You Can Count on Me

Parents need to know that You Can Count on Me is an oddly sweet family drama with lots of strong language ("f--k" and "s--t" are frequent), main characters who smoke cigarettes and pot, and a sex scene that doesn't show sensitive body parts but shows a woman's bare back along with explicit movement under covers. Adults frequently have wine or beer and several scenes take place in a bar. There's a fistfight that shows punches and bloody mouths afterward, as well as the consequence of being taken to jail. The overall takeaway is positive about how family members are anchors for one another throughout life, how there are different ways of counting on someone, and about accepting family members as they are. There's also a lot of food for thought about the effects of too much or too little parenting. Teen appeal is probably limited because of the mature themes and characters, but for those who have siblings it can be a good starting point for thinking about what their relationships with each other will be like when they're adults.