The Theory of Everything Movie Poster Image

The Theory of Everything

(i)

 

Hawking's brilliant mind comes to life in thoughtful drama.
Common Sense SealParents recommendPopular with kids
  • Review Date: November 4, 2014
  • Rated: PG-13
  • Genre: Drama
  • Release Year: 2014
  • Running Time: 123 minutes

What parents need to know

Positive messages

No matter how grave the diagnosis that Hawking receives, he doesn't let it get in the way of what he wants to do with his life and work, thanks in large part to his supportive wife, Jane, who makes sure he has everything he needs.

Positive role models

Hawking is brilliant and enormously resilient, especially in the face of a dire medical diagnosis. And his wife's support and concern are essential, allowing him to thrive despite all the difficulties he faces.

Violence

At one point Hawking suffers what looks to be a pretty painful fall and is shown suffering through his illness.

Sex

Some kissing and frank discussion of Hawking's sexuality in the face of a motor-neuron disease. In one scene, he's shown paging through a Penthouse magazine with the help of a female assistant.

Language

"Sod off," "tits," and "damn."

Consumerism
Not applicable
Drinking, drugs, & smoking

Some social drinking at pubs and events.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that The Theory of Everything is a biopic about world-renowned physicist Stephen Hawking (Eddie Redmayne). It's inspiring, but it doesn't shy away from exploring the indignities visited upon Hawking when he's diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease. It also deals with some mature subjects -- including marital discord, infidelity, and near-death experiences -- and has some frank conversations about sexuality (as well as hints of sex between Hawking and his wife and a glimpse of a character looking through Penthouse magazine). Characters discuss the existence of God. It's all engrossing, compelling stuff, but it might be a little mature for tweens and younger.

What's the story?

In 1963, two significant events occur in the life of Cambridge University cosmology student Stephen Hawking (Eddie Redmayne): He meets Jane (Felicity Jones), the woman who will become his wife and greatest supporter, and he decides that he'll study the nature of time and work to discover THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING. Then, along the way, he discovers that he's suffering from ALS, a degenerative motor-neuron disease that has no cure. Hawking is given two years to live, but Jane is having none of it. She refuses to let the diagnosis stand in the way of their relationship -- or his research. Soon Hawking's brilliant mind is discovered by the rest of the world, but his success masks the enormous challenges that he, Jane, and their three children must face.

Is it any good?

QUALITY

With enormous compassion, The Theory of Everything looks beyond the brilliant mind that Hawking is best known for. As a student at Cambridge University in 1963, he proved himself gifted early on, but his ascent in academia was marred by his diagnosis, which came just as he met Jane. Together they decide to face the future and whatever it brings, but hope, brilliance, and love can't solve everything. Naysayers might minimize Redmayne's performance here as awards bait, but he's transcendent as Hawking, not once stooping to caricature in creating a character who's deeply sympathetic despite an intellectual pursuit that might intimidate so many others. He makes Hawking more than the legend he becomes.

Part of the film's appeal is how, despite being a movie about big science -- which, let's be honest, isn't adequately made comprehensible here -- is actually a story about not just the triumph of the human spirit but also an insightful look at a deeply loving but unconventional marriage. Jane isn't given short shrift here, as many other movies about great men have done for the women by their side. Her yearnings and struggles are laid bare. For a story about one of the greatest minds of this generation, the film is deeply emotional, even allowing viewers to witness the failure of the marriage that allowed Hawking to thrive. Your heart will break, as surely as the universe continues to expand.

Families can talk about...

  • Families can talk about Hawking's life before and after his diagnosis. Does The Theory of Everything appear to have a point of view about how his challenges defined him -- and his marriage?

  • How does the movie handle the subject of Hawking's disease and its effects on his professional and personal life? How does his disease affect his relationship with Jane? How is she portrayed?

  • How accurate do you think the movie is? Why might filmmakers have changed some details of what happened in real life? Are biopics obliged to be completely true to life?

Movie details

Theatrical release date:November 7, 2014
DVD release date:February 17, 2015
Cast:Eddie Redmayne, Felicity Jones, Emily Watson
Director:James Marsh
Studio:Focus Features
Genre:Drama
Topics:Great boy role models, Science and nature
Run time:123 minutes
MPAA rating:PG-13
MPAA explanation:some thematic elements and suggestive material
Awards/Honors:Academy Award, Common Sense Seal, Golden Globe

This review of The Theory of Everything was written by

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Quality

Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Learning ratings

  • Best: Really engaging; great learning approach.
  • Very Good: Engaging; good learning approach.
  • Good: Pretty engaging; good learning approach.
  • Fair: Somewhat engaging; OK learning approach.
  • Not for Learning: Not recommended for learning.
  • Not for Kids: Not age-appropriate for kids; not recommended for learning.

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What parents and kids say

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Parent Written byUtahRed December 14, 2014

Really good, clean movie

I liked this movie because it was clean but also because it was an amazing story of loyalty (well, until the end). I can't believe what all Stephen's wife went through. What a hero. They made Stephen out to be a more nice guy than he really was, but i guess i wouldn't be in such a great mood if i had the disease he had. I don't recommend this for kids...it deals with adult issues so it would be boring for them.
Teen, 15 years old Written byaussie2000 January 3, 2015

Brilliant Film age limit though

I literally just got back from the movie theater as I write this. My family was considering bringing an eleven year old along, but decided against it due to the sex content. However, after watching the film, I think that the sex is minimal, but I do think that younger people (i.e. under thirteen,) will be frankly bored. It's a brilliant film for mature teens, and even younger, if the person is good at picking up social cues and subtle representations for deeper subjects. There is a lot of discussion about the existence of God, as well as one scene where Stephen's mother accuses Jane Hawking of having an affair with a family friend, as she doesn't think that he would be able to have a sex life any more. However, Jane is true to her husband even though she begins to have feelings for someone else. The only violence was a horribly graphic slow motion fall that Stephen has. Also, to clear something up, on the over all rating, it says that there is one scene where a lady "helps" him read a Penthouse magazine. I thought there was something implied there, but was relived to find that it was her just flipping the pages for Stephen, as he couldn't do it himself. In the addition that they look at, there is no explicit body parts shown, just women in skimpy clothes. It is more implied that it is a porn magazine Over all BRILLIANT film. I hope Eddie Redmayne gets an academy award. PS Check these pictures out of the actual Hawkings: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/uknews/5189606/Professo...
What other families should know
Great role models
Adult Written byAdeeiea January 22, 2015

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