Last Vegas

Movie review by S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media
Last Vegas Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 14+

Old timers' The Hangover with plenty of heart.

PG-13 2013 104 minutes
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Parents say

age 13+

Based on 3 reviews

Kids say

age 12+

Based on 8 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

Stands out for .

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Last Vegas features four lifelong pals who reconnect during a drink-filled bachelor weekend in Las Vegas. There's plenty of wild parties, trips to nightclubs, and even a bikini contest, all well-lubricated with lots of liquor. Expect some swearing, as well as many, many scenes with women in very scanty outfits, though no actual nudity. At the heart of the film is a sweet story about friendship and the definition of true love.

Community Reviews

zakster
zakster Adult
January 31, 2014
age 10+

last vegas

Best movie ever

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
Dan G.
Dan G. Adult
November 19, 2013
age 16+

Not explicit, but too much adult content for children

Besides being pretty boring, the movie contains too much objectionable material for children. None of it is explicit, but the consistent undercurrent of this movie is that we're here to have selfish fun, no matter who we hurt, and in disregard for any consequences of that behavior later on: 1. Plenty of alcohol is consumed during adult partying. 2. A much younger woman is marrying a rich 32-year-older man for his money. 3. One of the men's wives gives him approval to commit adultry at the bachelor party in Vegas. 4. The main character, the older man about to be married, chases after another woman in Vegas at his bachelor party. 5. There is a small part with female nudity, and since this is four guys on a bachelor party trip, there is significant dialog that objectifies women as sex objects. 6. There is the normal crude and profane language common in adult films.

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much consumerism
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 3 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Lifelong friends Paddy (Robert De Niro), Archie (Morgan Freeman), and Sam (Kevin Kline), agree to reunite in Las Vegas to celebrate the impending marriage of the fourth member of their childhood quartet, Billy (Michael Douglas). But there's one problem: Paddy isn't speaking to Billy, and Billy may have lingering questions he needs answering before he can say "I do." LAST VEGAS follows the men as they joke about their health, their stamina during some raucous nights on the town, and the choices they have made in their lives.

Is It Any Good?

What a joy it is to see this fantastic foursome together onscreen in a film that explores, albeit with a light touch, the vagaries of aging and the burdens and joys of friendship through the years. It's fun, it's silly, it's The Hangover four decades later -- without the uber-crass parts.

But is it original? The answer will have to be no, since there are no new insights in this deft, but fairly standard, buddy comedy. Had the casting been more unconventional -- say, De Niro as the suave, successful Hollywood guy instead of the crabby Brooklynite he plays, or even Freeman, for that matter -- Last Vegas would've been more memorable. If it had any other epiphanies besides that long friendships are rare and valuable, and long, solid marriages, too, even more so. Prepare to see it for the actors, but not for any refreshing perspectives.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the lifelong relationships between the four main characters. Why are some of them angry at each other? How do friendships change over time? Who is your oldest friend?

  • What messages does the movie send about alcohol and drinking? How would the story have been different if no one drank?

  • How would this movie have been different if the four friends were female?

Movie Details

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