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Parents' Guide to

The Prince

By Jeffrey Anderson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 17+

Flat characters, blood, and drugs in dud of a thriller.

Movie R 2014 93 minutes
The Prince Poster Image

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

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What's the Story?

Mississippi mechanic Paul (Jason Patric) receives an odd call from his teenage daughter, Beth (Gia Mantegna), who's away at college. He tries to reach her, but she's gone. So he attempts to find her. Enlisting the aid of one of her hard-partying friends, Amanda (Jessica Lowndes), Paul traces Beth to a drug dealer in New Orleans. Unfortunately, Paul's presence in town sparks an old rivalry with gangster Omar (Bruce Willis), who wants revenge on Paul. Paul, too, is more than meets the eye, and his past colleagues -- like Sam (John Cusack) -- as well as past enemies, quickly start taking notice of him. Will Paul's past overtake his presence and endanger Beth's life?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say Not yet rated
Kids say (1 ):

A veteran of low-budget, low-profile action movies, director Brian A Miller turns in a fairly typical, lackluster, knuckle-dragging thriller with THE PRINCE. As the story begins, it doesn't make sense that Paul would put so much faith and trust in a college girl, and when it's revealed that he's a kind of super-soldier, it makes even less sense. He comes across as unflappable and practically invincible, with everything under control. No one seems to be in danger, and nothing ever seems truly at stake.

That character negatively impacts the rest of the cast. Rain (from Ninja Assassin), playing a deadly right-hand man; Willis as a gangster; and Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, playing a dangerous drug dealer, never seem like real threats. Nor does Cusack, as Paul's trustworthy old pal, seem very helpful. The movie glides along lifelessly at a surface level, hitting plot points but not investing in the characters, the emotional heft, or any suspense. The Prince is a royal dud.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about The Prince's violence. How did it affect you? How did the filmmakers achieve that impact? How much violence is directed at women? Does that make it more disturbing? Why?

  • What's appealing about a "hero" with a dark past? Do the main character's flaws make him interesting, or do they make him seem less heroic?

  • What do you think of the concept that over-protective parents lead to reckless, rebellious children?

  • Are the women in the movie too young to be viewed as sex symbols?

  • How does the movie portray drug use? Are there realistic consequences? What's the rationale for the young people in this movie for drinking and using drugs?

Movie Details

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Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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