Parents' Guide to Sacramento

Movie R 2025 89 minutes
Sacramento movie poster: Michael Angarano is behind the wheel of a yellow convertible, flanked by other characters

Common Sense Media Review

Tara McNamara By Tara McNamara , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 15+

Salty road trip comedy tackles "manxiety" with sensitivity.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 15+?

Any Positive Content?

  • Sacramento Trailer
  • Sacramento movie: Standing with their arms around one another, smiling, are Maya Erskine, Michael Angarano, Michael Cera, and Kristen Stewart
  • Sacramento movie: Maya Erskine and Michael Angarano laugh while facing each other sitting on a dock by a lake
  • Sacramento movie: Michael Cera cuddles Kristen Stewart while she's sitting at a desk looking at a computer monitor

Parent and Kid Reviews

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What's the Story?

During Rickey's (Michael Angarano) visit with his childhood best friend, Glenn (Michael Cera), he realizes that Glenn is anxious about becoming a father. Going through his own crisis, Rickey convinces Glenn to join him on his road trip to SACRAMENTO, with a secret plan that they can bond and find strength in each other.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say : Not yet rated

Times change, humor changes, but the anxiety of facing major life events doesn't—Angarano is just showing us how the current generation of men may contend with these immutable challenges. And in doing so, he fills out his cast with his real-life wife (Maya Erskine), and real-life friends (Cera and Kristen Stewart); their built-in comfort with one another makes Sacramento's humor work.

It's easy to picture more over-the-top comedians like Will Ferrell or Zach Galifianakis in the roles of Glenn and Rickey, which would have taken the same script in a very different direction. Here, the jokes will still make you laugh out loud, but it all feels pretty grounded. Moreover, the movie suggests that, when life's road gets bumpy, you can smooth out your worries by taking to the road with a friend to discuss life.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how Glenn and Rickey are dealing with their anxious feelings in Sacramento. Why is it important for movies and TV shows to portray characters, especially men, taking the initiative to improve their mental health?

  • What are the hallmarks of a road trip comedy? Which of these elements did you spot in Sacramento? How does it compare to other road trip comedies you've seen?

  • Which characters demonstrate positive communication and humility? How does the film show the connection between these two life skills, and why are they important?

  • Director/co-star Angarano casts his real-life family and friends in the movie, including his father and son, and had his father-in-law (jazz musician Peter Erskine) compose the score. What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of working with loved ones on a creative endeavor?

  • What's the value in maintaining childhood friendships? Which of your friends do you hope you'll still be close with in 10 or 20 years, when you're going through major life events?

Movie Details

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Sacramento movie poster: Michael Angarano is behind the wheel of a yellow convertible, flanked by other characters

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