Common Sense Media Review
By S. Jhoanna Robledo
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Female buddy-cop comedy mixes humor, violence, drinking.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 17+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Heat
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 19 parent reviews
Based on 54 kid reviews
Kids say this movie is hilariously funny but packed with strong language and adult themes, making it unsuitable for younger audiences. Reviewers highlight the comedic chemistry between the lead characters while also noting the frequent profanity and instances of violence, advising that older teens are better suited for viewing.
- strong language
- adult themes
- comedic chemistry
- violence
- suitable for older teens
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Sarah Ashburn (Sandra Bullock) is an effective FBI agent who irritates everyone around her. Shannon Mullins (Melissa McCarthy) is a Boston cop who's angry at everyone around her. Together, they make a truly terrible team, but they're forced to work together to take down a mysterious drug lord. That is, if they can avoid killing each other first in THE HEAT, from Bridesmaids director Paul Feig.
Is It Any Good?
The Heat takes a typically male genre -- the buddy-cop action movie -- and turns it on its head, serving up a hilarious, if predictable, contribution to the genre. The film's best assets are its leads, who share an easy, believable rapport, even if they're very different.
What's groundbreaking here is that the differences between the two main characters aren't the obvious ones -- don't expect any low blows about McCarthy's weight or the usual NYC-versus-Boston rivalry. Instead, Ashburn and Mullins are allowed complexities unique to them, so they're interesting. Don't expect the crime detection part to be anything more than paint-by-numbers. But since The Heat gives us the fantastic duo that is Bullock and McCarthy, we'll cut it some slack.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about whether the main characters seem realistic. Are they caricatures? Does it make sense that they would eventually become devoted friends?
How do Ashburn and Mullins compare to the cop duos in other classic films? Does it make much difference that they're both female?
How does the movie portray drinking and drug use? Are there realistic consequences? Do you think there have to be in a comedy aimed at older teens and adults?
How does the violence in this movie compare to what you might see in movies more focused on action than comedy? Does the movie's tone change the impact of the content?
Movie Details
- In theaters : June 28, 2013
- On DVD or streaming : October 15, 2013
- Cast : Melissa McCarthy , Sandra Bullock , Tony Hale
- Director : Paul Feig
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Twentieth Century Fox
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Friendship
- Run time : 117 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : pervasive language, strong crude content and some violence
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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