Common Sense Media Review
By Brian Costello
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
'90 hip-hop comedy marred by gay slurs. Lots of cursing.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
House Party
What's the Story?
In the high school cafeteria, Play (Christopher Martin) tells his best friends Kid (Christopher Reid) and Bilal (Martin Lawrence) that since his parents are out of town, he wants to throw a HOUSE PARTY. Kid then gets into an altercation with the bullies Stab, Pee-Wee, and Zilla that results in Kid getting sent to the principal's office. A pink slip will be sent to his house informing his father of his misbehavior. The pink slip arrives shortly after Kid's father (Robin Harris) reluctantly agrees to allow Kid to attend the party. Undaunted, Kid sneaks out, but is pursued by the three bullies, who attract the attention of two bumbling racist cops. But when he does get to the party, Bilal is the DJ, and he dances with the fickle Sharane, the girl he wants to be with, but then gets to know Sidney, who seems much more down-to-earth. Kid must choose between the two, and as the night goes on and he ends up in deeper trouble, he needs the help of his friends to bail him out, literally.
Is It Any Good?
This movie has held up in some ways, and in other ways, it hasn't held up at all. Parents viewing the '80s and '90s movies of their childhoods through 21st-century eyes can add House Party to the movies that have moments of iffy content that are downright shocking nowadays. But on the other hand, scenes satirizing the relationship between the police and the African American community remain relevant, and practically every grumbling mumble out of the mouth of Kid's father (played by the late Robin Harris) remains hilarious.
There are some moments of real nostalgia for the kitsch of the time: the fashions, the music, and Kid's "eraserhead" hairstyle. Aside from the homophobia, House Party has earned its place in the teen party/coming-of-age pantheon. Not monumentally groundbreaking, but it lives up to the title, and for the most part, still entertains.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about "teen party" comedies. How does House Party compare to other teen party movies in terms of the relationships between teens and adults, relationships, sex, drinking?
How is the relationship between the police and the African American community satirized in this movie? How does this humor seem relevant today?
How does the movie address the challenges adults and kids face in single-parent homes? How does the movie present deeper messages and themes through direct and subtle ways?
Movie Details
- In theaters : March 9, 1990
- On DVD or streaming : January 8, 2008
- Cast : Martin Lawrence , Christopher Reid , Christopher Martin
- Director : Reginald Hudlin
- Inclusion Information : Black Movie Director(s) , Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Warner Bros.
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Arts ( Music and Sing-Along ) , Friendship , School ( High School )
- Run time : 104 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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