Preteen girl looking at a cell phone with her parents

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Parents' Guide to

Parental Guidance

By Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 9+

Predictable family comedy isn't deserving of its stars.

Movie PG 2012 104 minutes
Parental Guidance Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

age 9+

Based on 36 parent reviews

age 11+

Keep looking elsewhere

Pretty terrible. Great actors and potential but the stiry was cringe after cringe. Also when will I see a film where the only asian actor isn’t the okd chinese restaurant trope? Ugh.
age 4+

Funny- GREAT MESSAGES—NO POLITICAL OR WOKE AGENDA

Are you kidding me with the low review? This was a funny movie that made us laugh out loud, showed compassion and different styles of parenting - helicopter vs more free range but disciplined- and a whole lot of love. THERE NO POLITICAL AGENDA OR WOKE AGENDA…..finally! NO SEX REFERENCES EITHER!

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (36 ):
Kids say (51 ):

It's sad to report that the combination of brilliant comedian Crystal and the multi-talented Midler doesn't amount to much in this uninspired, "everything funny is in the trailer" family movie. All of the bats to the crotch and pee jokes only reinforce how lowbrow and predictable the humor is and how much PARENTAL GUIDANCE squanders its leads' stellar talent.

The interactions between Crystal's grumpy grandfather, Midler's overeager grandmother, and their three wacky grandkids are alternately coy and annoying. Even the one song-and-dance number Crystal and Midler break into ("The Book of Love") is too forced and unnecessary to be entertaining. There are a few Crystal-inspired laughs and gags -- one at the expense of skateboarding legend Tony Hawk, who cameos -- but there aren't enough to make you forget how disappointing it is to see such iconic actors in such a blah film.

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