Old Fashioned

Movie review by Jeffrey Anderson, Common Sense Media
Old Fashioned Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 13+

Faith-based romance argues for purity but lacks energy.

PG-13 2015 115 minutes
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Parents say

age 17+

Based on 1 review

Kids say

age 15+

Based on 2 reviews

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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 Old Fashioned is a faith-based romance about a character who, because of his troubled past, wishes to marry -- but he refuses to date, touch, or be in the same room with any woman beforehand. Audiences who buy into the character's beliefs may find it refreshing, but others will likely be baffled. And for all of the main character's purity, the movie does deal with sexual/sex-related themes (unexpected pregnancy, etc.) and has frequent sex talk, including a "shock jock" radio DJ who talks about women and sex. Viewers see images from a Girls Gone Wild-type DVD (i.e. bikini-clad young women flirting/vamping), as well as a stripper at a bachelor party. A bouncer threatens the main character, and a woman tells a story about how an ex-boyfriend broke her wrist. Language isn't an issue, and substance use is limited to adult characters drinking socially in bars.

Community Reviews

MamaBest14
MamaBest14 Adult
July 31, 2021
age 17+

Refreshing message but more mature themes.

There’s a lot of people saying the main character treats the woman as an object but I see it as quite the opposite. He had a past of treating women as objects by videoing them doing things that were immoral, but when he met Jesus he wanted run as far from that as possible which is the attitude we are supposed to have. That even deals with his favorite Bible verse that he mentioned about old things being passed away. I don’t find the main character as being creepy at all, in all honesty I don’t see why anyone would. I see him as quite the opposite and I think that we could use more of that caution when it comes to unmarried people being alone together . I find this movie very refreshing. It does have more adult themes so I wouldn’t want a younger person to watch but I think a young man or woman could have a lot to gain from this, it shows how to be respectful vs. how not to be respectful in dating. I would much rather my daughters have boyfriends like Clay who were “overly” cautious and who didn’t want to be alone with them, than the alternative…sneaky and persuasive, only after one thing. Also I really like the old Aunt. *Also probably wouldn’t want younger kids to watch because of the sexual innuendos and drinking. That’s why I say for ages 17+

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Too much sex
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

Clay (Rik Swartzwelder) was once a partying, womanizing frat-boy, but he now maintains a quiet existence restoring antiques. He has given himself strict rules to live by, such as never being alone in a room with a woman until he's married, and he doesn't believe in dating. Then the lovely, lively Amber (Elizabeth Ann Roberts) arrives in town and rents the room above Clay's shop. She finds herself attracted to him, and, after getting to know him a little, decides to jump into an "old fashioned" courtship, playing by his rules. But the pressures of the real world threaten them at every turn. Will this love story have a happy ending?

Is It Any Good?

The faith-based OLD FASHIONED has a great deal of trouble turning its not-very-dynamic concept -- not dating -- into a watchable movie. But it also has trouble arguing its own point. Writer/director/star Swartzwelder, who makes his feature debut here after a series of shorts, includes many supporting characters who demonstrate that perfectly "good" people do have normal relationships and don't get married. And "showing respect" for a woman may not necessarily mean not touching her.

It doesn't help that Swartzwelder, with his unkempt mop of surfer hair (and no other acting credits on his resume), makes a rather sullen, selfish leading man. He's forever jumping into irritable defense mode whenever his ideals are questioned. When he's not arguing, the filmmaker pads out the movie's running time with several mopey pop-music montages, showing Clay simply wandering around. Fortunately, the delightful Roberts, a veteran of TV soap operas, brings a much-needed and cheerful presence to the movie.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Old Fashioned's attitude toward sex. What does the main character believe? What do the rest of the characters believe? What are the points of their arguments? Who do you agree with the most?

  • Why does the movie include a likable "best friend" character who's living with a woman and is unmarried? How does the movie portray them?

  • What impact does the "shock jock" have in the story? What role does he play?

  • For Christian families -- do you prefer movies with a faith-based message to secular movies? How does this one stack up to others? For non-Christian families -- do you have an interest in seeing a movie with overtly Christian themes if it also has good production values and performances?

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