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Parents' Guide to

The Song

By S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Predictable, faith-centric film about marital fidelity.

Movie PG-13 2014 114 minutes
The Song Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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Mom K.
Mom K. Parent
February 20, 2021
age 14+

The song 14+

My daughter and I watched this together at a church gathering. She understood what was happening and was respectful and was mature about it. This was only when she was 12 but some stuff was a little much.

This title has:

Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
Rose O.
Rose O. Parent of 4 and 7-year-old
July 16, 2018
age 16+

I wouldn’t watch it a second time or with my children

For a ‘faith based’ movie it lacked faith until the very end. It was like watching a second Walk the Line. And he also didn’t even sing about God the entire movie. I was expecting him to be a Christian singer. Shelby was the devil on earth. And I’m glad he came back around at the end but the whole movie was just garbage. Which I know is a big part of the world and the music industry. But just don’t feel the faith aspect present. Also not agreeing with the other reviews. They started with pills and got deep into drugs. She was holding a spoon. They’re stumbling around, looking sickly, cutting his tattoo. This is not a family movie.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much consumerism
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Jed King (Alan Powell) is country music royalty, the son of a beloved star who's managed to make it big on his own. He has a loving wife, April (Ali Faulkner), and a darling son, but he has to leave them at home for months at a time when he heads out on tour. The separation takes its toll, and as April becomes increasingly upset about the time he spends away, Jed finds himself more and more tempted by the sultry lead singer, Shelby Bale (Caitlin Nicol-Thomas), for the opening act of his show.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

Faulkner's acting is probably the brightest spot in this somewhat dull film. When April's life falls to pieces, Faulkner comes alive, serving up her character's pain with raw emotion. If only the film's script were as strong, without going over the top. But unfortunately it does -- go over the top, that is -- from lighting to dialogue to plot to the far-too-dramatic voice-over. The blonde Faulkner is constantly bathed in a white light, as if her role as the faithful wife and woman wasn't clue enough. Meanwhile, her husband's temptress is a brunette who's dressed mostly in black and rendered in shadowed lighting. Shelby also drinks, wears skimpy clothing, and does every stereotypically "bad" thing you'd expect; she's practically a pencil-drawing caricature. And then there's Jed, who, as he slides deeper into his misery, grows a beard beyond recognition because, yes, he's hiding something (surprise -- the facial hair disappears once things start to look up).

Movies about faith -- and their audiences -- deserve more than broad-strokes tales like this one. THE SONG seems like it has potential, but it winds up dogmatic and predictable. Both evil and good are presented cartoonishly. And though the music's catchy and compelling (and Powell and Nicol-Thomas have beautiful voices), they're not entirely memorable. Not even the titular song.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about The Song's messages. What audience are they designed to appeal to? How can you tell? Do you need to share the movie's convictions to appreciate its story?

  • Why does Jed feel obligated to spend so much time on tour? How do his views on money and material possessions change during the film? Why does he feel tempted by Shelby, and how does he feel later about the decision he makes?

  • How does the film present religion and its place in Jed's life?

Movie Details

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