Common Sense Media Review
By Tara McNamara
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Funny, bawdy fertility comedy has nudity, drugs, swearing.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 17+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Scrambled
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In SCRAMBLED, 34-year-old Nellie (Leah McKendrick) is finding that all of her friends are getting married and having babies. Reeling from a recent breakup with her long-term boyfriend, Nellie revisits (and re-beds) old relationships—and learns that her fertility viability could be diminishing. She's not sure that she wants to have kids, but preserving that option for a later date means she needs to look into freezing her eggs now.
Is It Any Good?
This hilarious, heart-squeezing fertility comedy seems destined to top Galentine's Day movie lists from here on out. Scrambled depicts the carousel of weddings and baby showers that fill the weekends of many women in their late 20s and early 30s—something that can sometimes leave single women wondering "What about me? Do I want this? Should I want this?" Wedding and teething rings can feel like status symbols, and many romcoms only contribute to relationship anxiety.
McKendrick has created a funny, authentic movie that serves as a "what to expect when you're expecting to freeze your eggs" (aka oocyte cryopreservation). It isn't really for teens, but for anyone who watches—and finds fertility woes sparking premature worries—the message to reiterate is that medical advances are rapidly silencing the so-called "ticking biological clock," allowing women plenty of time for self-discovery before making a decision on parenthood.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about whether Scrambled can be described as a romantic comedy. Why, or why not? What clichés of that genre does it follow, and which does it break?
Does Scrambled glamorize or normalize drug use and drinking? Are there realistic consequences? Why does that matter?
Leah McKendrick made the film based on her own experience freezing her eggs. Following the "write what you know" rule of scriptwriting, what event in your life do you think would make a good movie?
Is Nellie a good friend? Why, or why not? What do you think about the reason behind her breakup with Shawn?
Movie Details
- In theaters : February 2, 2024
- On DVD or streaming : March 1, 2024
- Cast : Leah McKendrick , Ego Nwodim , Henry Zebrowski
- Director : Leah McKendrick
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : Lionsgate
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship
- Run time : 100 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : sexual content, nudity, language throughout and some drug use
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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