Parents' Guide to

The Meddler

By S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Heartfelt, sassy dramedy about family and grief rings true.

Movie PG-13 2016 100 minutes
The Meddler Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 11+

Based on 2 parent reviews

doctora
doctora Parent of 5-year-old
June 17, 2022
age 14+

The actors try very hard, but it falls a bit short

It's sweet. She brought bagels. But the bagels are not enough. I want it to be better for Byrne and Sarandon and Simmons and there are moments where there are glimmers of something more, but it is not enough to sustain the whole film. It feels like the script is not there, but the actors do their damndest. There are flickers but ultimately it does not work for 90 minutes.
Herbet
Herbet Adult
June 8, 2021
age 7+

Slow moving poor writing and story.

Don't waste your time.
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In THE MEDDLER, Marnie (Susan Sarandon) is a recent transplant from New Jersey to Los Angeles, where her adult daughter, Lori (Rose Byrne), lives and works as a screenwriter. Marnie loves her new condo and is tethered to her iPhone, which she uses often to check in on Lori, whether her daughter needs it or not. Marnie's husband died two years ago, and -- instead of dealing with getting a headstone and figuring out what to do with his ashes -- she'd rather take care of everyone else, including Lori, her friends, and a young man from the Apple store Marnie recently persuaded to go back to school. But when she meets Zipper (J.K. Simmons), a divorced ex-cop who's kind and caring and wants to get to know her, Marnie starts to unravel, just as Lori pleads for clearer boundaries between them.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2):
Kids say (1):

For the first time in years, Sarandon has a truly textured, meaty role into which she can pour her considerable gifts. Marnie is ostensibly a meddling mom, but Sarandon makes her so much more -- a feat that the actress takes great care with, doling out one layer at a time to an audience enraptured by such a funny, complicated character. Kudos also to Byrne, who definitely inhabits the role of a daughter both overwhelmed and grateful for her mother's overly caring ways. And Simmons rises to the occasion as Zipper, who may just be the right man for someone as complex as Marnie. But it's THE MEDDLER writer/director Lorene Scafaria who deserves the biggest plaudits: how she turned a potentially stereotypical character into an interesting, maddening delight is a wonder.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how The Meddler portrays grief. What is the movie saying about the long shadow cast by loss? Is Marnie really as OK as she seems?

  • The move plays Marnie's nosiness for laughs, as well as her over-involvement in her daughter's life. Does it ring true? How would you characterize their mother-daughter relationship? Can you think of other memorable movie moms?

  • How are drinking and drugs portrayed? Is anything glamorized?

Movie Details

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