Parents' Guide to

Thank You for Smoking

By Cynthia Fuchs, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Mostly clever comedy about lobbyists. For adults.

Movie R 2006 92 minutes
Thank You for Smoking Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 14+

Based on 4 parent reviews

moom98765
moom98765 Adult
May 21, 2022
age 18+

The nitty gritty of smoking!

Absolutely an amazing film! Not only outlines the dangers of smoking, but also gives you some serious insight on people who lobby for tabbaco!

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
renroc
renroc Adult
June 7, 2013
age 14+

Thought provoking; a good primer on how to be critical of advertising

It's important to realize that Big Tobacco and the other less-than-favorable aspects of the movie are presented as, well, less-than-favorable. Slick arguers and quick-witted (some of) them they may be, but the movie has a not-too-subtle approach to showing us the shallow, morally bankrupt nature of these characters. A great conversation starter.

This title has:

Great messages
Too much swearing
Too much consumerism
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 4 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Employed by Big Tobacco, Washington DC lobbyist Nick Naylor (Aaron Eckhart) argues that even if cigarettes are toxic, they're not illegal, so it's up to the individual whether to smoke them. Part of a threesome that call themselves the M.O.D. Squad (Merchants of Death), Nick's fellow lobbyists include alcohol lobbyist Polly (Maria Bello) and firearms lobbyist Bobby (David Koechner). They spend their lunchtimes drinking in a red leather booth at Bert's, comparing notes and numbers of deaths with regard to their hurtful, well-paying jobs. Other characters in Nick's world include a skuzzy Hollywood producer (Rob Lowe), a righteous Senator Finistirre (William H. Macy), and a tobacco magnate (Robert Duvall). Nick's revelation begins when he meets the debilitated, lung-cancerous Marlboro Man Lorne Lutch (Sam Elliott). Nick is supposed to convince him to give up his threat to out tobacco's malicious intents. Nick's talking gets him into trouble with Washington Post reporter Heather Holloway (Katie Holmes) when he blabs crucial secrets.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (4):
Kids say (3):

Based on Christopher Buckley's popular novel, THANK YOU FOR SMOKING isn't as clever as it seems to be, and it doesn't exactly condemn or admire Nick. But it does question his nihilism, in part through his adoring and inquisitive son, whose big-eyed reaction shots underline that Nick has responsibilities, beyond the job. While Nick thinks for a minute he wants to raise up Joey in his own image, when he starts to doubt the moral relativism of his soulless arguments, the relationship changes. "If you argue correctly," he tells Joey, "you're never wrong." Nick's a great talker, Thank You submits, but he's not right.

The film's smartest scenes involve The M.O.D. Squad. The group's honesty provides sharp contrast with the film's other fall guys who, whether callous or dumb or egotistical, are stereotypes that offer no new insights, just easy targets.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Nick's relationship with his son Joey: How does the son challenge his dad's thinking? How does his admiration of his father make Nick question himself? How does the Marlboro Man serve as a kind of father figure for Nick, who sees in him a victim of the product he pitches?

Movie Details

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