Parents' Guide to

Why Stop Now

By S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 17+

Young man's very bad day includes drugs, swearing, more.

Movie R 2012 87 minutes
Why Stop Now Poster Image

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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?

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

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?

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