Parents' Guide to

Joe Bell

By Jeffrey Anderson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Drama about tolerance means well but misses mark; bullying.

Movie R 2021 94 minutes
Joe Bell Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

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What's the Story?

In JOE BELL, Joe Bell (Mark Wahlberg) is seen walking along the highways of America, accompanied by his son, Jadin (Reid Miller). Joe is determined to spread a message of tolerance and kindness after the merciless treatment that Jadin, who is gay, endured at the hands of bullies. Flashbacks tell the beginnings of their story, from Jadin coming out to his joining the high school cheerleading squad to the tragic event that caused Joe to hit the road. But what will Joe really discover out there on the road?

Is It Any Good?

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

A movie with important things to say but not much clue how to say them, this virtuous drama might have worked if not for an unforgivable story device and an unsatisfying late-movie roadblock. Written, surprisingly, by the Brokeback Mountain team of Diana Ossana and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Larry McMurtry, Joe Bell (formerly titled Good Joe Bell) feels like amateur hour. It's admittedly difficult, and certainly unfair, to describe the movie's two slap-in-the-face moments without disrespecting its noble efforts to tell a timely and crucial story, but it's a wonder how these two expert writers could have opted for such aggravating dramatic devices.

The movie definitely has worthy moments, such as watching Joe connect with his son or finding solace on the road with a group of drag performers and an understanding sheriff (Gary Sinise). But Joe's little speeches to high schools and other community groups are weirdly unmoving, and it's odd that the movie is as clumsy at communicating its message as the character is. Ultimately, it seems as if the filmmakers never decided what -- or whom -- their movie was actually supposed to be about. With a little more streamlining, a great movie could have been told from this story, but Joe Bell is not it.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the violence in Joe Bell. How did it make you feel? Was it exciting? Shocking? What did the movie show or not show to achieve this effect? Why is that important?

  • How is bullying depicted here? What are the results of bullying? How are bullies handled in the movie? Are there consequences for bullying behavior?

  • How are LGBTQ+ characters represented in Joe Bell? Do you consider them positive representations? Why, or why not?

  • This movie is based on a true story. How accurate do you think it is to the facts? Why might filmmakers adjust real-life events for a movie?

  • How are alcohol and smoking depicted? Are they glamorized, especially by teens? Are there consequences? Why does that matter?

Movie Details

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