Romancing the Stone
Common Sense says
- PG
- 1984
- 106 minutes
Parents say
Kids say
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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 kids will see violence, profanity, sexual situations, and stereotypical depictions of and references to Latinos in this otherwise well-written adventure movie. The baddest of the bad guys has his hand bitten off by a crocodile, which is then completely devoured (off-screen) by a pit full of crocodiles. There's also a fair bit of swearing, a couple of stabbings, and gun fights. Breasts are visible through a wet cotton top, and there's plenty of sexual innuendo. The two leads end up together in bed, though there's no nudity. Latinos are the swarthy, nasty bad guys. The term "Spico" is used by one character to describe Latin Americans.
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User Reviews
- Parents say
- Kids say
Enjoyable but with caveats
A classic
OK, but...
Kids over 9 yrs
What's the story?
In ROMANCING THE STONE, Joan Wilder (Kathleen Turner) is a famous romance novelist, starved for adventure and love in her own life. When her sister is kidnapped, Joan heads to Columbia on a rescue mission and meets Jack Colton (Michael Douglas), a gruff adventurer who helps her escape the various bad guys who want her for a treasure map her dead brother-in-law sent her. As they make their way through the jungle, Jack romances Joan, but his intentions are dubious because he wants the treasure for himself. The two find the buried treasure, only to have Ralph (Danny Devito) and corrupt police officials hot on their trail. Joan heads for Cartegena to save her sister and Jack shows up, as promised. A battle ensues between the various factions, and Jack swims off to retrieve the jewel. Joan returns to New York, thinking she'll never see Jack again.
Is it any good?
This well-written action-adventure movie is laced with a sharp sense of humor. The score is also fun, if a bit heavy-handed in a 1980s, "Miami Vice" sort of way. With jungle vine swinging and mudslides down mountainsides, this is a rough and tumble action-adventure story in the spirit of Raiders of the Lost Ark. And for those who want just a little more, Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas generate plenty of sparks. Romancing the Stone also has a delicious tongue-in-cheek quality, with plenty of hilariously incongruous moments.
Kathleen Turner is great as the mousy woman with a hidden spirit of adventure. One 13-year-girl loved her and greatly enjoyed the movie overall. The action kept her glued to the screen and she thought the romance was "fun, not sappy." Michael Douglas is equally strong as the handsome rogue who does the right thing by Joan despite his self-preservationist instincts. It's also nice to see two leads who look great, but don't possess super-human, sculpted physiques.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about how stereotypes are used in film. Why are Latinos stereotyped as nasty bad guys in this movie? What effect did their stereotyping have on how you perceived them?
How are stereotypes useful to filmmakers? How are they harmful to the groups being stereotyped? Even if you are aware that characters are being stereotyped, do you think seeing those portrayals impact how you perceive those groups?
Movie details
- In theaters: March 30, 1984
- On DVD or streaming: May 25, 1999
- Cast: Danny DeVito, Kathleen Turner, Michael Douglas
- Director: Robert Zemeckis
- Studio: Twentieth Century Fox
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- Topics: Adventures
- Run time: 106 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG
- Last updated: February 24, 2020
For kids who love adventure and romance
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Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
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