Parents' Guide to The Man with the Answers

Movie NR 2021 80 minutes
The Man with the Answers movie poster: Two topless men sit by the side of a lake, one laying down on his back.

Common Sense Media Review

Kat Halstead By Kat Halstead , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 14+

Warm, funny road trip romance has language, sex, drug use.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 14+?

Any Positive Content?

  • The Man with the Answers: A White German man smiles at a White Greek man as they sit in the front seats of a car.
  • The Man with the Answers: A White German man reads a book of inspirational quotes from the passenger seat of a car, as a White Greek man looks on from the driver's seat.
  • The Man with the Answers: A White Greek man and a White German man lean against a car, fields stretching out behind them.

Parent and Kid Reviews

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What's the Story?

In THE MAN WITH THE ANSWERS, former Greek diving champion Victoras (Vasilis Magouliotis) sets off on a road trip from Bari to Bavaria. He takes in a persuasive German passenger called Mathias (Anton Weil), who not only helps Victoras navigate the roads, but changes his journey completely.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say : Not yet rated

Warm, humorous, and beautiful to look at, this road trip romance is an enjoyable romp through the Italian and German countryside that centers a gay relationship between two mismatched characters. The Man with the Answers poses plenty of questions, and it's not clear, even at the end, which man has the answers for whom, but that's the point here. Both Victoras and Mathias learn from the other, and perhaps inherently need each other as they quarrel, walk away, and are drawn back to each other over the course of their photogenic trip, which ends up being as healing as it is amusing. The landscapes are a tourist board's dream and the chemistry between the two leads will make you smile along with them, as they're pulled together magnetically despite their own differences.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how The Man with the Answers portrayed sex and relationships. Was it affectionate? Respectful? What do you think the film was trying to say about love?

  • The film centers on a gay romance. Can you think of other films where the central relationship is between two men? Why is it important to see underrepresented groups on-screen?

  • Both characters show curiosity, but Victoras, in particular, learns to be more curious and try new things. Why do you think that's an important character strength? When has curiosity helped you in your own life?

  • Discuss the strong language used in the movie. Did it seem necessary or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie?

  • Were there any similarities in this film to other road trip and odd couple movies you've seen? How did this movie compare?

Movie Details

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

The Man with the Answers movie poster: Two topless men sit by the side of a lake, one laying down on his back.

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