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Parents' Guide to

Frankie and Johnny

By Corrina Antrobus, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Romantic comedy-drama has sex, language, obsessive behavior.

Movie R 1991 118 minutes
Frankie and Johnny movie poster

A Lot or a Little?

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

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Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

This 1991 romcom (with a clumsy sliver of drama) goes to great lengths to make its points. In other words, Frankie and Johnny could never be accused of being understated. Yes New York City is a melting pot bubbling with chaos, yes Frankie is habitually miserable, and yes Johnny is in love with her to the point of creepy obsession. A little less hamfisting would have made this a cosier watch, but hey, subtlety was never on the menu.

Directed by Garry Marshall of Pretty Woman and Beaches fame, it's perhaps unsurprising how sentimental and often goofy this movie is. But Pacino and Pfeiffer are A-class actors who do a professional job on a movie that you -- like Frankie -- have to let your guard down to love. An extra treat is the performance of Nathan Lane. Although a tired stereotype, his role as gay best friend Tim adds necessary zest, delivering genuinely funny and thoughtful lines.

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