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Parents' Guide to

The Notebook

By Nell Minow, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

More sexy stuff than you'd expect for a syrupy romance.

Movie PG-13 2004 124 minutes
The Notebook Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 15+

Based on 30 parent reviews

Kepianist
Kepianist Adult
October 4, 2021
age 17+

Enjoyed the movie; should be rated R.

I did enjoy the movie, but this movie should not be rated PG-13. There is no way in hell I’d show this to a thirteen year old. Graphic sex, moaning, implied orgasm. I think the movie should be rated R, so I think 17 would be the best age, although perhaps a really mature 16 year old could watch it.

This title has:

Great messages
Too much sex
5 people found this helpful.
CSMContentDefault
CSMContentDefault Adult
January 9, 2021
age 17+

how's nobody talking about the toxic relationships in this???

forget the sex scenes, why is nobody talking about the toxic relationships/cheating in this movie? 1. noah literally threatens ally to go on a date with him in the beginning by hanging onto a ferris wheel 2. ally and noah literally have nothing in common; theyre only dating after noah saw ally and decided he should date her (pretty much why i hate "love at first sight" cliches) 3.they both cheat on other people!! (ally cheats on her fiance, noah used to sleep with some war widow) my list of why i hate this movie could go on; i honestly don't understand why all of the other girls in my class were fawning over this movie last year in high school
5 people found this helpful.
See all 30 parent reviews

What's the Story?

A man comes to read to a woman in a nursing home. It's a story about a summer romance between Allie (Rachel McAdams), the daughter of wealthy parents, and Noah (Ryan Gosling) a poor boy. They are crazy about each other. But her parents suddenly decide they have to break up, and they send her to school up north. He writes to her every day. She never responds. Then he goes off to fight in World War II and she falls in love with a handsome wounded officer named Lon (James Marsden) and agrees to marry him. But she sees Noah's picture in the newspaper. He is restoring the house he once told her he would make into a home for the two of them. Even though she has all but forgotten him and is perfectly happy being engaged to Lon, she has to see Noah once more. And after she sees him, she has to decide which man is the one she really loves.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (30 ):
Kids say (103 ):

In THE NOTEBOOK, the details and dialog are a bit clumsy, but in the end romantics won't care. Also, it's hard to believe in Allie's feelings for Noah or Lon, partly because none of them ever come alive as characters. It's all description, not depiction.

We do care about the couple in the nursing home, but the connection to the other story is never strong enough to keep our attention. Gosling is one of the most talented actors of his generation, but he's not as good in this role. James Garner, Gena Rowlands, Sam Shepard as Noah's father and Joan Allen as Allie's mother give the material more than it deserves, and director Nick Cassavetes clearly wants this film to be a love letter to Rowlands, his mother. She is luminous, and we do believe she could inspire great love. Too bad the movie isn't a little bit better.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how the movie depicts love and romance. Is this what a relationship is "supposed" to be like? Why or why not?

  • How does the movie treat sex? Parents, talk to your kids about the real-life impact and consequences of sexual activity.

  • How do we know who we are meant to be with? Who should we listen to as we think about making that choice?

Movie Details

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