Parents' Guide to

The Incredible Jessica James

By Renee Longstreet, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Crisp, star-driven romcom has sexual content, cursing.

Movie NR 2017 85 minutes
The Incredible Jessica James Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

See all

There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.

What's the Story?

Breakups are always hard, and the heroine in THE INCREDIBLE JESSICA JAMES is struggling. A determined and hard-working playwright who gets rejection notices from theater companies as well as from her ex, Jessica (Jessica Williams) covers her fragility with a quick wit, in-your-face honesty, and an (almost) invincible spirit. Her best post-split moments come from teaching. Jessica's good at it, and the city kids in her theater class are lucky to have her. Being fixed up with Boone (Chris O'Dowd), a newly divorced computer guy who's got his own issues with being single, is a mixed blessing. He's sexy, funny, and just about as frank as she is, but they're both still recovering. Any steps forward in their relationship seem to come with two steps back. Jessica's fantasizing about her old boyfriend doesn't help matters. So it requires some tricky maneuvering, along with a little luck, for Jessica to get to a place where she just might be open to the next good thing.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say Not yet rated
Kids say (1):

The spirited, wholly original Jessica Williams turns a familiar setup and story into a special event with her agility, intelligence, and ability to play a vanity-free role with gusto. Luckily, Chris O'Dowd has just what it takes to charm her, and the audience, and their chemistry is terrific. Williams struts and storms, laughs and dances The Incredible Jessica James right into your heart. And, the beauty of Williams dancing is that she's not great at it, but, wow, is she willing. It's not a perfect film. One could find fault with the lapses into comic stereotype, particularly in the scenes with the leading lady headed back to her hometown, but why bother? It doesn't really distract from the whole. With wonderful performances, great comic timing, and even a generous helping of heartstring tugs, the movie should appeal to a wide audience. Mature, with lots of sexual situations and references.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the movie term "star turn." What does it mean? The Incredible Jessica James was written for Jessica Williams. What about the actress makes her special? Do you think the movie will affect her career? How?

  • Jessica James is a unique school teacher. What are some of the qualities and behaviors that make her so effective? How can those qualities and behaviors transfer to personal social interaction as well?

  • Talk about the contrasts that may exist between sexual scenes in comedies and in dramas. Is there a difference in the mood the director intends to create? How does that mood affect the response the director is hoping for?

Movie Details

Inclusion information powered by

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 suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended movie lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

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