Parents' Guide to

Little Boxes

By S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Interesting, edgy indie drama tackles racism, fitting in.

Movie NR 2017 84 minutes
Little Boxes Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 15+

Based on 1 parent review

RemiaHarvis
RemiaHarvis Adult
August 1, 2020
age 15+

Strange and difficult to watch

There is no moral of the story. The movie has no direction. Many inappropriate scenes featuring 10 year old girls. Tries to present itself as being "woke" or "progressive" but is just incredibly racist and sexist at random times for no apparent reason. All of the parents in the movie deserve an award for bad parenting. Would still be uncomfortable to watch but a lot less uncomfortable if they made the kids 18. but I'm not even sure how they manage to get away with attempting to sexualise very young children. Very shocking and extremely difficult to watch. I don't recommend this to absolutely anyone and it's most certainly "wokeness" gone too far when youre directing 10 year olds to dance seductively and strip for a potentially adult audience.

This title has:

Too much sex
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What's the Story?

In LITTLE BOXES, the summer before he starts sixth grade, Clark (Armani Jackson) and his parents move from Brooklyn to Rome, Washington, where his mom has a new job at the local college. That's a tough change for any kid, and it's even more complicated for Clark, who's biracial and has to find his place in an extremely white suburban town. He's quickly befriended by two girls, Ambrosia (Oona Laurence) and Julie (Miranda McKeon), who might be eager to grow up too quickly. Meanwhile, Clark's parents -- Mack (Nelsan Ellis) and Gina (Melanie Lynskey) -- also realize that small-town life is very different from the big city.

Is It Any Good?

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

Authenticity and insight into what frightens and afflicts writers, musicians, artists, etc. are what keep this movie afloat when it somewhat loses its momentum near the end. Because any veteran New Yorker/urban dweller will recognize the truth that lies at the heart of what makes Mack and Gina decide to leave their beloved (but too expensive) Brooklyn for a job in the Pacific Northwest in Little Boxes. Who doesn't get sick of the city after spending years in a too-expensive apartment trying to make your hustle work, especially if that hustle is something in the creative field, which brings tens of thousands of fellow artists -- aka competitors -- to NYC each year?

Credit is due to Lynskey, Ellis, and Jackson; they ground the movie with their believable, natural performances. Nonetheless, what Little Boxes seems to forget about movies is that they not only have to start strong, but they need to end that way, too, with credible plot diversions and believable wrap-ups that don't leave viewers hanging or befuddled. (For instance: Can mold mitigation actually be completed in three hours?) And while the film pokes fun at all its characters, even Mack and Gina, it reserves its sharpest critiques for suburbanites, trading on cliches that are overplayed.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about race. What role does race play in Little Boxes? Some incidents/encounters clearly seem racist, while others are more nuanced. How do the characters handle them? What do you think you'd have done in their situation?

  • Do Clark and his new friends seem like realistic tweens? Does the way the experiment with drinking and sex feel believable? What are the consequences?

  • How does Clark fit into his new neighborhood? What makes it easier -- or harder -- for him? How about his parents? How do they fit in? Are issues related to belonging something that changes/gets easier with age?

Movie Details

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