Common Sense Media Review
By Christie Cronan
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Mystery is short on thrills; violence, strong language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Girl in the Pool
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In THE GIRL IN THE POOL, married family man Tom's (Freddie Prinze Jr.) affair goes horribly wrong when his girlfriend's body is found floating in the pool on the day of his surprise birthday party. The situation quickly escalates as Tom desperately tries to hide his secret while protecting his "perfect" family life. Unfortunately, his midlife crisis isn't the only thing unraveling, as a chaotic series of events—unspooling in a series of flashbacks and present-day scenes—leaves him desperately spiraling out of control.
Is It Any Good?
Unfortunately, this low-budget film's lack of commitment to its story unravels faster than the viewer's attention span. It's a midlife crisis within a midlife crisis as The Girl in the Pool seesaws between being a borderline psychological thriller without the thrills and a comedy without the funny. Co-star Monica Potter's talents are completely underused in portraying Tom's wife, and the rest of the cast isn't committed enough to the confusing plot line. The "will he get caught" scenario gets tired and irritating as Prinze Jr.'s situation (and acting) goes from believable to over-the-top in a short one and a half hours. This scandal-driven mystery will likely leave audiences confused and unsatisfied, drowning despite 1990s heartthrob Prinze Jr.'s presence.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how The Girl in the Pool depicts the consequences of cheating. Why do you think Tom had an affair? How does the movie view him?
Part of The Girl in the Pool's message is "some things are worth protecting at all costs." Do you think that's true? Why, or why not?
Who was Tom trying to protect more: himself or his family? Do you think that his actions were noble or self-serving?
Movie Details
- In theaters : July 26, 2024
- On DVD or streaming : July 26, 2024
- Cast : Freddie Prinze Jr. , Monica Potter , Kevin Pollak
- Director : Dakota Gorman
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Director(s) , Latino Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Quiver Distribution
- Genre : Thriller
- Run time : 91 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : August 7, 2024
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate