Father and child sit together smiling while looking at a smart phone.

Want more recommendations for your family?

Sign up for our weekly newsletter for entertainment inspiration

Parents' Guide to

For a Good Time, Call...

By Jeffrey Anderson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 17+

Silly phone sex comedy is lighthearted but crude.

Movie R 2012 85 minutes
For a Good Time, Call... Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

See all
age 10+

Based on 2 parent reviews

915071
915071 Adult
April 25, 2013
age 2+

good

good
ParentReviewz
ParentReviewz Parent of 7 and 15-year-old
January 21, 2013
age 18+

For a Good Time, Watch This Movie!

"For a Good Time, Call..." is about two young women who start a phone-sex line, So, obviously quite a bit of sexual content is expected. Most of the comedy comes from the absurdness of the situations. The movie just barely gets an R rating and comes close to NC-17 due to the Graphic Sexual Language. There are talks about sTDS, sex Toys, and strange sexual role play. In the beginning of the movie there is a brief sex scene not very explicit though. This movie is for ADULTS ONLY.

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much swearing
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

When they were first introduced to each other at a party, laid-back Katie (Ari Graynor) and high-strung perfectionist Lauren (Lauren Anne Miller) instantly clashed and became enemies. Now Lauren is newly single and Katie's rent has been raised, so their mutual best friend, Jesse (Justin Long), matches them up as roommates. It's a disaster ... until Lauren discovers Katie's side job as a phone sex operator. Lauren suggests ways to improve her earnings, and before long they've turned it into a successful business. At the same time, their friendship grows ever stronger. But how long can they sustain this good fortune before the other shoe drops?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2 ):
Kids say (1 ):

Making his feature debut, director Jamie Travis is content to keep FOR A GOOD TIME, CALL... at a sitcom level, set in a squeaky-clean, good-natured New York. The potentially adult material is pitched at a goofy, warm level rather than depraved (for example, a joke about a baby-voiced operator is diffused before it gets disgusting). And the two leads, though a typical Hollywood mismatch, are genuinely engaging.

While they're together in their apartment, the movie clicks, but whenever outside elements come in -- such as a customer turning into a love interest for Katie or Lauren's meddling parents visiting at all the wrong times -- the movie gets clunky and ridiculous. Additionally, silly cameos by people like Kevin Smith and Seth Rogen as sex line customers seem like needless filler. Still, co-star Miller (Rogen's real-life wife), who co-wrote the screenplay with Katie Anne Naylon, is to be commended for her attempt at girl power; hopefully her future endeavors can be a bit more daring.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about For a Good Time, Call...'s sexual content. Does it seem lewd or depraved or funny? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values regarding sex and relationships.

  • Can the main characters be considered role models for starting their own business?

  • Before becoming friends, the main characters held a grudge for a long time based on an initial bad meeting. Do first impressions count that much? Is it possible to become friends with someone after a bad start?

Movie Details

  • In theaters: August 31, 2012
  • On DVD or streaming: January 22, 2013
  • Cast: Ari Graynor , Justin Long , Lauren Anne Miller
  • Director: Jamie Travis
  • Inclusion Information: Female actors
  • Studio: Focus Features
  • Genre: Comedy
  • Run time: 85 minutes
  • MPAA rating: R
  • MPAA explanation: strong sexual content throughout, language and some drug use
  • Last updated: June 2, 2023

Inclusion information powered by

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.

See all recommended movie lists

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