Nobody Walks

Movie review by S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media
Nobody Walks Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 17+

Interesting but unsatisfying film about infidelity.

R 2012 82 minutes
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Parents say

age 15+

Based on 1 review

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Nobody Walks is an interesting but lackluster drama (co-written by Girls' Lena Dunham) that has some mature themes, including infidelity. A teenage character flirts with a much older man and is uncomfortably objectified and verbally attacked by another. There's kissing/snuggling and a scene in which underwear is removed, but no nudity. Language includes liberal use of strong words like "bitch," "s--t," and "f--k"), and adults are shown smoking pot at a party where their kids are also guests.

Community Reviews

wonder dove
wonder dove Adult
July 9, 2014
age 15+

Liked it but lacked depth...

I put this film off for a bit after hearing some mixed reviews about it, finally gave it a shot and really enjoyed it despite that it did seem a little unbalanced at times and leaves you wanting more but just doesn't deliver completely. Mainly watched for Olivia Thirlby, the story was interesting but lacked depth. Thirlby plays Martine, an attractive young artist (also very promiscuous) who's a friend of a friend and has come from New York to stay with a nice LA family where the husband Peter (John Krasinski) helps her to complete her project about insects because he's a sound technician. Peter's wife Julie (Rosemarie DeWitt) who's a therapist finally notices Peter's attraction to Martine and confronts him about it, he thinks she's overreacting. Meanwhile, Kolt (India Ennenga) the 16 year old daughter of Julie and her first husband, writes poetry and is attracted to Peter's 20-something assistant David (Rhys Wakefeild) who likes Martine. Kolt is also being tutored by her perverted Italian teacher but doesn't get very far. When Peter learns that Martine wants to go no further with their little affair, he drops her and tries to fix his own relationship with his family while Martine moves back to NY. The story is short and sweet but doesn't seem to go anywhere, it could have been better. Violence is subtle and there is some arguing, a man shouts out profanities to a teen girl in one scene, a bike thrown in a pool out of anger. Language is strong, we hear the f-word several times, sh*t, bullsh*t, sexually related words. Sexual content includes making out in bed between a married couple, a married man cheats on his wife and sleeps with another woman (some light movement and moaning heard) they also kiss sometimes, a woman and another man make out at an airport parking lot where we see him undressing himself but stops, a woman makes out with yet another man in a car, a man tries to seduce his therapist more than once when he tries to kiss her at one point and tells her an explicit dream he had of her. A teen girl flirts and is usually thinking about boys and finally shares her first kiss with a friend. Drug use in one quick scene of adults passing pot around at a party. Okay for the 16+ crowd!!

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much swearing
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What's the Story?

Julie (Rosemarie DeWitt) and her husband, Peter (John Krasinski), are happily married, or so it seems. But when an enigmatic artist, Martine (Olivia Thirlby), shows up to work with Peter to lay down the sound tracks for her video project, their commitment to each other is tested. Meanwhile, Julie's 16-year-old daughter from her first marriage, Kolt (India Ennenga), is on the brink of womanhood, flirting with her stepdad's assistant, who's developed a liking for Martine, and lobbing verbal volleys that border on inappropriate with her much older Italian teacher. Everything suddenly feels out of sorts in their once-relaxed Los Angeles household.

Is It Any Good?

NOBODY WALKS has a dangerously lazy, indolent, sexually charged atmosphere that's perfect for its plot. It's about the shift that takes place when two people acknowledge that they're attracted to each other and embark on a fling that, at its best, could be described as ill-advised. The repercussions are massive and painful, the damage considerable.

But isn't that the way of compulsions? Isn't that the way of infidelity? Things just happen. Relationships just shift. What happens, though, when the coupling means more to one than the other? And when there's a true marriage involved? Nobody Walks captures this all in an intelligent way, but it's too arty and portentous for its own good. Nobody walks away unscathed here, and neither does an audience hoping for a better, more focused execution.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how Nobody Walks depicts marriage. Does it seem authentic? What challenges are presented? Why do you think Julie and Peter drift apart?

  • What do you think the movie's message is? Who is it targeted at?

  • Would you consider the characters role models? Why or why not?

Movie Details

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