Common Sense Media Review
By Andrea Beach
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Mature dramedy about infertility has lots of sex, cursing.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 17+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Private Life
What's the Story?
PRIVATE LIFE focuses on Rachel (Kathryn Hahn) and Richard's (Paul Giamatti) struggles to have a child. Now in their mid-40s, the couple is quickly running out of time and options. When Sadie (Kayli Carter), their college-student niece, comes to stay with them in their Manhattan apartment, they decide to ask her if she'll donate some of her eggs for in-vitro fertilization. To Rachel and Richard's delight, Sadie agrees to help them out, and the three start a long, emotionally-fraught and sometimes physically-difficult process, with one of the biggest obstacles being how Sadie's family reacts to the news. Is Richard and Rachel's dream of parenthood about to come true at last?
Is It Any Good?
Somewhere in this uneven two-hour movie is a better, 90-minute one waiting to get out. Private Life has a strong cast and a compelling story, but director Tamara Jenkins spends too much time on people and places that don't move the story along or tell us what we need to know about the characters. At its heart are some genuine laughs, emotional tension, and drama, but it's diluted by too much in-between stuff that doesn't really help. And the ending doesn't really satisfy, as there's no emotional payoff, just a sense that things are going to continue on as they have been for a long time.
The mature, explicit sexual content and appealing young co-star may attract teen interest, but it's not for them. Not only because of the strong content but because the movie's main focus is on the struggles of a couple in their 40s who are trying to keep their relationship together while they're on an emotionally and physically exhausting journey to parenthood.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the sexual content in Private Life. How much is OK? Is it realistic, and does that matter?
What about the strong language? How much is too much? Is it realistic, and does that matter?
Why do you think Rachel and Richard want a child so badly? How much do you want kids someday? If you weren't able to, do you think you'd go through everything they do?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : October 5, 2018
- Cast : Paul Giamatti , Kathryn Hahn , Kayli Carter
- Director : Tamara Jenkins
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings )
- Run time : 123 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : Strong sexual content, graphic nudity, and language
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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