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Parents' Guide to

I'm Reed Fish

By S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Kid-friendly romcom lures but doesn't hook.

Movie PG 2007 93 minutes
I'm Reed Fish Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 18+

Based on 1 parent review

pauly77
pauly77 Adult
December 27, 2011
age 18+

PG doesn't mean it's okay

This movie is well done for the most part, funny and engaging ... to a point. The main character, Reed Fish, wavers between two women throughout - and simply demonstrates that he loves himself more than either of them. We the viewers are supposed to believe that Reed is misunderstood and has, "always tried to be what others expect," while at a more basic level he is simply an irresponsible and self-centered young man, desperate enough to sleep with the prospect he doesn't like so much just so he can keep her on a string (in case the other girl doesn't work out). Spoiler warning! Do not read ahead if you intend to watch the show ... The most irritating part is the way the female characters turn around and act as though Reed has done the right thing in the end. Ugh. NOT such a good object lesson, since everything works out for Reed.

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much swearing
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

Who is Reed Fish? For starters, he's the movie's screenwriter. He's also the titular hero (Jay Baruchel), a gangly twentysomething guy who's so dutiful, nice, and dependable that even his future father-in-law calls him a "good boy." To Kate (Alexis Bledel), he's a loving fiancé. And to everyone else in the tiny town of Mud Meadows, Reed Fish is his father's son, which means that since his dad (and mom, too, actually) is long gone, it's up to him to step into the role of town chronicler as the voice of its radio station and host of its public-access cable show. But ask Reed Fish who he is, and he won't be able to answer. He's so busy fulfilling everyone else's expectations that he doesn't know himself. Until an old high school crush, Jill (Schuyler Fisk), stops in one summer and forces him to find out, that is ...

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

There's a lot to like about I'M REED FISH: the movie's appealing vintage look, the sweetly eccentric supporting cast, the small flashes of cinematic brilliance. Unfortunately, all of this doesn't add up to a loveable whole. The quirky comedy unfolds with oddball twists and turns, but it's lethargic, lacking the jauntiness that typically energizes indie rom-coms. It's as if the real-life Fish and director Zackary Adler prepared a feast but forgot to season it. Maybe they shouldn't have doctored it up with so much quirk in the first place.

Adler does draw decent performances from his cast, including Baruchel and Bledel (and DJ Qualls as a love-strong martial arts fanatic is hilarious.) But it's Fisk who stands out -- she's so natural and refreshing (with a great singing voice, too!) in the role of Jill that when Fish starts to make choices that are far removed from the life script already written for him, it's not only understandable, but applause worthy -- if only a little bit.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about expectations and how they're set. How does a young person decide who he or she becomes? Do parents wield the most influence? What about neighbors and friends? Also, what role does the media play in creating and setting expectations? In TV shows and movies, does it seem like there's one fork in the road leading to a specific choice that determines what happens in the future? Is that how it is in real life?

Movie Details

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