Parents' Guide to

The Program

By S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Flat Lance Armstrong biopic has drugs, strong language.

Movie R 2016 103 minutes
The Program Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

age 18+

Based on 1 parent review

age 18+

Is It Any Good?

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

The Lance Armstrong story is one of epic betrayal and disappointment -- great fodder for a searing biopic, you'd think; but The Program feels surprisingly inert, despite its stellar lead actor. The film treats all of the story's highs and lows as if there are no peaks and valleys, only a straight line, robbing it of suspense and emotion. Some of this could be attributed to the fact that so many of us already know what happened to Armstrong, but plenty other public figures have seen their lives unfurl onscreen to dramatic success.

Foster is the highlight of the film and the main reason to see it. But even he can't overcome the movie's inability to crack Armstrong's surface. In the end, we still don't understand why he did what he did, even if we get plenty of details on how. And that's a huge disappointment.

Movie Details

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