Common Sense Media Review
By S. Jhoanna Robledo
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Listless coming-of-age drama about teen's ho-hum "problems."
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
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Where to Watch
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Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
James (Toby Regbo) is fresh out of high school and has no idea what to do with his life. His parents (Peter Gallagher and Marcia Gay Harden) urge him to go to college, but it just doesn't seem like the right choice to him. Problem is, he has no idea what he should do instead -- so he spends much of SOMEDAY THIS PAIN WILL BE USEFUL TO YOU trying to figure it out, with some guidance from an unorthodox life coach (Lucy Liu).
Is It Any Good?
Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You tries to turn the agonizing life choices of a 17-year-old boy into the stuff of high drama, but the stakes are very low. Should James go to school at Brown? Should he buy an old house and fix it up? Should he just jump off the roof, or work at his mom's high-end art gallery? His are the options of privilege, thanks to wealthy parents, but this material comfort means he has little motivation to do much of anything.
This isn't a situation that's available to most real-life teens, and it's not especially interesting to watch as a result. In the end, James faces the same choices as just about everyone his age, and little he does is original. His decisions are neither unusual nor entertaining, and neither is this movie.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about whether James is a realistic character. Does he seem like a real teen? Are his dilemmas relatable? How does he compare to other movie teens?
How does the movie portray drinking and drug use? Are there realistic consequences?
What life advice does James' grandmother give him? Is it useful/helpful?
Movie Details
- In theaters : October 5, 2012
- On DVD or streaming : March 5, 2013
- Cast : Lucy Liu , Marcia Gay Harden , Peter Gallagher , Toby Regbo
- Director : Roberto Faenza
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Asian Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Four of a Kind Productions
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship
- Run time : 98 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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