When in Rome
Parents say
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When in Rome
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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 When in Rome is a 2002 Olsen twins movie that takes the 16-year-old sisters to Rome on a fashion internship. They perform menial office jobs as they learn the ropes. One twin finds romance and kisses her beau while the other firmly says no when a boy wants to kiss her. There's an innocent romance among adults as well. The twins work hard and both apply ingenuity and perseverance to solving problems.
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What's the Story?
Charli (Mary-Kate Olsen) and Leila (Ashley Olsen) take summer internships in Rome at Derek Hammond's (Julian Stone) fashion company. Charli falls for fellow intern Paolo (Michelangelo Tommaso), whose real passion is cooking, and Leila helps integrate Hammond's slacker nephew into the workplace. Corporate sabotage upends an important fashion shoot, but Leila's photography hobby captures the perpetrator in the act, and Charli's fashion-design hobby allows the interns to save the day and win the boss's respect and admiration.
Is It Any Good?
WHEN IN ROME is fun but requires a bit of suspension of disbelief. Hammond's company is supposedly a global corporation, so the level of interaction between the high executives and a bunch of largely incompetent summer interns borders on magical realism. For example, Hammond takes the time to advise his interns to succeed by demonstrating qualities that all start with the letter C, including creativity and conscientiousness. Setting that aside, the cast surrounding the twins is a cut above earlier Olsen movies, perhaps because the Olsens themselves served as executive producers here. Parents watching with their kids may appreciate the romantic subplot involving the boss and his long-time designer, affording a refreshing respite from the all-teen-all-the-time plots that can sometimes dominate Olsen movies. Make sure to watch the cute outtakes that run during the closing credits.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the importance of handling work duties responsibly. What are the consequences of goofing off on the job?
If you could get any type of internship you wanted, which would you choose? Why?
Cleverness, creativity, conscientiousness, and calmness help one perform well at a job. What are some other qualities that help you succeed?
How do you say "no" when someone wants to kiss you but you don't want to?
Movie Details
- In theaters: May 21, 2002
- On DVD or streaming: April 20, 2004
- Cast: Mary-Kate Olsen, Ashley Olsen, Julian Stone, Michelangelo Tommaso
- Director: Steve Purcell
- Studio: Dualstar Productions
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Run time: 94 minutes
- MPAA rating: G
- Last updated: April 1, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
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Fun, frothy fashion tale has cursing and sex.
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Funny Face
Bubbly, fashion-crazed Hepburn-Astaire musical.
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Roman Holiday
Delightful classic is perfect for family movie night.
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