Common Sense Media Review
By S. Jhoanna Robledo
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Quirky, mature hipster comedy is a bit too soggy.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Neal Downs (Aaron Stanford) is a musician who moonlights as the manager of Flakes, a quirky café that serves only cereal. His artist girlfriend, Miss Pussy Katz (Zooey Deschanel), wishes he would quit his job and finish the album he's been working on so they can finally start a life together. But Neal can't shake Flakes because its foggy-minded owner, Willie (Christopher Lloyd) is almost always out to lunch. When Pussy offers to man the fort while Neal focuses on his music and he refuses, she hightails it over to the upstart cereal bar across the street. The place is owned by a nerdy wannabe, Stuart (Keir O'Donnell), who's café is threatening Flakes' stability. If Flakes closes down, Pussy surmises, maybe Neal will finally focus on his art. But Neal isn't about to go down without a fight. Needless to say, their relationship suffers.
Is It Any Good?
If the plot seems like too little to sustain a whole movie, that's because it is. Cereal is the ultimate comfort food: easy, uncomplicated, reliably pleasing. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for FLAKES -- the latest film from director Michael Lehmann (he also helmed Heathers) -- despite the fact that it's about the hipsters and hippies who hang out at a restaurant that serves nothing but the boxed breakfast staple.
Charm alone -- the movie stars Deschanel, after all, and makes some interesting (albeit unoriginal) points about art vs. capitalism -- can't carry Flakes through. It's fun to see New Orleans through the camera's affectionate, even longing, gaze, and the cast clearly has rapport, but in the end, Flakes is simply much too soggy to relish.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the film pits art against commerce. Is it really that black and white? Can you be an artist and a successful businessperson at the same time? Would someone like that be an interesting subject for a movie? Why or why not? Families can also discuss Neal's relationship with his girlfriend. Do they act like loving partners? What's with all the plotting against each other? Why does Hollywood have a penchant for relationships gone awry?
Movie Details
- In theaters : December 19, 2007
- On DVD or streaming : July 7, 2008
- Cast : Aaron Stanford , Christopher Lloyd , Zooey Deschanel
- Director : Michael Lehmann
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : IFC Entertainment
- Genre : Comedy
- Run time : 84 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 20, 2019
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
Suggest an Update
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