Parents' Guide to The Apprentice

Excellent, authentic, and not what you expect, this biopic prompts the question: Can you handle the truth? Movies have increasingly turned to telling the origin stories of both superheroes and supervillains. Trump is seen as both, depending on who you ask, and The Apprentice—written by Gabriel Sherman, a journalist who has closely covered the rise of right-wing politics—focuses on how Trump became Trump, arranging news pieces and interview insights in a narrative fashion. This isn't a hit job; it's a coming-of-age story. Viewers are shown how an ambitious young man entered the wild party scene and corruption that was New York in the 1970s and '80s, and exited as the man he is today. Perhaps unexpectedly, writer-director Ali Abassi even makes you feel sympathy for Trump and—gulp—Cohn. Trump should at least be proud that everything about the production is top-notch, with art direction that immerses viewers in New York's grit-meets-glitz atmosphere and impressive performances by Strong, Maria Bakalova, and Stan, who ever-so-slowly weaves in The Donald's trademark mannerisms and speech patterns. That said, the movie ends in a way that is, again, factual, but sure to rub its subject the wrong way.

While The Apprentice is eye-opening when it comes to the making of the man (or the monster, depending on how you see it), Cohn's three rules of success are totally devoid of integrity and morals. While mature adults may take in these lessons with a raised eyebrow, impressionable younger viewers may take them in as a proven pathway to achievement (after all, although it's not a part of The Apprentice's story, viewers know that these tactics did lead Trump to a position of enormous power and influence). Discussion after viewing with teens is recommended.