Homophobic humor; a black thief repeatedly discusses racism ("always blame the black man"), and his associates repeatedly call him "crazy" bad jewel thieves, corrupt detective, and an extremely upright marine who breaks multiple rules and laws to achieve his ends.

Violence

Frequent explosions (vehicles and buildings); weapons include guns (shotguns, handguns, automatic), hatchet, grenades, knives, hammers, chainsaw, shoulder-mounted missile; bloody WWE-style fights, with stomping, kicking, body-slamming, and bodies leaping or thrown through glass or wooden walls; first scene shows blindfolded hostages in Iraq who are about to be killed when John roars in to save them; alligators grab one villain's body; women's fight includes kicking, punching, hair-pulling; woman nearly drowns handcuffed inside a submerged truck; badly burned villain attacks hero, who breaks his neck with a huge chain; at least three allusions to the rape in Deliverance.

Sex

Brief sex scene in bedroom (romantic/silhouetted upper bodies) and on kitchen counter (wife in bra and panties, husband in boxers); a shot through a woman's black-stockinged legs as she seduces her lover; women wear tight, cleavage-revealing tops; villain propositions female hostage; climactic clinch/kiss when the hero rescues his wife.

Language

One "f--k," plus two or more uses of assorted other profanity ("bastard," "bitch," "hell," "s--t," "son of a bitch," "damn," "ass").

Consumerism

Coca Cola logo, Miller beer labels.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Beer drinking, cop car's bumper sticker refers to "drug dealer."

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this movie pushes the envelope for PG-13 violence, with pretty much nonstop action, including plenty of fights, explosions, and injuries/deaths. Weapons include guns, knives, hammers, cars (as both assault and explosive devices), and a chainsaw. Bodies crash through walls and windows, burn, and blow up. Potentially disturbing images include a badly burned villain, a drowning wife, and action scenes that involve shot-up, bloody bodies. Other stuff to watch out for: An early sex scene between the hero and his wife shows them in their underwear, her legs around him as she sits on the kitchen counter. One character uses "f--k," and all the villains use other foul language. A couple of scenes show manly men drinking beer.

User Reviews

Parents say
Kids say

Adult Written bybbnick April 9, 2008

not rated for age

I liked it!!

There is alot more games for the psp, x-box, wii, etc. that has alot more violence, cursing, and nudity in them. I see nothing wrong with this movie. My 7yr old... Continue reading

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Adult Written byquest133 April 9, 2008

not rated for age

A very weak film

Nothing good and unrealistic action.

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Kid, 10 years old July 8, 2010

age 9+

STUPID AND DUMB MOVIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

this is one of the dumbest movies i have ever seen. must have been a bad screenplay but whatever it was this movie ist even worth renting. very stupid. this mov... Continue reading

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Teen, 13 years old Written bysubhankasi June 21, 2015

age 15+

Good Actions....But has enough sex

Great Action movie of John Cena ...but it concludes enough sex which rank it as a 15+ movie according to me......And is also religion sensitive

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What's the story?

After being discharged, Marine John Triton ( WWE wrestling star John Cena) must find a new job. He finds his opportunity to break heads and blow things up when he runs afoul of villainous Rome (Robert Patrick). Rome is revealed as a ruthless killer during a diamond heist, when he allows one hotheaded accomplice to shoot up the store and another to blow up a police car with a shoulder-mounted missile. John's initial encounter with Rome is accidental, but their relationship instantly gets personal when Rome's thieves kidnap John's wife Kate (Kelly Carlson). Encouraged by potentially shady Detective Van Buren (Jerome Ehlers), John tracks the villains and kills them one by one, usually with the help of some explosion-heavy, WWE-style body-whomping antics. Kate provides her own action by repeatedly fighting back against her kidnappers.

Is it any good?

THE MARINE's action is geared more for effect than for narrative. The spectacular explosions serve as background for men to leap toward the camera; the shooting scenes feature bodies falling and flying through the air; and the hand-to-hand fights, often framed in low angles so that bodies can hurtle more effectively at the viewer, typically lead to tough-guy patter. Here The Marine's plot bears a strong resemblance to those of James Cameron's movies: pursuit and assault, again and again.

The difference is that the Terminator movies featured knotty time-travel storylines, as well as complicated, engaging characters, while The Marine settles for action pieces performed by broad character types. In other words, it's a lot like a night of wrestling.

Talk to your kids about ...

Families can talk about the idea of breaking laws in order to achieve seemingly moral ends. While John's determination to rescue Kate is admirable, what do you think of his refusal to follow rules while making his outlaw opponents look "pathetic" or "crazy"? Do the ends ever justify the means? Also, how does the movie set up a specific conflict between Kate and Angela, so that the "girls" are set apart from the "boys" as adversaries? How does the movie use humor to diminish the effects of its violence (for example, Morgan as a butt for homophobic and racist jokes and Rome for Terminator jokes)?

Movie details

In theaters: October 13, 2006
On DVD or streaming: February 13, 2007
Cast: John Cena, Kelly Carlson, Robert Patrick
Director: John Bonito
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox
Genre: Action/Adventure
Run time: 93 minutes
MPAA rating: PG-13
MPAA explanation: for intense sequences of violent action, sensuality and language.

Our editors recommend

The Terminator

Terrific sci-fi action, but too violent for some.

age 15+

The Rundown

Mildly entertaining action movie with The Rock.

age 13+

The Marine

Common Sense says

Parents say