The Next Three Days

Movie review by Jeffrey Anderson, Common Sense Media
The Next Three Days Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 15+

Mature prison escape drama is tense, but also slow.

PG-13 2010 122 minutes
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Parents say

age 12+

Based on 5 reviews

Kids say

age 13+

Based on 5 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this suspenseful thriller from Oscar-winning filmmaker Paul Haggis (Crash) has violent sequences with dead bodies and blood, as well as attempted suicides and shouting/arguing. When the main character's (Russell Crowe) wife is accused of murder and imprisoned for life, he decides as a last resort to break her out of jail, no matter what the consequences. His choices and actions send a mixed message to teens about respecting the law, but, on the flip side, those same decisions may prompt some interesting discussions. Expect some language (including "s--t" and one "f--k"), references to drugs and drug dealers, and some sexual situations/talk, but no actual nudity.

Community Reviews

gigi39
gigi39 Adult
June 28, 2020
age 12+

DROP THAT HORRIBLE MUSIC

Loved passionate acting.. enjoyed Liam token role as escape planner.. as usual great story teller.. It was a bit unreal. Hollywood stepped in to show male violence against a female and attempted abandonment of a child. All unhealthy and as a mother unreal. That awful music chosen as he begins his flight plan is horrible. Then the chase as they escape also sooo overdone including the jittery music. I think every agency joined in and completely over the top chase at the end. Usually reserved for some type of serial killer or gang members. Helicopters and all.
Petalknits
Petalknits Adult
August 15, 2019
age 15+

Refreshing!

I thought this was a great movie...not a typical shoot 'em up for revenge, but more realistic. The main character is motivated by love (he is trying to save his wife's life), though he breaks the law and even kills. It isn't ideal, but he doesn't set out to kill (a drug dealer) and clearly isn't comfortable with the idea. I like that he tries what seems to be impossible; struggles and fails. He gets back up,; then becomes determined and just does what he has to do to try to save his wife, setting aside his fears. The focus here is on using the brain, rather than intending violence, and the main character is very clever. Though the main character breaks the law, I like it that he is the hero of his family without being overly violent or even having any prior experience trying to be the hero. He adapts and is determined to do what must be done. Very suspenseful, and the acting is really great. I also think it's refreshing that there isn't a big focus on sex or language. See common sense's review. There is violence, but there isn't a ton, and not much gore is shown (also refreshing).
See all 5 parent reviews

What's the Story?

As THE NEXT THREE DAYS opens, Lara Brennan (Elizabeth Banks) and her husband, John (Russell Crowe), are out to dinner with friends, arguing over the difficulties of women working for other women. They cap off the night by making love in their car before returning home to relieve the babysitter. And then Lara is suddenly arrested for the murder of her female boss; all evidence points to her, and she's jailed for life, with no chance of parole. Refusing to give up, John begins to think about breaking her out of jail. He consults an expert (Liam Neeson) and hatches his plan, one meticulous step at a time. Unfortunately, time is running out, and if he can actually pull it off, there will be no turning back.

Is It Any Good?

While it does manage a few neat ideas and twists, the movie never quite balances thought and action. Director Paul Haggis has built his reputation on soapbox movies like Crash and In the Valley of Elah, so it's surprising that, once The Next Three Days finishes speaking about the female power dynamic and the broken justice system, it simply turns into a straight-ahead thriller packed with intricate details and gripping suspense.

It mostly works, but Haggis is more a director of ideas than instinct, and he's simply not skilled at this kind of pure suspense. The movie isn't tightly paced and often moves too slowly or takes too long. It also has no idea what to do with John and Lara's son, Luke (Ty Simpkins), who gets shuttled around from place to place with no voice or opinion of his own; he's like a prop, and when he's in danger of being left behind, it doesn't feel like there's anything at stake.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the movie's violence. Since John isn't an action hero and doesn't always know what he's doing, is the violence more frightening than thrilling?

  • Did John make the right decision? Did he have any other options? Is there a true "right" or "wrong" choice here? Who decides where that line is drawn?

  • Do you think the movie justifies John's actions? What consequences does this family face at the end of the story?

Movie Details

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