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Parents' Guide to

The Bounty Hunter

By S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Stereotypes and minor violence arrest this dull romcom.

Movie PG-13 2010 110 minutes
The Bounty Hunter Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 12+

Based on 10 parent reviews

Molly Mormon Mom
Molly Mormon Mom Parent of 11 and 15-year-old
April 16, 2010
age 17+

Um... Did no one else notice the NUDITY?

There is a strip club scene with almost complete female nudity. The language was terrible. I had high expectations, but I just didn't find it that funny. 8 bucks and 2 hours of my life I'll never get back.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
1 person found this helpful.
Sally J.
Sally J. Parent of 9 and 13-year-old
December 25, 2020
age 15+

A Little Too Much

85% of this film is fine for kids even as young as 9; HOWEVER, a full 15% (+-) includes too many sexual.....not just innuendos but explicit statements that either include terms (example “boner”) and/or verbal references to miscellaneous sex acts. Just a little too much for my 8th grader (daughter, who I keep well-informed), whose father now fabulously knows that SHE knows what a “boner” is. I tell her so she will know from me rather than a schoolmate but I would have preferred not to have all of this play out on a screen with the whole family together until she is a little bit older - it felt awkward enough times (once or twice would have been okay) that even she thinks she should have been older to watch it.

This title has:

Too much sex
See all 10 parent reviews

What's the Story?

An ex-cop Milo Boyd (Gerard Butler) owes $11,000 to loan sharks. So when his bail bondsman boss (Jeff Garlin) says he can make $5,000 to pick up one runaway, he says yes immediately and discovers it's his ex-wife, newspaper reporter Nicole (Jennifer Aniston). Hot on the trail of a juicy story, she's skipped bail and has no time for a return engagement with a judge. But she might have time for a second chance at romance. That is, if she and her ex can stop bickering enough for the goodwill to resurface.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (10 ):
Kids say (32 ):

One of the biggest principles of romantic comedy is that couple must have scorching chemistry; it's a pity that Aniston and Butler have none. They both look great and sound great -- well, Aniston, anyway (more on this later) -- but paired together, we get nothing. The second rule of thumb: The story has to scamper lightly, but with great charm, and, sadly, THE BOUNTY HUNTER does neither, let alone both. The plot is predictable, the pacing clunky. And this despite numerous location shoots and ostensibly fast-moving hijinks.

Why Aniston chooses material like this is baffling. She has great comic timing and delivery that could be put to better use in less formulaic fare, but here she is, amiable and likable and looking great while phoning it in. Truly, it's beneath her. And beneath him, too. Butler is not as rakishly appealing here as he is in other films (P.S. I Love You, for starters), and his accent is all wrong. To bring Milo's oafishness across, he relies on clichéd shorthand, like chewing with his mouth open. Thank goodness for supporting actors like SNL's Jason Sudeikis and Siobhan Fallon Hogan, who actually outshine them both.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about why Nicole and Milo's marriage failed in the first place, and how believable their reunion is. Can two people who really hurt each other reconcile this easily, even in a romcom? What brings them back together?

  • What kinds of stereotypes does this movie portray? Do the men and women in the movie seem like real people, or caricatures?

Movie Details

  • In theaters: March 19, 2010
  • On DVD or streaming: July 13, 2010
  • Cast: Gerard Butler , Jeff Garlin , Jennifer Aniston
  • Director: Andy Tennant
  • Inclusion Information: Female actors
  • Studio: Columbia Pictures
  • Genre: Comedy
  • Run time: 110 minutes
  • MPAA rating: PG-13
  • MPAA explanation: sexual content including suggestive comments, language and some violence
  • Last updated: July 17, 2023

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