Ray Donovan: The Movie
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Ray Donovan: The Movie
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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 Ray Donovan: The Movie is a crime drama and conclusion to the popular TV series, and features violent scenes, strong language, drinking, and drugs. It picks up from the season seven finale and while fans of the show will be pleased to see a number of loose ends tied up, newcomers will struggle to get onboard. The focal point is the volatile relationship between Ray Donovan (Liev Schreiber) and his father, Mickey (Jon Voight), who Ray tracks down to their old hometown of Boston. As with the TV show, there is no holding back with the violence. Characters are shot -- often at close range with blood spatter -- struck with baseball bats, and hit with cars. There are hints at rape and child abuse, although unless you're familiar with the show, these may pass you by. Variants of "f--k" are heard throughout, along with "c--ksucker" and more. A number of characters, especially Ray, are dealing with an alcohol disorder. They routinely drink to excess, while some characters are also shown snorting cocaine and smoking. Sex is occasionally referenced and it's implied a character receives oral sex in a car.
What's the Story?
After seven seasons, RAY DONOVAN: THE MOVIE ties up the loose ends from the final episode. With Mickey Donovan (Jon Voight) on the run, his son, Ray (Liev Schreiber), tracks him down to their old hometown of Boston, where their turbulent relationship comes to a head once and for all.
Is It Any Good?
When the TV show was canceled without warning after its season seven finale, fans took to social media to express their outrage. This unrest was evidently heard, as Ray Donovan: The Movie was commissioned in order to provide a conclusion to a journey that began nine years previously in 2013. Perhaps understandably, this film is very much for the fans. If you haven't seen the show, it's unlikely you'll find very much from this movie, other than some trademark violence and colorful language. Too much has occurred in the previous seven seasons for the brief montage at the start of the film to be anything more than a reminder as a opposed to an explainer.
But whether the fans will feel satisfied is debatable. While it's enjoyable to see these familiar faces back on-screen, whereas the show was slick, here the narrative feels uneven. This is perhaps no surprise given that showrunner David Hollander had always planned on an eighth season wrapping up the show. However, so much of the show's enjoyment came from the, albeit, complicated relationships within the Donovan family. Here they spend most of the time separate from each other and it's to the film's detriment. Flashbacks to Ray and Mickey's early life provide some enjoyable backstories and answers. There's also a sweet scene involving a young Ray and (his not yet wife) Abby. However, when fans look back on Ray Donovan, it will be the show remembered fondly, not the movie.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in Ray Donovan: The Movie. What impact did it have? What consequences were there? Does exposure to violent media desensitize kids to violence?
Discuss the strong language used in the movie. What did it contribute to the movie? Is a certain kind of language expected in a movie like this?
How was drinking, smoking, and drug use depicted in the film? Were they glamorized? Why does that matter?
Have you seen the TV show? How did this film compare? Were you satisfied with how it concluded?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: January 14, 2022
- Cast: Liev Schreiber, Jon Voight, Kerris Dorsey
- Director: David Hollander
- Studio: Showtime Networks
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Brothers and Sisters
- Run time: 100 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: February 1, 2023
Our Editors Recommend
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Ray Donovan
Edgy drama's sex, drugs, violence stop short of gratuitous.
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We Own This City
Violent police drama retreads The Wire's waters.
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The Shield
Thoughtful, mature cop show...with lots of blood.
For kids who love drama
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