Parents' Guide to

Swindle

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 7+

Nickelodeon alums team up in funny book-inspired heist film.

Movie G 2014 92 minutes
Swindle Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

age 6+

Based on 3 parent reviews

age 2+

Swin-tasic!

Plz make a sequal. It is okay for everyone over the age of 1mnth+

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
age 7+

Hilarious

This is one of our favorite movies. There are numerous excellent moments, such as when the tough guy single-handedly pushes an obnoxious teen's double-parked car out of the way, then says, "Yeah. That just happened." Or when the whole crew piles into the elevator and then rather than standing in wasted silence, bops their heads in time to the ambient music. Or when Mr. Swindle tried to relax in his concrete block basement hotel room. Our family's standard worst meal for comparison now is the "stinky cheese and squid plate." It's just plain fun to watch, and we've re-watched a few times because it's that fun. It's also neat how every character has something to contribute to the team effort. The characters are basically setting a bad example in many ways as explained by the CSM review, and it's not at all realistic. And yes, the movie is quite different from the book. And the "German" accent sounds to me like the Swedish chef. But as long as your kids can be entertained without imitating, it's worth watching.

This title has:

Too much violence

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (3):
Kids say (14):

This is a wild adventure with big personalities, hilarious mishaps, and plenty of twists and turns to keep viewers guessing about its eventual outcome. Based on a popular book by Gordon Korman, Swindle is like Ocean's Eleven for a younger crowd. Food fights, a blind nun, angry Russians, and even a "Call Me Maybe" breakout musical segment are just some of the notable features sure to delight kids, and all that's before the teens' ingenious scheme exacts due revenge on a slimy con man you just love to hate.

Even so, the movie's best selling point isn't in the story so much as it is in the talented cast of Nickelodeon alums whose collective star power would give the Ocean's crew a run for its money, at least among this viewing demographic. Tweens will flock to this film for the chance to see McCurdy, Crawford, O'Neal, and the rest of the gang join forces, and the effect really is dazzling. Granted, their no-holds-barred brand of justice wouldn't cut it in the real world (especially with teens behind the wheel), but that's what makes this such a fun departure from reality.

Movie Details

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