Dear Zoe
Kids say
Based on 3 reviews
Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.
Dear Zoe
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.
Suggest an Update
A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Dear Zoe is a coming-of-age drama about a Tess, a 16-year-old artist (Stranger Things' Sadie Sink) who believes she's responsible for her little sister's death. The film explores how tragedy changes us so that we see our lives in two parts: "before" the loss and "after." With her family mired in grief, Tess flees to the home of her estranged father, Nick (Theo Rossi), who's perpetually down on his luck but up with his attitude. He offers a counter-stereotypical take on the "deadbeat dad" cliche: He's broke because he doesn't believe in working for "the man," but he's delighted to get the chance to be a hands-on parent. That said, he does allow the underage Tess to drink beer. He also orders her to stay away from Jimmy (Kweku Collins), the boy next door, but she doesn't listen, and soon, they bond through his sneaking in through her window and teaching her to smoke pot, telling her it "heightens who you truly are" and "makes you smarter." The teens kiss, and it's implied they have sex. Language can be coarse ("bitch," "s--t"), and some characters who sell drugs are presented in a positive light. The central tragedy takes place on Sept. 11, 2001, and there are images of the Twin Towers burning.
What's the Story?
In DEAR ZOE, following the car accident death of her little sister on Sept. 11, 2001, Zoe, 16-year-old Tess (Sadie Sink) tries to escape her grief by moving in with her estranged father, Nick (Theo Rossi). Moving from the suburbs of Pittsburgh to the scrappy town of Braddock, Tess hopes that a change of scenery will offer a chance to heal.
Is It Any Good?
This drama serves up meaty discussion topics but doesn't really dig in to the questions those topics raise. For instance, when a mass tragedy like 9/11 happens, are the lives of others who also happened to die on that day forgotten? Does living or working in an affluent area make you "safe"? If someone just barely scraping by sells drugs to survive, is that wrong, and does that make them a "bad" person? And what makes someone a good parent?
While it could be understood that narrator Tess is a teen who's just living her life, with deeper analysis reserved for her future self, that doesn't fully translate for teen audiences. The story is told through the portal of Tess' journal, a tool intended for self-reflection. So if Tess isn't having these thoughts or realizations, teen viewers won't, either. While Sink does her job of relaying what's on the page, the directing, somehow, doesn't offer viewers an understanding of what's going on with Tess in between the lines. Audiences might understandably expect some sort of deeper message to sink their teeth into -- like how can you process grief and find a way to move on? That opportunity, too, is left on the table.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Tess moves through the stages of grief. Does the way loss is represented in Dear Zoe feel realistic?
How do you think the movie's characters might be "labeled" in the real world, and how do these characters compare? How do they undermine stereotypes?
Does Dear Zoe glamorize underage drinking and drug use? Are there realistic consequences? Why does that matter?
Movie Details
- In theaters: November 4, 2022
- On DVD or streaming: November 4, 2022
- Cast: Sadie Sink, Theo Rossi, Kweku Collins
- Director: Gren Wells
- Studio: Freestyle Releasing
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Book Characters, Brothers and Sisters
- Run time: 94 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: some teen marijuana use
- Last updated: December 1, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
-
Burn Your Maps
Poignant, quirky family dramedy explores grief.
-
We Bought a Zoo
Family film tackles grief with humor and deep empathy.
-
The Lion King
Visually stunning remake is darker, more violent.
-
A Monster Calls
Heartrending adaptation explores the enormity of grief.
-
The Farewell
Awkwafina shines in excellent dramedy about family, culture.
For kids who love movies about resilience
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