The Unauthorized Full House Story

Movie review by Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media
The Unauthorized Full House Story Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 13+

Weak, boring docudrama lacks heart; nostalgia lovers only.

NR 2015 90 minutes
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Kids say

age 12+

Based on 4 reviews

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  • The Unauthorized Full House Story Movie: Scene #1
  • The Unauthorized Full House Story Movie: Scene #2
  • The Unauthorized Full House Story Movie: Scene #3

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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 Unauthorized Full House Story is a docudrama about the cast of the original Full House TV series. There's some occasional sexual innuendo, a few strong words ("crap," "hell"), arguments, and some drinking and drunken behavior. Death and divorce are themes. Young teens probably can handle most of it, but viewers who aren't familiar with the original series are unlikely to be interested.

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What's the Story?

THE UNAUTHORIZED FULL HOUSE STORY is a Lifetime docudrama that chronicles the Full House cast's rise to fame thanks to starring on the hit show. It stars Garrett Brawith as Bob Saget, who, along with his friend Dave Coulier, went from doing stand-up comedy to playing lead roles on the family sitcom. It also shows how former Emmy award-winning soap actor John Stamos (played by Nashville's Justin Gaston) carved his place on the show and offers some background on Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen's meteoric rise to fame. Details about key moments in the lives of Lori Laughlin, Candace Cameron, Jodie Sweetin, and others who worked with the show also are offered.

Is It Any Good?

The-slow moving biopic offers a feeble rendition of what some of the Full House cast's lives were like before, during, and in some cases after the show's eight-season run. The portrayals of the main characters often feel like parodies, which makes them hard to take seriously. It also manages to gloss over more poignant moments, such as the the death of Saget's sister, which leaves the overall viewing experience devoid of any feeling.

The movie doesn't offer a lot of surprises but manages to lightly tap into some of the tabloid rumors that were published at the time. Unfortunately, most of these stories aren't particularly interesting, which makes you wonder why anyone decided to produce a film in the first place. Fans of the original series might enjoy tuning in to reminisce about their favorite characters or episodes, but if you're looking for any of the show's lighthearted charm, you won't find it here.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about docudramas. How accurate are they? Are they supposed to be accurate? Or are they just meant to be entertaining? How do people know what really went on in people's lives if they weren't there?

  • What does the word "unauthorized" mean as it appears in the title of this movie?

Movie Details

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