Common Sense Media Review
Poor remake pushes the edges of PG-13.
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The Longest Yard
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 6 parent reviews
Based on 36 kid reviews
Kids say that the movie is entertaining and funny, especially for football fans, but it contains excessive swearing, sexual humor, and violence, making it generally inappropriate for viewers under 12 or 13. Many reviewers note that while the comedy is enjoyable, the language and themes push the boundaries of its PG-13 rating, making it necessary for parental discretion.
- excessive language
- inappropriate themes
- fun for teens
- parental discretion needed
- violent content
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In this remake, frustrated former NFL quarterback Paul Crewe (Adam Sandler) lands in a desolate Texas prison following a particularly rowdy joyride. At prison, Paul is assigned by the selfish, political-career-minded warden (James Cromwell) to assemble a cons' team to play and lose to the big-necked guards' team. The guards' abuses of inmates range from beatings to harassment. Paul manages the team with the help of Caretaker (Chris Rock) and an old-timer, Nate (Burt Reynolds); their players are assigned reductive "traits": Brucie (Nicholas Turturro) is demented; receiver Deacon Moss (former NFL star Michael Irvin) is much-respected; the Beast (K-1 Kickboxer Bob Sapp) is ferocious; Torres (Lobo Sebastian) always smokes cigarettes; Turley (Dalip Singh) is a giant whose every utterance is subtitled.
Is It Any Good?
What were they thinking? This movie has almost nothing to recommend it. Sandler -- unflappable, mildly self-mocking, and amusingly quizzical as always -- squeezes awkwardly into an old Burt Reynolds role. Though he's beaten repeatedly and endures something of a moral dilemma (the film is a play-by-play copy of the 1974 version), Sandler maintains his signature laidbackness, playing straight man while all around him "bring the pain."
The unoriginal gags include transvestite cheerleaders (for instance, Tracy Morgan as Ms. Tucker); the warden's aging secretary (Cloris Leachman), who has a crush on Paul based on the underwear ads he made as a superstar athlete); and the warden's political advisor looks like Colonel Sanders.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about drugs, steroids, and what it takes to bond in friendship. Families can also discuss the film's depiction of a corrupt prison system and how it sets up the inmates as heroes. What is the appeal of humor based on physical and verbal abuse of characters who are "different" in some way?
Movie Details
- In theaters : May 27, 2005
- On DVD or streaming : September 20, 2005
- Cast : Adam Sandler , Burt Reynolds , Chris Rock
- Director : Peter Segal
- Studio : Paramount Pictures
- Genre : Comedy
- Run time : 109 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : crude and sexual humor, violence, language and drug references
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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