Parents' Guide to

To the Mat

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 12+

Sweet, funny romcom has positive messages for teens.

TV CMT Comedy 2011
To the Mat Poster Image

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What's the Story?

Uptight Wall Street consultant Janice Bailor (Laura Bell Bundy) is less than thrilled when her boss ships her off to Georgia to help a fledgling professional wrestling academy regain its financial footing, and she immediately gets off on the wrong foot with the school's laid-back instructor, Aaron Slocum (Rick Schroder), who refuses to acknowledge the severity of his situation. But culture shock is the least of her worries as she works to help Aaron save his family's legacy from the clutches of a devious investor, all the while struggling to find common ground with her new acquaintances. As time passes, Janice discovers that she has more in common with them than she originally thought -- and by knowing them, she learns some surprising things about herself.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say Not yet rated
Kids say (1 ):

TO THE MAT is an engaging romantic comedy in the spirit of modern-day faves like You've Got Mail and Sweet Home Alabama. It's hard not to be inspired by a story of opposites attracting and love conquering all, and if you're a sucker for that kind of thing, then you'll love this movie. Schroder and Bundy deliver delightful performances, and the story does a good job of ensuring that all of the characters are deeper than one dimension, so there's a lot of human emotion to explore.

It's not always easy to find a romcom that you can share with your teens worrying about an uncomfortable bedroom scene to ruin the mood, but To the Mat's mostly benign content makes it a great choice for just such a scenario. Teens may be intrigued by the behind-the-scenes look at the world of pro wrestling, which raises some issues about society's impression of entertainment. And don't miss the chance to tie the movie's references to drug use into a discussion about that topic, too.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about relationships. How did the relationships in this movie impress you? Which ones were the most inspiring? Can love really transcend cultural, religious, or philosophical differences?

  • Teens: Did you think this movie stereotyped any of the characters? What was the purpose of that? Do you think anyone would find them offensive?

  • What do you think the movie's message was? Was it intended to inspire or teach? Do you think the media has a responsibility to inspire its audience?

TV Details

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Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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