Common Sense Media Review
By Alistair Lawrence
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Low-budget home-invasion comedy has language, violence.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
How to Deter a Robber
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
HOW TO DETER A ROBBER finds teen couple Madison (Vanessa Marano) and Jimmy (Benjamin Papac) having to deal with a home invasion in a remote town during Christmas.
Is It Any Good?
With the first Home Alone movie rightly regarded as a classic, and its various sequels and reboots suggesting there's always an audience for a Christmas crime caper, it's unsurprising that this film got green-lit. But everything about How to Deter a Robber is so derivative that it offers zero surprises or suspense. Debut writer-director Maria Bissell would've benefitted from spending more time on developing the movie's core group of five characters. In particular, the relationship troubles of Marano's defiant Madison and Abbie Cobb's people-pleasing home invader, Christine, who is the most original voice of the piece but barely utilized.
Likewise, Papac gets one scene to show that there's more to goofy boyfriend Jimmy than meets the eye. But it's quickly forgotten before we return to a comedy-thriller plot that's missing both laughs and excitement. Between its booby-trapped house that fails to spark into life and dialogue that rarely offers more than mundane squabbling between family members, How to Deter a Robber is one of those Christmas presents likely to end up in the returns pile.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in How to Deter a Robber. Did the comedic tone of the movie make the violent scenes less impactful? If so, why? Does exposure to violent media desensitize kids to violence?
Discuss the strong language used. Did it seem necessary or excessive? Was it needed to make the story more realistic?
How was drinking depicted in the movie? Was it glamorized? What were the consequences?
Talk about Madison's relationship with her family. Why did she clash with them? How was growing up difficult for her and what problems did it create?
Discuss how Andy saw the world. How was he different to Madison and how did they learn to communicate? Why is communication such an important character strength?
Movie Details
- In theaters : July 16, 2021
- On DVD or streaming : July 16, 2021
- Cast : Vanessa Marano , Benjamin Papac , Chris Mulkey
- Director : Maria Bissell
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Shout! Factory
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Holidays
- Run time : 85 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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