Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Shulgasser-Parker
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
'80s drama about teen addiction has swearing, sex.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 17+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Less Than Zero
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
LESS THAN ZERO follows wealthy Los Angeles teens Julian (Robert Downey Jr.), Blair (Jami Gertz), and Clay (Andrew McCarthy) as they separate after high school graduation. Clay goes to college. His girlfriend Blair reneges on her promise to continue her education and stays behind to model and, it turns out, do cocaine and party. Feeling alone, she and Julian begin a relationship, and that pains Clay when he finds out. Julian is a down-and-out addict by the time Clay returns six months later, in dire need of salvation. Julian is hugely in debt to dealer and pimp Rip (James Spader) and can only continue to get more drugs and pay back what he owes by reluctantly turning tricks for Rip. Julian's father gives up on his son, leaving Julian to steal from other wealthy parents. In the effort to save Julian, who has promised to quit drugs, Clay and Blair chase him down to Palm Springs and physically fight with the evil and heartless Rip. Unsurprisingly, tragedy ensues.
Is It Any Good?
As movies about addiction go, this isn't one of the better ones. You can view Less Than Zero as a cautionary tale or a high-production-value docudrama on self-created problems of the rich and spoiled, but don't expect anything other than the well-worn trajectory of dozens of other movies about addicts and their problems. Some teens may recognize friends and situations from their own lives, but familiarity can't erase the stubborn cluelessness of Clay, who the script suggests can't seem to understand the seriousness of addiction, and the unreliability of addicts. Downey Jr. is compelling as always, but the script doesn't imbue his strung-out crack user with any more meaning than usually seen in films about the downward progression of addicts and how they affect their families and friends.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Less Than Zero compares to other films with addicted characters like Ben Is Back and Beautiful Boy. What are the similarities? What are the differences?
Julian has already been to rehab. Does it seem as if Clay is slow to recognize how sick his friend is? Do you think people are more knowledgeable today about the dangers of drug use? Why or why not?
Why are movies about addiction so popular?
Movie Details
- In theaters : November 6, 1987
- On DVD or streaming : November 3, 2009
- Cast : Robert Downey Jr. , Andrew McCarthy , Jami Gertz , James Spader
- Director : Marek Kanievska
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : 20th Century Fox
- Genre : Drama
- Run time : 98 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : August 1, 2022
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