Why Stop Now
By S. Jhoanna Robledo,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Young man's very bad day includes drugs, swearing, more.

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What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
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What's the Story?
Eli (Jesse Eisenberg) is a piano prodigy whose dreams of attending college were derailed by his mother's drug problem. Now he's lined up a big audition for a prestigious music conservatory that could help him reclaim his life, but first he's got to take his mom (Melissa Leo) to rehab. Unfortunately there's a snag when she checks in, and then there's another complication, and then another, and soon Eli's having the worst day ever, involving a drug dealer (Tracy Morgan), a mishap with narcotics, a hand injury, and a group of Revolutionary War reenactors. With this string of disasters, it's not clear whether he'll make it to the audition, or whether he'll even be able to play when he gets there.
Is It Any Good?
WHY STOP NOW is like a soufflé: The ingredients are tasty, the concept lofty. But as with many soufflés -- as any ambitious baker can attest to -- execution is crucial, and this one sadly falls flat. The central problem isn't the cast; the stars are all in fine form. Morgan, for starters, shows more depth than he's usually entrusted with. (One particular scene at a high school reminds the audience that he has a backstory, and it's worth knowing.) As Eli's mother, Leo is a complicated train wreck, and Eisenberg is perfectly twitchy and uncomfortable; we feel genuine sympathy for his Eli as the conflagrations that require his tending pile up.
Nonetheless, the pile-ups strain credibility, not only because they're colossal but there are just so many -- too many -- of them. And try as the filmmakers might to imbue the familial cost that addiction racks up with new insight, it's a difficult endeavor. The movie doesn't add anything to the conversation, as interesting its attempt may be.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Why Stop Now portrays addiction. How has Eli's mother's addiction affected his life? Do you think these are realistic consequences? How does the media typically portray drug addiction?
What about alcohol? How is drinking depicted here? Do you think Eli has a drinking problem?
Do you think this movie is more of a comedy or a drama? Who do you think it's intended to appeal to?
Movie Details
- In theaters: August 17, 2012
- On DVD or streaming: December 11, 2012
- Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Melissa Leo, Tracy Morgan
- Directors: Phil Dorling, Ron Nyswaner
- Inclusion Information: Black actors
- Studio: IFC Entertainment
- Genre: Comedy
- Run time: 87 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: language throughout, and drug content
- Last updated: March 28, 2023
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