Common Sense Media Review
By Renee Schonfeld
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Sandler tale has gory violence, sex, and nonstop profanity.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Do-Over
What's the Story?
It's high school class reunion time for Max (Adam Sandler) and Charlie (David Spade), two BFFs from teen days past in THE DO-OVER. Charlie's in a terrible relationship and a professional rut, and emotionally he's still in high school. Max appears to be in dire straits as well. Wouldn't it be wonderful if they could "do it all over" again, starting from high school graduation? It isn't long before Max comes up with a plan to do just that. Taking Charlie out for a boat ride, a boat explosion, and a stint in a life raft, Max reveals that plan. He's brought new identities, a large cache of cash, and the opportunity of their stunted lifetimes. When Charlie reluctantly agrees, the two are on their way to Puerto Rico and the good life. That good life, however, is a very short one. Unfortunately, the identities belonged to two men who were running from and couldn't escape very evil villains. Now those villains are after Charlie and Max. The chase is on. Complicating the two friends' attempts to flee are the comely widow of one (Paula Patton) and a woman who appears to be a crazed ex-girlfriend of Max's. Not to mention there's a giant gunman, an intriguing stranger who seems to appear at will, and an array of bikers, sex-crazed women, and con artists. All these elements plus the possibility of a miraculous cure for cancer keep the two beleaguered heroes on the move, until ultimately they must take a stand and fight back.
Is It Any Good?
If the obscenities and swearing don't get you, the ridiculous bloody mayhem might. And if that's not enough, watch out for the skankiest sexual jokes and crudest sexual behavior that an adolescent could concoct. No redeeming values here. The story is convoluted, ludicrous, and derivative; performances abysmal (and it's hard, very hard to make Kathryn Hahn look bad!). The gay jokes and characters are demeaning, as is the portrayal of an elderly woman (Renee Taylor, what were you thinking?). It's possible that the actors and the crew had a great time making this bomb. At least they got to visit some beautiful, warm climes when New York was coping with ice storms and freezing temperatures. You have to be in on the joke to get it, and the joke isn't funny anyway. To be avoided at all costs -- even for free if you're a Netflix subscriber.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the sheer volume of obscenities and racy language in this film. What is the purpose of the profanity in this particular story? Did it ever become tiresome and/or offensive? Why, or why not?
What audience did Adam Sandler and company intend to reach with this film? In what ways does this movie have value for that audience? For any audience?
Talk about stereotyping. Which stereotypes are present in this movie? Which made you laugh? Which did you find distasteful? Why?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : May 27, 2016
- Cast : Adam Sandler , David Spade , Paula Patton
- Director : Steven Brill
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Adventures , Friendship
- Run time : 108 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 6, 2022
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