Common Sense Media Review
By Andrea Beach
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Lowbrow comedy with lots of sex, language, and alcohol.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 17+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
House Broken
What's the Story?
HOUSE BROKEN is about two brothers, Quinn (Skyler Stone) and Elliot (Ryan Hansen). At 20-something years old, the brothers live at home and enjoy being waited on hand and foot by their mother Mary (Katey Sagal) while they make stunt videos with their slacker friends. Jobs? No, thank you. When their firefighter dad Tom (Danny DeVito) finally retires, Tom realizes that he just can't stand having his grown kids hanging around the house all day. He wants to enjoy his golden years in peace and quiet. But Mary can't quite cut the apron strings, so Tom hatches a drastic plan to force his sons to grow up once and for all. But can the brothers who've always been so close grow up without growing apart?
Is It Any Good?
This movie is loaded with teen appeal from the lowbrow comedy to the almost nonstop jokes and gags about sex, but it's also predictable and full of stereotypes and jokes that just don't land. The cast of teens and young adults aren't without their charms, but the veteran cast of older adults (yes, Decker is the guy who played Biff in Back to the Future) should have been better, and maybe they could've been with a stronger script and more seasoned director. Frontal nudity, simulated sex, lots of strong language, and glorified depictions of beer and lack of ambition make House Broken best for oldest teens and up, but those looking for real laughs should keep looking.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about all the sex in House Broken. Is it too much? Are there positive, healthy depictions of sexuality? What about when it's played for laughs, does that make a difference?
What about all the strong language? Is it realistic? Is it making a point, or is it gratuitous?
When is it OK for kids and teens to watch movies or videos that have alcohol and drugs in them?
Movie Details
- In theaters : January 8, 2009
- On DVD or streaming : March 30, 2010
- Cast : Danny DeVito , Katey Sagal , Brie Larson , Tom Wilson
- Director : Sam Harper
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Image Entertainment
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings )
- Run time : 84 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : Crude and sexual content and language throughout.
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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
Suggest an Update
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