Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Violence, swearing in fun "bumbling criminal" comedy.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Maggie Moore(s)
What's the Story?
In MAGGIE MOORE(S), Jay Moore (Micah Stock) manages a sub sandwich shop, cutting corners by buying expired ingredients from Tommy T (Derek Basco). Jay's wife, Maggie (Louisa Krause), discovers a package containing illegal pornography that belongs to Tommy. She kicks him out and threatens to expose his scheme. Jay hires a tough ruffian, Kosco (Happy Anderson), to scare Maggie a little, but she winds up dead. Then Jay learns about the existence of another Maggie Moore (Mary Holland) and gets the idea to have Kosco kill her, too, to deflect suspicion away from Jay. It falls to Chief Jordan Sanders (Jon Hamm) and his clever deputy, Reddy (Nick Mohammed), to solve the case, with a little help from nosy neighbor Rita (Tina Fey).
Is It Any Good?
This crime comedy feels a bit like Coen brothers-lite: It has rough edges and uneven pacing, but also a witty, wicked spirit and a great cast that clicks together in entertaining ways. Directed by John Slattery, who re-teams with his old Mad Men colleague Hamm, Maggie Moore(s) demonstrates that, even if the Coens make it look easy to make comedies about bumbling criminals (Raising Arizona, Fargo, O Brother, Where Art Thou?, Burn After Reading, etc.), it's not. Promising that "some of this actually happened," the movie stretches a bit when it comes to the first Maggie's death. Why would Jay have Tommy T's pornography at his house? Why would Jay hire an assassin to "scare" his wife, and why would the otherwise competent Kosco "accidentally" kill her? (And in such a vicious way, burned alive inside a car?)
But once things get going and the story falls into the hands of Hamm, Mohammed, and Fey, Maggie Moore(s) brightens up considerably. Slattery seems comfortable with his cast, and he lets them stretch out into their natural warmth and humor. Hamm and Mohammed make a terrific team, and while a romantic flame between Hamm and Fey might have felt tacked on, it ends up kind of adorable.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Maggie Moore(s)' violence. How did it make you feel? Was it exciting? Shocking? What did the movie show or not show to achieve this effect? Why is that important?
How is sex portrayed here? Chief Jordan Sanders and Rita talk about how hard it is to feel "sexy" with a new partner after losing someone. How did you feel about this conversation?
How did you feel about a hearing character pretending to be deaf/hard of hearing for most of the story?
How are alcohol, smoking, and drugs portrayed? Are they glamorized? Are there consequences? Why does that matter?
Movie Details
- In theaters : June 16, 2023
- On DVD or streaming : June 16, 2023
- Cast : Jon Hamm , Tina Fey , Nick Mohammed
- Director : John Slattery
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Indian/South Asian Movie Actor(s) , Multiracial Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Screen Media
- Genre : Comedy
- Run time : 99 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : language throughout, violence, some sexual material, brief nudity and drug use
- Last updated : June 29, 2023
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