Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Supremely absurd, bizarre comedy has some edgy content.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Lemon
What's the Story?
In LEMON, Isaac (Brett Gelman) is undergoing an existential crisis. His blind girlfriend, Ramona (Judy Greer), of 10 years has begun to distance herself from him and seems on the verge of leaving him. The acting classes he teaches are stressful; his star student, Alex (Michael Cera), is getting jobs all over the world, while Tracy (Gillian Jacobs) disappoints them both. And outside class, Isaac's acting career is sinking, despite the fact that he landed a job for a rather disturbing commercial. A Passover dinner with his insane family sends Isaac over the edge, and, in an attempt to right himself, he starts dating a beautiful Jamaican-American woman named Cleo (Nia Long). But an afternoon barbecue with her family brings out more of the same absurdities and sends Isaac back to the drawing board.
Is It Any Good?
This offbeat comedy, based somewhat on the experiences of real-life couple Gelman and director Janicza Bravo, is as deadpan, absurd, and surreal as a movie can get. It's part off-putting and part intriguing. As Lemon begins, Isaac comes across as dour, depressing, and miserable -- certainly not anyone that most of us would like to hang around with. It's easy to understand why the people in his life would be upset with or disillusioned by him, and it's tempting to join them, and ditch him for good.
But as the movie goes along, Bravo's unique rhythms -- her wide, empty spaces and seemingly arhythmic, premature cutting -- start to provide a kind of sly, slow-burn humor. The characters' talk is bizarre and exasperating, but Bravo seems to know it by the way she truncates their blather. She begins to create music and laughter with the way she chops into scenes, leaving them undone. A Passover sing-a-long to "A Million Matzoh Balls" is a turning point, and certainly Long's Cleo adds a soulful center to the movie's second half. By the time Lemon wraps up, it feels less sour and more bracing, like lemonade.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Lemon depicts sex. Is it loving, angry, dispassionate? How could the characters improve their connections? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values regarding sex and relationships.
Many of the characters seem to like to talk about violent or gruesome imagery. What impact do these moments have?
Is Isaac an appealing character? What makes him worth watching?
What audience do you think this movie was intended for? How can you tell? What does the title mean?
Movie Details
- In theaters : August 18, 2017
- On DVD or streaming : November 21, 2017
- Cast : Brett Gelman , Judy Greer , Michael Cera
- Director : Janicza Bravo
- Inclusion Information : Black Movie Director(s) , Latino Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Magnolia Pictures
- Genre : Comedy
- Run time : 83 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : February 15, 2023
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
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate