Common Sense Media Review
By S. Jhoanna Robledo
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Drug-smuggling road-trip comedy has lots of sex references.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 17+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
We're the Millers
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 27 parent reviews
Based on 60 kid reviews
Kids say this movie is hilariously funny and entertaining, but contains a significant amount of adult material, including crude language, sexual content, and drug references. Many reviewers suggest it's suitable for older teens or mature viewers, while also noting it has a positive message about family despite its inappropriate themes.
- adult content
- humorous
- positive message
- mature audience
- drug references
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
David Clark (Jason Sudeikis) is a small-time drug dealer with a heart who's trying to make a living without being too shady. He doesn't deal to kids, for instance, and he isn't above stepping into the middle of a fight -- as is the case when he spies his nerdy young neighbor, Kenny (Will Poulter), whose mother is always absent, trying to save a surly homeless teen, Casey (Emma Roberts), who's being robbed. In the ensuing melee, David's backpack full of money and drugs is stolen, leaving him with nothing to pay his boss (Ed Helms). To make up the purloined loot, David is sent to bring back a "smidge" of drugs from Mexico. He doesn't know how he'll make it through, until he cooks up a plan: He'll make himself over into a clean-cut "dad"; hire his stripper neighbor, Rose (Jennifer Aniston), to pose as his wife; and get Casey and Kenny to play their kids. Surely, customs officials will let a trailer-riding family through without a hassle, right?
Is It Any Good?
There's no major reason to avoid meeting the Millers, the pseudo-family at the heart of this road-trip comedy; they're hilariously dysfunctional and mostly entertaining. Certainly, there are worse ways to spend two hours. But there's no truly compelling reason to rush out and watch WE'RE THE MILLERS, either. The biggest highlights of the film aren't even the leads, but supporting cast members Kathryn Hahn and Nick Offerman, who kill it as two fuddy-duddies with a tiny streak of kink.
The biggest problem can be summed up in Aniston's stripper scenes; Rose is described as being an amazing dancer, but Aniston's gyrations prove tepid at best. The same can be said of the movie. Though there are plenty of chuckle-inducing moments, the real belly laughs are few and far between. The material is funny, yes. But groundbreaking? Definitely not.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how We're the Millers puts a twist on the typical family road trip movie. How is it similar to others? How is it different?
How does the movie depict drug use and sex? Are either/both glamorized?
Who do you think this movie is intended to appeal to? Can you think of other comedies with a similar audience/style of humor?
What's the movie's message about the meaning of family? Parents, talk to your kids about how families come to be, both biological ones and those that we create ourselves.
Movie Details
- In theaters : August 7, 2013
- On DVD or streaming : November 19, 2013
- Cast : Emma Roberts , Jason Sudeikis , Jennifer Aniston
- Director : Rawson Marshall Thurber
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Warner Bros.
- Genre : Comedy
- Run time : 110 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : crude sexual content, pervasive language, drug material and brief graphic nudity
- Last updated : January 12, 2022
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