Parents' Guide to

Little Men

By S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Quiet drama has serious themes, well-drawn young characters.

Movie PG 2016 85 minutes
Little Men Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

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What's the Story?

When Jake's (Theo Taplitz) family moves into his recently deceased grandfather's house, he's befriended by Tony (Michael Barbieri), whose mom runs the dress shop downstairs and was a longtime tenant of his grandfather's. The boys hit it off, but their friendship is tested in LITTLE MEN when Jake's dad (Greg Kinnear) becomes involved in a dispute with Tony's mom over real estate matters.

Is It Any Good?

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

This film operates on a hushed scale, which, for the most part, works effectively. But that ultimately doesn't lead to making a lasting impression; while the forces that rock both Jake and Tony's families -- death, displacement, financial disputes -- loom large, Little Men holds them at arm's length for too long to climb toward an effective ending. What Little Men does well is show the progression of tween and teen friendship -- the push-pull, the slow build of trust, the discomfiting approach of adolescence and the larger problems of the outside world.

The film also does a fairly astute job of showing how adult concerns can impact childhood innocence, how grown-ups' worries begin to weigh on their children. But what of the "big men" and "big women"? They aren't particularly well-formed in this interesting but flawed drama. They're quick sketches rather than the detailed portraits that both Taplitz and Barbieri -- equal standouts in the movie -- are able to render.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Tony and Jake's friendship in Little Men. What draws them together, and what comes between them? Could things have ended up differently?

  • What about Brian and Leonor? Could they have resolved their dispute in a different way? Do you think Brian made the right decision? Did he have any good options?

  • How do the characters demonstrate compassion? Why is that an important character strength?

  • How does real estate and, to some extent, gentrification, figure into the plot? How does it affect the characters' lives?

Movie Details

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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 suggesting a diversity update.

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