Directed by John Hamburg (Meet the Fockers, Zoolander, Meet the Parents)
Starring Ben Stiller and Jennifer Aniston
This is the kind of film that some might laugh at the first time, but when they rent it later with their kids in the room, they’ll have to quickly scurry them out only to scratch their own heads and repeat to themselves, “Funny, I don’t remember that part in the theatre.”
I’m sure that has never happened to you. But if it has . . . join the club. The “we are numb to the crap in today’s films” club. It’s a sad fact, and it’s something we need to keep our eyes open for.
Was the film funny? Sure- there are some great moments in this film, a typical PG-13 film that all teens can go and see because, “Hey, it’s appropriate for anyone 13 and up, right?” Welcome to the PG-13 generation.
The idea for the film (written and directed by John Hamburg, the creative mind behind “Meet the Parents”) was very original. Reuben (Ben Stiller) is a risk assessment analyst who does just that, analyzes risk, in his everyday life. At the beginning of the film he splits with his wife when he finds her in bed with the scuba instructor on their honeymoon. Once home again, the very distraught Reuben meets a former schoolmate, Polly (Jennifer Aniston), and they start seeing each other. Polly takes risks, Reuben assesses them. But they are attracted to each other none-the-less.
The film is very creative and has some really funny scenes. But the film is also littered with scenes that the present world doesn’t mind . . . but I do. We see PG-13 versions of two sex scenes, we see partial nudity (again, the PG-13 version), the two leads sleep together, and there are consistent sexual jokes, crude gestures, etc.
I guess the film’s objectionable content wasn’t too far from any “Friends” episode or anything else you see on T.V. today. But that doesn’t make me feel any better—it just further confirms my skeptical feelings about T.V.
Side Note:
We don’t recommend your kids see this film. But on the occasion that they actually have already seen it, you may want to dialogue about the film with them. These questions below may be a help to you.
Conversation Starter
Three Simple Questions (with Answers You May Be Looking for):
- What are some of the messages or themes you observed in this movie?
- How do you suppose we—as serious Christ-followers—should react to this movie?
- How can we move from healthy, Bible-based opinions about this movie to actually living out those opinions?
