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Parents' Guide to

The Monuments Men

By S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Fact-based adventure with a few bloody battle scenes.

Movie PG-13 2014 118 minutes
The Monuments Men Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

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age 13+

Based on 6 parent reviews

Partyof5Foodies
Partyof5Foodies Adult
March 23, 2020
age 10+

Hidden side of WW2 - Plenty of war, but plenty of humanity and humor too

Good plot with well-known actors that reminds us of the value of culture and history - and the negative effects on society's root from a destructive war. After the movie we talked about Gaza, Syria, Rohingas, and how society feels with the Coronavirus lockdown. The struggle for preservative is played out well, despite plenty of cigarette smoking, some deaths (only some blood is shown), and minor romantic innuendo. Appropriate for 5th graders and above, to start drawing out the uplifting themes of honor, courage, chivalry, and the value of preservation.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
NiknicIN
NiknicIN Parent of 14-year-old
April 30, 2017
age 15+

Not best movie, but absolutely worthwhile topic

The beginning of this movie jumped around quite a bit as it put the background in place for the story, but it was not done very well and felt disjointed. We watched the latter 2/3 the next day, and that part was excellent. This is an amazing story to be told, and I am very pleased that we gave it a try.
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What's the Story?

As World War II raged in Europe, Hitler and his generals systematically plundered the greatest artworks of Western civilization, sending millions of paintings, statues, and other valuable pieces back to Germany. Based on a true story, MONUMENTS MEN stars (and is directed by) George Clooney as Frank Stokes, a historian who leads his team (dubbed the Monuments Men), a special unit assigned to find and protect the stolen art. The all-star cast includes Matt Damon, Cate Blanchett, John Goodman, and Bill Murray as scholars-turned-soldiers who brave the battlefields in search of lost treasure.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (6 ):
Kids say (15 ):

The Monuments Men is jaunty, lively and yes, entertaining, and will appeal to teens who are fans of the big-name actors and enjoy an exciting mix of peril and adventure. Bill Murray and John Balaban might have smaller parts, but they're fantastic as treasure hunters, and deserve their own spin-off.

Nonetheless, the movie subverts its mission of convincing the audience that saving art is a big enough story to keep them engaged. Its tone is dissonant -- irreverent, yet serious. Perhaps it's not serious enough, because this mix almost makes it seem as if the filmmakers had doubts about convincing the audience about the seriousness of their endeavor -- Clooney's character, Stokes, makes speeches directly addressing this -- and hedged their bets by trying to be both tongue-in-cheek and earnest. The denouement feels flimsy, the big quest doesn't feel as weighty as it should. Plus, the film lacks a strong narrative arc, moving the action by following the unit from one point to the other while failing to build up any serious stakes.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the moral issue that comes up in the movie. Do you think it's worth sacrificing a your life to protect a piece of art? What value does art bring to society and culture?

  • What do you think the world would be life if the Monuments Men had failed, and so much irreplaceable art was lost forever?

  • What's the tone of the movie? Are we supposed to take the men seriously? What would have made this movie better?

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