30 Minutes or Less (11/29/2011)

Rated R for crude and sexual content, pervasive language, nudity and some violence.

Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Aziz Ansari, Danny McBride and Nick Swardson

Directed by Ruben Fleischer

Two words…TOTAL TRASH.

In the action-comedy 30 Minutes or Less, Nick (Jesse Eisenberg) is a small town pizza delivery guy whose mundane life collides with the big plans of two wanna-be criminal masterminds (Danny McBride and Nick Swardson). The volatile duo kidnaps Nick and forces him to rob a bank in order to pay a hit man to kill his father. With mere hours to pull off the impossible task, Nick enlists the help of his ex-best friend, Chet (Aziz Ansari). As the clock ticks, the two must deal with the police, hired assassins, flamethrowers, and their own tumultuous relationship.

Sometimes we get asked, “Why do you review ‘that kind of movie’?” Well truthfully, it’s because a ton of our students are either sneaking into theaters or renting ‘this kind of movie.” And according to Box Office Mojo, 30 Minutes or Less has made almost $40 million to date, placing it in the top 100 money making films of the year.

So here is what you need to know.

The cast is familiar with The Social Network’s Jesse Eisenberg, TV’s Park and Rec’s Aziz Ansari, Danny McBride and Nick Swardson. With the exception of Jesse Eisenberg, they have all played some pretty dicey characters. And if profanity were a sport, they brought their A-game this time.

Speaking of Jesse Eisenberg, he was like a round peg trying to squeeze into a foul mouthed, pot smoking, not-very-bright square hole. I buy him as the arrogant brainiac nerd (ala The Social Network), but not as this character.

So besides terrible language and topics of conversation, there is the story, and believe me, it is just as bad. Dwayne hates (Danny McBride) his father who won $10 Million in the lottery. Dad has been spending all his money and Dwayne thinks there won’t be anything left for him…although he lives with his dad and seems to have everything he wants…oh and he doesn’t have a job. In short, he’s a total loser. So with the help of a stripper (probably not the best place to get advice), he hatches a plan to kill his father before he spends all the money. I said he plans on killing his own father for some money! Hey Hollywood, how is that ever funny??!!

Everything about this movie was terrible and the saddest part, our kids are watching it and laughing. “It’s a Coaster.”

SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
No, no and NO!

There is a three-minute scene in a strip bar where bare breasts are shown and one woman is shown fondling her own breast. There are also many references to sex, including the code used to deactivate the bomb.

There is some violence – several people get shot and one man is burned alive with a flamethrower.

Around 120 f-words (yes, I said 120 f-words) and a bunch of other profanities.

Conversation Starter
Three Simple Questions (with Answers You May Be Looking for):

Q: What’s the message/theme of this movie?
A: This movie centers on a character who needs $100K to hire a professional hit man to kill his father so that he can collect his inheritance.

Q: How do you suppose we—as serious Christ-followers—should react to this movie?
A: As I reluctantly sat through this movie one verse kept coming to mind. 1 Timothy 6:10, For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

What were some of the “evils” carried out by the characters because of their love of money?

Have you ever witnessed someone doing something inappropriate for money?

Have you ever witnessed someone stealing money or property?

Have you ever been tempted to do something inappropriate for money or to steal something?

Q: How can we move from healthy, Bible-based opinions about this movie to actually living out those opinions?
A: The question is, “How can we protect ourselves from falling in love with money? One of the best ways is to be thankful for what we have.

Read Philippians 4:11-12 “Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.”

So spend some time making a list of the blessings God has given you.