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Parents' Guide to

Joseph & Mary

By Renee Longstreet, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 12+

Clunky, poorly made Bible story is violent.

Movie NR 2016 83 minutes
Joseph & Mary Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

age 18+

Based on 1 parent review

age 18+

Not Bad

As a Bible preacher for over 40 years, I'm familiar with the Bible and the culture. The movie handled it pretty well. I don't look to Hollywood to properly interpret Scripture. As to the critical review concerning the appropriateness of this for children? Of course not! I, too, tired of the focus being on the lady's revenge, but the reality is that Rome was incredibly cruel, as was Herod. These depictions were spot on. I recommend this movie, but read Luke 1 & 2, and Matt 1 & 2, first. And do NOT watch this with young children.

This title has:

Great messages

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (2 ):

Earnestness and strong religious messages can't overcome the mostly wooden acting, shoddy production, and brutality shown in this story based partially on the New Testament. The story the filmmakers created to enhance the character of the Biblical Joseph is particularly harsh. While it's a plus to see Joseph more fully realized as a mentor, protector, and loving father, the movie is artless, clunky, and far more unsettling than uplifting. Using the Bible as source material for Herod's attempts to rid Israel of any infant or toddler boy who might be the Messiah, this film's emotional arc depends upon the death of a baby, a small boy, their father, and their grandfather. That, along with the relentless scenes depicting their mother's grief and thirst for revenge, makes the movie suitable only for very mature tweens, teens, and up.

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