Parents' Guide to

God Bless America

By Jeffrey Anderson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 18+

Very dark, angry comedy about the media and its effects.

Movie R 2012 105 minutes
God Bless America Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 15+

Based on 1 parent review

Fractal Gloom
Fractal Gloom Adult
July 5, 2012
age 15+

Everybody Should Watch This Movie

I think this movie sets a great example for teens, maybe not so much the violence, but the way of thinking. Frank is a very inspiring person who is simply fed up with the stupidity and general rudeness of the world. His message is that everybody should just be nice to one another.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Too much violence
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

Frank (Joel Murray) suffers from insomnia and migraines, loses his job (for trying to be nice to a receptionist), and is diagnosed with a brain tumor. While watching vulgar, stupid, extreme reality TV, news, and commercials, he decides to kill himself. But before he can squeeze the trigger, he notices a reality show about a spoiled teen girl, "Chloe," and decides to kill her instead. His deed attracts the admiration and gratitude of one of Chloe's classmates, Roxy (Tara Lynne Barr), and the unlikely pair goes on a killing spree, planning to rid America of all the annoying reality stars, talk show hosts, and other spreaders of stupidity and hatred.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1):
Kids say (6):

This movie has the courage of its convictions all the way up to the closing credits. Bobcat Goldthwait, who achieved fame in the 1980s with his stand-up comedy and his roles in the Police Academy movies, has re-invented himself as a maker of potent black comedies and ferocious commentaries on the withering of the American Dream. His last, World's Greatest Dad, was brilliant and brutal, and God Bless America is its equal. It's a movie for anyone who has ever rolled their eyes at American Idol and the like.

Whereas World's Greatest Dad had a great performance by Robin Williams in the lead, Murray -- briefly seen as a policeman in The Artist -- brings a wry, touching quality to his role in God Bless America. Goldthwait has a knack for pushing the lines between appealing characters and appalling situations. Just when it seems like the movie is about to go too far, it changes direction and gets back on track. Murray carries the burden of this balance, and he pulls it off.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about God Bless America's violence. Why would a character react so strongly to the media and its effects? Is this reaction out of proportion?

  • Is the movie angry, or funny, or both? How does this qualify as a "black comedy"? Does the movie offer any real solutions?

  • The movie depicts the media as mean, vulgar, violent, and "extreme." How close is this to the actual media of today? How is it different?

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