Common Sense Media Review
By Renee Schonfeld
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Parody lands with a thud; language, violence, drinking.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Legacy of a Whitetail Deer Hunter
What's the Story?
Still hurting from his divorce and concerned that he's losing his beloved 12-year-old son, Jaden (Montana Jordan), to the new man in his ex-wife's life, Buck Ferguson (Josh Brolin) plans a three-day hunting trip in THE LEGACY OF A WHITETAIL DEER HUNTER. Buck, the star of a syndicated reality TV show about whitetail deer hunting, is certain that by showing Jaden the joys of the hunt and the kill, the two will share a thrilling experience, cementing their relationship. So, father and son, accompanied by Don (Danny McBride), Buck's loyal cameraman (and usually willing victim of his bullying), set out to find a very special ("non-typical") deer to kill. They'll film the journey for what will be a spectacular episode of the show. Unfortunately, Jaden is far more interested in his cell phone conversations with his girlfriend, his music, even his hair. He has no interest in killing deer, and very little interest in his dad. Buck's spirit is crushed, and even after they see the perfect specimen of non-typical deer, tracking it only makes things worse. They find themselves in situations so dangerous that the thin thread that binds them may be finally stretched beyond repair.
Is It Any Good?
Josh Brolin makes a valiant attempt to give his clueless, misguided character some heart, but this distasteful, overlong (even at 83 minutes) film is billed as a comedy, and it's just not funny. It's a bad idea to arm a 12-year-old boy with an assault rifle and show him pornographic photos of a white woman engaged in sexual activity with African American men. Of course, bad ideas are possibly exactly what Hill and company were hoping for with The Legacy of a Whitetail Deer Hunter. Dashing mainstream taste and civility (aka political correctness) is a marketable pastime, but in this case, not very appealing. In some instances, it appears that Hill's intent is to laugh at the macho hunter with his passion for the kill. On the other hand, there are plenty of shots in which deer are killed, and Buck keeps extolling the thrill it brings.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about filmmakers' attitudes about controversial issues. Did The Legacy of a Whitetail Deer Hunter have a clear point of view about deer hunting? If so, what was that point of view? If not, in a comedy like this one, does point of view matter? Why or why not? Did the film impact your thoughts about the subject?
How did this movie treat bad behavior, such as Buck's negligence with Jaden, or his getting drunk at an inappropriate moment? Were there consequences for him? What, if anything, do you think Buck learned from his journey with his son?
Buck's efforts at "bonding" with Jaden were unorthodox. What are some positive experiences parents and kids can share to enhance their relationships? What do you most like doing with the adults in your life?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : July 6, 2018
- Cast : Josh Brolin , Danny McBride , Montana Jordan
- Director : Jody Hill
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Comedy
- Run time : 83 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 12, 2022
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