Parents' Guide to

HairBrained

By S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Drinking and come-ons in unfocused college underdog comedy.

Movie PG-13 2014 97 minutes
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Kids say: Not yet rated

HAIRBRAINED combines many themes -- some of them high schoolers may relate to, especially Eli's hopes of getting into his dream college -- and tries in vain to unite them into a satisfying whole. He's the awkward teen trying to discover who he is. He's also an underdog, leading a team of misfits to the big game where they'll take on heavily favored Harvard. Plus, there's his odd-couple friendship with the much older Leo. All these storylines just never really add up to a coherent, strong story.

Eli isn't particularly likeable and is surly to the end, not to mention willing to sell out his friends when faced with a tough moral choice. We get why he's so bitter about all things related to Harvard, and while they do deserve to get beaten, Eli's sour attitude makes it hard to cheer for him. And without a sympathetic lead character, the film falls flat, filled with a bunch of ill-defined supporting characters who are predictable to boot.

Movie Details

  • In theaters: February 28, 2014
  • On DVD or streaming: March 25, 2014
  • Cast: Brendan Fraser, Alex Wolff
  • Director: Billy Kent
  • Studio: Premiere Entertainment
  • Genre: Comedy
  • Topics: Friendship
  • Run time: 97 minutes
  • MPAA rating: PG-13
  • MPAA explanation: crude and sexual content, language, nudity, teen smoking and drinking, and drug references
  • Last updated: October 8, 2022

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