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Parents' Guide to

Jack and Diane

By Jeffrey Anderson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 18+

Teen girls' romance has strange, gory overtones.

Movie R 2012 105 minutes
Jack and Diane Poster Image

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Writer/director Bradley Rust Gray is capable of subtle character studies, like 2009's The Exploding Girl, and he nearly creates something as good with JACK & DIANE. But the weird, violent touches in the movie's margins cast a confusing and sickening shadow across the rest of it. The monster attacks -- and the weird little interludes (animated by the Brothers Quay) leading up to them -- don't make much sense, unless it's to underline something as simple as "they love each other so much they want to devour each other." If so, there has to be a better way to show it.

Perhaps worse is the idea that Gray added these sequences as a way to cash in on the general horror/romance trend of the successful Twilight movies. Without the gore, Jack & Diane doesn't have much of a story, but it does have two interesting characters (and two strong performances). They could have been the subjects of a more emotionally involving -- and less baffling -- movie.

Movie Details

  • In theaters: November 2, 2012
  • On DVD or streaming: January 8, 2013
  • Cast: Cara Seymour , Juno Temple , Riley Keough
  • Director: Bradley Rust Gray
  • Inclusion Information: Female actors
  • Studio: Magnolia Pictures
  • Genre: Drama
  • Run time: 105 minutes
  • MPAA rating: R
  • MPAA explanation: strong sexual content including nudity and an assault, bloody violence, language and drinking - all involving teens
  • Last updated: August 23, 2023

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