Parents' Guide to

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

By Renee Longstreet, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 12+

Book-based post-WWII romance has some war violence.

Movie NR 2018 123 minutes
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

age 9+

Based on 5 parent reviews

age 9+

The movie is great - but the audiobook of the novel is truly extraordinary and complimentary

After watching this movie get the audiobook of it - a totally different and transporting experience. There is so much more in the audiobook which cannot be crammed into a movie - the feel of the 1940s, the horror of WWII, the humanity and the extraordinary power of a love of literature and books. The pictures the audiobook can paint in a mind are truly wonderful. And there is nothing to worry about in respect of bad language.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
2 people found this helpful.
age 12+

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (5):
Kids say (5):

What might be seen by some as super sweet and predictable is leavened by the underlying pathos of wartime, an alluring mystery, and stunning photography. The super sweetness and the predictability, as a matter of fact, come directly from the novel upon which the film is based, so the creative team can't be faulted for that. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society reunites several members of the Downton Abbey cast, with Lily James (seemingly the breakout star of that series, with multiple starring roles in big studio movies) solid in the role, charming the audience with her smarts and girl-next-door appeal. Featured characters are uniformly first-rate, with the reliable Tom Courtenay and Penelope Wilton terrific as always. Mike Newell, notable for other fine period films (e.g., Great Expectations, Enchanted April), delivers both the emotional goods and the visuals. Though the movie was not filmed on Guernsey Island, the creative team brings the island to life using other British locations. Recommended for those who don't mind a little sugar along with their drama.

Movie Details

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