Common Sense Media Review
Buddy comedy has language, slapstick, and sexual humor.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
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Tommy Boy
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 3 parent reviews
Based on 21 kid reviews
Kids say that this comedy is hilarious and often recommend it for children aged 10 and up, despite some concerns about language and suggestive content. Many reviews highlight the film's funny moments and positive messages about teamwork, suggesting that the age ratings may be overly strict while acknowledging that young viewers may not fully understand the more mature themes.
- humor and laughter
- age recommendations
- suggestive content
- well-received performances
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
TOMMY BOY begins with the sudden passing of "Big Tom" Callahan (Brian Dennehy). Callahan's family-owned brake pad business is in danger of closing, which would destroy the livelihood of a small town. Richard (David Spade), an obnoxious corporate underling, is assigned to babysit Callahan's immature son, Tommy (Chris Farley), who's set to inherit the company. In a last-ditch effort to save both the company and their jobs, Richard teams up with Tommy on a raging road trip to sell a vast number of brake pads. The two proceed to find themselves in one ridiculous predicament after another.
Is It Any Good?
This goofy comedy is a showcase for Farley's in-your-face comic style, with Spade in his comfort zone as the deadpan sidekick. As any Farley (or Spade) fan knows, in a film like Tommy Boy—which takes simplistic, sometimes lewd humor and crams it into an otherwise bland plot—the story takes a back seat to physical antics and memorable one-liners ("fat guy in a little co-at ...").
To his credit, Farley brings sensitivity to what could have been a one-note character. He makes the movie watchable, even enjoyable at times. Co-star Rob Lowe is also great as a slapstick villain, chewing the scenery while being electrocuted and tossed around like a crash test dummy. It's a fun movie, deserving of the cult status it's garnered since Farley's premature death two years after its release. Just don't worry too much about following the story—or the fat jokes, the inappropriate use of the "R" word, or the creepy way Farley's character ogles his stepmother ... just sit back and appreciate Farley doing Farley.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the positive social messages of Tommy Boy, such as loyalty to friends, family, and community. What are Tommy's positive traits, and how does he show them?
What are Tommy's negative traits? How does he turn his weaknesses into strengths?
Much of this movie focuses on saving a business for the sake of the town it inhabits. Have you ever seen this happen in the real world? As small businesses are closed or bought out by larger businesses, how are small towns like the one portrayed in the movie affected?
How do the characters show integrity and perseverance? Why are these important character strengths?
Movie Details
- In theaters : March 31, 1995
- On DVD or streaming : November 9, 1999
- Cast : Chris Farley , Dan Aykroyd , David Spade
- Director : Peter Segal
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : Paramount Pictures
- Genre : Comedy
- Character Strengths : Integrity , Perseverance
- Run time : 97 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : sex-related humor, some drug content and nudity
- Last updated : October 20, 2025
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