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Parents' Guide to

True Lies

By Will Wade, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Exciting mix of thrills, comedy; older teens and up.

Movie R 1994 141 minutes
True Lies Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

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age 12+

Based on 5 parent reviews

zarran67
zarran67 Parent of 7 and 8-year-old
October 5, 2022
age 8+

Escapist over the top fun.

It has over the top action movie violence without gore. Its pure entertainment meant to defy your sense of verisimilitude. Some minor sexual references/innuendos that are tame. Your kids are likely to here worse on the elementary school bus ride.
Jk12345
Jk12345 Adult
June 22, 2017
age 13+

Great

13+ my suggested rating rated R for strong violence, language, and brief sexualality.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 5 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Harry Tasker (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is a dull-as-dishwater computer salesman, or so he wants his wife to believe. In truth, he's a superspy for the ultra-clandestine Omega Sector, grappling with terrorists by day and then trying to get home in time for family dinner. Problem is, his wife Helen (Jamie Lee Curtis) is so bored with their marriage that she's contemplating an affair. When Harry finds out, he turns his spy skills to tracking down Helen's would-be suitor (Bill Paxton, hilarious as a slimy lothario), inadvertently dragging her into his world of covert meetings and international conspiracies.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (5 ):
Kids say (19 ):

TRUE LIES effectively combines a thriller with a domestic comedy, and that's a tough feat to pull off. The conspiracy plot, about Arab extremists and stolen nuclear warheads, is not especially complex, but it provides a jumping-off point for several exciting chase scenes, shootouts, and major explosions. The more interesting story follows the Taskers, as Harry and Helen learn to share their secrets with each other. Tom Arnold is also entertaining as Harry's partner, a bitter divorcee with a profane mouth. Schwarzenegger is best-known for his action chops, and rightly so, but he's underappreciated for his comic skills, and this film lets him show off both skills. And Curtis more than holds her own as a mousy clerk who learns to roar -- and wield automatic weapons. Director James Cameron creates a thrilling story about love, marriage, and honesty, wrapped inside a thrill-a-minute action film. That said, parents may appreciate the messages more than their teens.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about honesty. The main characters lie to each other throughout most of the film. How does their relationship change once they start telling the truth? Do you think it's plausible for a secret agent to hide his dangerous activities from his family?

  • How does the film portray terrorists? Made in 1994, after the first Gulf War, but before Sept. 11, the villains are Arab extremists, though it doesn't identify where they come from or touch on religion. Do you think the media's views about Middle Eastern militants have changed since then?

  • Is it acceptable today to demonize people from the Middle East? World War II-era films often made Nazis the go-to bad-guys -- can you think of other groups that have served that role?

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