Common Sense Media Review
By S. Jhoanna Robledo
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Parents seek joy, ignore kids in difficult, powerful drama.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 17+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Playroom
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Teenage Maggie (Olivia Harris) and her three younger siblings are upstairs in THE PLAYROOM in the attic making up stories about a land with no grown-ups, while their mom and dad host another couple for a night of adult "fun" sometime in the 1970s. This being the Me Decade, the parents are focused on doing whatever they want, no matter what impact their decisions have on others. Maggie is horrified to watch as her mother (Molly Parker) threatens to bring down the entire family -- while her dad (John Hawkes) stands idly by.
Is It Any Good?
This powerful drama starts quietly and sneaks up on you, creating a home that feels oh so real, filled with people you probably know but might not like very much. The festive evening goes downhill quickly, but nobody wants to admit that they're not having fun. It's tough and at times unnerving to watch these people deceive themselves; Hawkes and Harris dig deep to show what it's like to be so powerless. Ultimately it's an intense look at how selfish behavior can destroy everyone nearby.
The Playroom is a real place, where these sadly ignored children craft a make-believe place to escape the horror of a family that's falling apart. The 1970s is both the movie's setting and, in part, its villain -- a time when adults were encouraged to find out exactly what they want and then do it. "You can't just do whatever you please," Hawkes' character Martin tells his wife. "Watch me," she replies with scorn, and it may be too late to save them. Too bad for Maggie, but at least she might have a way out. It's worse for the little ones, who are trapped in a crumbling home.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the parents in The Playroom. Do they seem realistic and believable? Are they good parents? Are they intended to be?
How do you think the parents' lifestyle affects their four children?
How does the movie depict its 1970s setting? Does it seem glamorized at all? How are sex, drugs, and drinking portrayed? How might the movie be different if it took place today?
Movie Details
- In theaters : February 8, 2013
- On DVD or streaming : February 5, 2013
- Cast : John Hawkes , Molly Parker , Olivia Harris
- Director : Julia Dyer
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Freestyle Releasing
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings )
- Run time : 83 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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