comedy. Echikunwoke is especially hilarious as a very English voice of reason who loves to judge guys as "operators" and who's so sensitive to smells that she routinely passes out when a rank group of guys walks past. Tipton, who had a small but pivotal role in Crazy, Stupid, Love as the smitten babysitter, enjoys a breakout role as the group's newcomer. She falls in love with cool Frenchman Xavier (Hugo Becker), whose odd religious beliefs require him to "express his love" in an eyebrow-raising manner. Fans of talky, quirky comedies will find Damsels in Distress delightful, whereas those who prefer Old School-type college flicks may wonder why anyone is laughing.

Talk to your kids about ...

Families can talk about what Damsels in Distress is trying to say about self identity and what it means to be yourself even when no one around you understands why you're a certain way. How are the girls each an example of a unique personality?
How is this college comedy different than other campus movies? Why are so few college comedies focused on young women rather than young men? Why are fraternity guys depicted as so dimwitted?
The director is known for his dialogue; do you think a movie based on conversation rather than plot will engage teen audiences?
How does the movie address sex and relationships? Is it realistic?