The Tribes of Palos Verdes

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The Tribes of Palos Verdes
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that The Tribes of Palos Verdes is based on Joy Nicholson's critically acclaimed 1997 coming-of-age novel about teen twins who move to a fancy oceanfront community in Southern California. Starring Jennifer Garner and Maika Monroe, the movie may appeal to teens who enjoy family dramas, but it's the sort of melancholy character study that tackles a host of heavy themes, including addiction, adultery, depression, divorce, and sexual assault. There's lots of strong language ("f--k," "bitch," "a--hole," "d--k," etc.) as well as quite a bit of drug use (from recreational party drugs to hardcore, addictive drugs), some sexuality, and one make-out scene that quickly turns from consensual to nonconsensual but stops short of rape. (Spoiler alert: A key character dies.)
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What's the Story?
Based on author Joy Nicholson's 1997 coming-of-age novel, THE TRIBES OF PALOS VERDES centers on introverted teen Medina Mason (Maika Monroe), whose family moves from Michigan to a posh oceanfront Southern California community. Medina's father, Phil (Justin Kirk), is a cardiologist who's excited to be a heart doctor to the stars, but her moody mom, Sandy (Jennifer Garner), can't stand how "plastic" and "fake" everyone is in their new neighborhood. While Medina discovers the joys of surfing, she remains quiet at school, whereas her twin brother, Jim (Cody Fern), quickly joins the popular crowd. Things take a terrible turn when Phil leaves the family and Sandy has a breakdown, relying on Jim to be her emotional support. Medina, meanwhile, just wants to escape into the surf.
Is It Any Good?
This atmospheric coming-of-age adaptation explores difficult themes and features noteworthy performances but comes up a little short. Monroe plays Medina believably well, in a manner reminiscent of a younger Kristen Stewart. Fern also gives a nuanced performance as Medina's twin, Jim, who feels torn between supporting his emotionally fragile, mentally ill mother and just wanting to be a regular teen who hangs out with his friends. And Garner, for once, doesn't play a sweet Type-A mom. It's a surprising performance, full of rage and desperation. The word "bipolar" is never said, but it's clear that Sandy swings between manic highs and debilitating lows.
Ultimately, however, this is Medina's story of dealing with her family's dissolution, discovering a new passion (surfing), experiencing first love, and feeling distanced from her twin brother for the first time in her life. There's not much of a plot here; in some ways, the story is more like a series of character vignettes -- each person in the Mason family has a different arc that leaves them irreversibly changed after moving to the seemingly perfect neighborhood of Palos Verdes. This isn't a feel-good film, but moviegoers who appreciate well-acted family dramas will appreciate it.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about whether there are any role models in The Tribes of Palos Verdes. If so, what character strengths do they -- or should they -- exhibit?
How is substance use/abuse depicted in the movie? What are the consequences, as shown in the film?
Discuss which of the relationships portrayed in the movie are healthy, and which are unhealthy. Why?
How does the movie depict potential mental illness? Does it seem realistic? Sympathetic?
Movie Details
- In theaters: December 1, 2017
- On DVD or streaming: April 10, 2018
- Cast: Maika Monroe, Jennifer Garner, Justin Kirk
- Directors: Brendan Malloy, Emmett Malloy
- Studio: IFC Films
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Book Characters, Brothers and Sisters
- Run time: 104 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: drug use, language throughout and some sexual content
- Last updated: March 31, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
For kids who love dramas
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