Parents' Guide to Flyboys

Movie PG-13 2006 139 minutes
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Common Sense Media Review

By Cynthia Fuchs , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 14+

WWI pilots make like heroes in bland adventure.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 14+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 13+

Based on 2 parent reviews

age 12+

Based on 5 kid reviews

What's the Story?

Set in 1916, before the United States entered World War I, Tony Bill's movie focuses on young American men who go to France to join the Lafayette Escadrille. Texas rancher Blaine Rawlings (James Franco), frustrated at the loss of his parents' land to the bank, heads to Europe so he can put his flair for cowboying and earnest energy to use piloting one of the brand new "flying machines." Blaine's fellow trainees include Briggs (Tyler Labine), who enlists in order to prove his worth to his wealthy snob of a father; William (Philip Winchester), a cavalry officer's son who wants to continue his family's military tradition; and Eugene (Abdul Salis), a black expatriate boxer who wants to defend France, where the people actually treat him like an equal. All are instructed by the very patient Capt. Georges Thenault (Jean Reno).

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say ( 2 ):
Kids say ( 5 ):

A romantic paean to World War I -- the so-called "Last Gentleman's War" -- FLYBOYS features plenty of midair action in small, open-cockpit biplanes.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the history of World War I, which introduced planes as weapons and vehicles of warfare. How do the American flyers help the French cause before the United States enters the war? Why did the United States finally decide to get involved in the war? How has warfare changed since WWI? What is the movie's ultimate message about war?

Movie Details

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