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Paradise
By S. Jhoanna Robledo,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Wild Vegas night of drinking, self-discovery is so-so.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
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What's the Story?
A tragic plane accident has left Lamb (Julianne Hough) badly burned and quite rich from a settlement. It also leads her to question God and repudiate her strict religious upbringing. She sets off for -- where else? -- Las Vegas to discover everything that's been missing in her life. She'd be lost in the big city if not for a lounge singer (Octavia Spencer) and a bartender (Russell Brand), who act as both tour guides and caretakers, keeping an eye on the innocent young girl during a long night of debauchery. Hungry for experiences, Lamb starts checking off vices, including liquor, tobacco, pornography, and even a (very small) tattoo, but she still has to figure out whether this journey will lead to her more authentic self.
Is It Any Good?
Las Vegas is seedier and less than PARADISE in this disappointing film, though that shouldn't come as much of a surprise to anyone. However, it's all new and exciting for Lamb, who's led a sheltered life and is initially overwhelmed and amazed by the glitz and glamor of the big city.
Hough means well, but playing the naif isn't her strong suit, which hampers an already hobbled movie. She has to stretch to show any more depth as her character starts to grow, though writer-director Diablo Cody takes a tell-not-show approach that makes the entire enterprise feel unimaginative and uninteresting. (In a word: meh.) It's a shame: Cody's script has great potential starting from the premise. But a poker-chip-thin characterization by Hough and an unshakable obviousness in the dialogue mitigates its potential.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Parents can talk about the messages in the movie. What did Lamb learn about the world and herself? What kinds of experiences do you want to explore? What did she learn in the end?
Teens: Which of your parents' beliefs do you want to challenge? Which do you expect will stick with you forever?
Movie Details
- In theaters: October 18, 2013
- On DVD or streaming: November 12, 2013
- Cast: Julianne Hough , Octavia Spencer , Russell Brand
- Director: Diablo Cody
- Inclusion Information: Female directors, Black actors
- Studio: Mandate Pictures
- Genre: Comedy
- Run time: 86 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG-13
- MPAA explanation: sexual material, substance abuse, some language and thematic elements.
- Last updated: June 20, 2023
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