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Parents' Guide to

Say It Isn't So

By Nell Minow, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 17+

A mediocre comedy about incest.

Movie R 2001 95 minutes
Say It Isn't So Poster Image

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What's the Story?

In SAY IT ISN'T SO, sweet Gilly Noble (Chris Klein) meets up with the world's worst hairdresser, Jo Wingfield (Heather Graham) and they fall in love and become engaged. But then Gilly finds out that the birth parents he has been looking for are none other than the Wingfields, Valdene (Sally Field) and Walter (Richard Jenkins), Jo's parents. So, the lovers part, and Jo returns to her old boyfriend, rich, handsome, charming Jack Mitchelson (Eddie Cibrian). A year later, as Jack and Jo are about to get married, Gilly finds out that he is not Jo's brother, and he races off to get her the message before the wedding.

Is It Any Good?

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

Audiences who have been wondering when we were going to get a great comedy about incest can keep wondering. Say it Isn't So is a mediocre comedy about incest, a pale retread from the producers (but not the writers or director) of There's Something About Mary. They are clearly trying here for the same results, but miscasting and going once too often to the well of "I can't believe they did that" get in the way. Its primary appeal will be on video, to excited middle schoolers who think they are cool for watching an R-rated movie and can't tell the difference between gross, outrageous, and funny.

All of this is just an excuse for jokes involving amputated limbs, bikini waxes, paralysis, pierced nipples, bestiality, a town named "Beaver," a guy with his arm stuck in a cow's rear end, and, of course, lots of incest humor. The few bright spots feature Orlando Jones as Gilly's one friend (an amputee pilot).

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what to do when someone you care for is about to marry someone you think is a bad choice, and about how a highly dysfunctional family like the Wingfields could produce a sweet daughter like Jo.

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