Parents' Guide to

Jack and Jill

By Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 9+

Few laughs in crude, kid-targeted Sandler comedy.

Movie PG 2011 91 minutes
Jack and Jill Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

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age 12+

Based on 21 parent reviews

JackBauer
JackBauer Adult
October 22, 2020
age 9+

So so movie, bit disappointing

This is not a rubbish movie but it is not great. Don't watch unless it is all that you can find. There is a lot better out there.
iluvpitz
iluvpitz Parent of 10-year-old
June 16, 2020
age 15+

Entire focus on a "Match" for Jill

I really read the Common Sense reviews before selecting movies for my 11 year old. I read all 19 of them & figured it'd be ok. Not so. The movie itself is hilarious if you like that style. However, what every single review missed is the fact that the ENTIRE MOVIE focuses on pairing Jill with someone. Dating sites, expectations, etc. I was on pins & needles, wondering what innuendo we'd witness next. Some went over my kid's head but ALOT stuck, making for some discussions & questions.... Not cool...

This title has:

Too much sex
See all 21 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Jack (Adam Sandler) is a successful Hollywood advertising agent who dreads the annual Thanksgiving visit he receives from his Bronx-dwelling twin sister, Jill (also Sandler). Tactless (and loud) but sweet, Jill incessantly annoys Jack. When, during her most recent visit, Jill decides to stay past Thanksgiving through Hanukah -- and then New Year's -- Jack threatens to kick her out ... until Al Pacino (the star that Jack's client, Dunkin Donuts, wants to land for their new "Dunkaccino" campaign) shows a romantic interest in her after a brief encounter at a Lakers game. Jack is forced to decide whether he should respect Jill, who isn't interested in actor, or pretend to be her to score his business deal.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (21):
Kids say (98):

There is precisely one reason to see JACK AND JILL: Pacino. The Academy Award winner chews up the scenery while poking fun at himself (particularly his penchant for losing his cool and channeling his iconic characters like Michael Corleone and Tony Montana), and he's hands down the movie's one hilarious gag. Once Pacino enters the picture, it's redeemed by his simultaneously self-deprecating and self-aggrandizing performance.

Without him, watching Sandler times two would be torture, not entertainment. How many fart and Mexican jokes can boys (and men!) endure before realizing that it's just not funny? How many times must Sandler play another version of a very rich man with few redeeming qualities whom the audience is supposed to root for? Gone is Sandler the underdog, the Everyman of his youth. He's been replaced with Sandler the King Midas of rude comedy geared toward boys who don't care whether his movies are more or less 90-minute commercials for the many products stuffed into them.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about why Adam Sandler's movies are so popular. Are fart jokes and gags about people's appearance that funny? What's the difference between his "family" movies and the ones for older audiences?

  • How does Jack and Jill portray women? What message is it sending about appearance and body image?

  • Does the movie undermine or reinforce stereotypes? When does portraying an ethnic group shift from comedy to insulting?

  • Do you think that all of the companies and products featured in the movie are necessary to the plot? If not, why are they included?

Movie Details

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 suggesting a diversity update.

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