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Parents' Guide to

U.S. Marshals

By Brian Costello, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Lots of violence, peril in loud '90s action movie.

Movie PG-13 1998
U.S. Marshals Movie Poster

A Lot or a Little?

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

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What's the Story?

In U.S. MARSHALS, Supervisory Deputy Sam Gerard (Tommy Lee Jones) leads a team of guards and agents in the transport of dangerous prisoners by plane from Chicago. During the flight, one of the prisoners attempts to kill another prisoner with an improvised firearm, but this prisoner, Mark Roberts (Wesley Snipes), stops him, but not before the weapon discharges and opens up a giant hole in the plane, causing some to be sucked out and an eventual crash into the Ohio River. As Gerard and his agents help save the passengers from drowning, Roberts also helps, but then escapes. A manhunt ensues, as Roberts is wanted for the double murder of two diplomatic agents in the U.N. parking lot. Joining the agents is John Royce (Robert Downey Jr.), an agent who knew the men who were killed and wants to help bring Roberts to justice, even if his bureaucratic demeanor rubs the no-nonsense Gerard the wrong way. Roberts manages to escape those who are pursuing him, and arrives in New York, where it's soon revealed that Roberts isn't who he seems. Gerard and his agents must uncover the conspiracy, one that seems to involve the State Department and operatives for the Chinese government.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

This is a textbook example of the bombastic action movies that ruled the 1990s. U.S. Marshals has all the ridiculous moments of chases, shootouts, and hokey dialogue that so defined big-budget action movies that were churned out by the dozens in the last years of the 20th century. There's some kitsch value, and maybe even some entertainment value, and, unlike so many of these movies that came out then, this one actually, somewhat, stands the test of time.

This is due almost entirely to the acting. Tommy Lee Jones adds more drama and tension than the words on the script actually promise, and doesn't go overboard with it. The same could be said for the villains, and those who, unsurprisingly, are revealed to be the real bad guys. As "the fugitive" in this spinoff sequel to the 1993 Harrison Ford movie The Fugitive, Wesley Snipes doesn't overdo it, and finds even some depth to this presumed villain. This works for what it is, even if what it is isn't great.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the action movie violence in U.S. Marshals. How does this compare to the violence in other action movies you've seen?

  • This movie is an indirect sequel to the 1993 movie The Fugitive, a spinoff that tells a story involving one of the main characters from that movie. Why do you think so many sequels are made? Are they ever as good as the originals?

  • Where did the movie come across as exaggerated and unrealistic? Can a movie based on real-life jobs (like U.S. Marshals) still be a good movie even if there are aspects that aren't believable?

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