Parents' Guide to

Morris from America

By S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Warm father-son coming-of-age comedy has edgy material.

Movie R 2016 91 minutes
Morris from America Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 16+

Based on 1 parent review

Kischka Bluspiro
Kischka Bluspiro Parent of 11 and 13-year-old
March 20, 2020
age 16+

Believe the R rating

Don't be fooled by the fact that the main character is 13 and has a sweet baby face. While the kid himself is innocent enough, and very likeable, he gets involved with a girl who's a couple years older and WAY wiser. The kid wisely rejects the ecstasy he's offered, but is later seen smoking pot and drinking with college-age kids. And then there are the sexual references, present in the rap lyrics the kid sings and elsewhere. Granted, the father has a talk with the kid about the inappropriateness of his lyrics, but his reasoning for the inappropriateness is not quite what I'd hope for. The father also calls a phone sex line, and though you can't tell if he actually enjoys it, there is some very explicit language from the woman on the other end. Long story short, we felt uncomfortable watching this with our kids and wished we had heeded the R rating. It's there for a reason.

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

Morris (Markees Christmas) and his dad, Curtis (Craig Robinson), feel marginalized in Heidelberg, Germany, where it seems they're the only African-American expats. They're certainly the the only ones we see in MORRIS FROM AMERICA, and it's clear that the main character, a 13-year-old from New York, is struggling to fit in. Curtis, a widower, works for the local soccer team (which doesn't have a great record), and Morris often hangs out at the local youth center, where the German kids either ignore him or tease him, sometimes crossing the line into bullying. Even Katrin (Lina Keller), the slightly older girl who seems to have a soft spot for Morris, alternates between flirting with and playing cruel practical jokes on him. It's hard to be 13 no matter who you are, and with the extra cultural and language barriers, it's clear that Morris is having a particularly tough time.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1):
Kids say (1):

This is a delightful fish-out-of-water comedy that's interesting and bold and brings something new to the genre. There are so many ways that Morris from America could have ended up like so many other teen-falls-in-with-a-bad-crowd films, but that's not what happens here. Instead, Morris from America shows us a real kid, with real issues, and a real -- as in living but flawed -- relationship with his father. The issues aren't huge on the grand scale of life, but they certainly loom large for Morris, a deeply empathetic character who makes this charming film so winning. He likes Katrin, but she vacillates between flirting with him and making fun of him with her friends. He wants to fit in, but he isn't sure about drinking or taking drugs with his new friends. Director Chad Hartigan and Christmas makes us care about this boy, who's not so sweet or so kind but is instead struggling with problems that anyone who's ever been 13 can understand.

The movie's moral center is Morris' relationship with his dad, who wants to be his son's pal but also has to rein him in sometimes. Curtis, played by an impressive Robinson, pushes his son to get out in the world but then worries about him. He's tough but sweet and loving, and it's a pleasure to see the father and son characters connect, even when they fight. The film avoids cliches and stereotypes about African-American fathers and sons, replacing them with an authentic portrait of youth, grief, the need to belong, and a search for deep familial connection. Morris from America may seem like a small story, but it has a huge heart.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how Morris from America depicts teen life. Is it realistic? Relatable? Do you think Morris' struggles would be any different if he lived in the United States?

  • How does the movie portray drinking, drugs, and smoking? Are they glamorized? Why does that matter?

  • How does Morris demonstrate empathy? Why is that an important character strength?

  • How does Morris respond to his classmates' teasing and -- sometimes -- bullying? What do you think you'd have done in his place?

  • Talk about Morris' relationship with his father. Is Curtis a good dad? Is he too permissive, too strict, or just struggling to raise his son the best he can?

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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