Rated PG-13 for sexual content throughout, some language and a drug reference.
Directed by Mark Waters (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Just Like Heaven, Mean Girls, Freaky Friday)
Starring Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner, and Michael Douglas
Let me be the first to say, “Mr. Dickens, I am truly sorry.”
Connor Mead (Matthew McConaughey) is a photographer who has a bad boy reputation of loving and leaving beautiful women. Beautiful models and celebrities flock to his studio to get their picture taken and end up throwing themselves at him. His brother Paul (Breckin Meyer) is about to get married, and Connor thinks he is making a terrible mistake. So of course he tries to talk Paul out of getting married. But the night before the wedding, Connor is visited by three ghosts, who show him his past, present, and future. Maybe there is still time to change him into a sensitive, feeling, and caring person that he once was, and he may even find his true love.
Jonathan and I have long debated the “talent” of Mr. Matthew McConaughey. I don’t care what anyone says, if his range was as big as his ego, he would have already earned the Lifetime Achievement Award. To say he is limited as an actor would be the understatement of the year. The one role that he can play is the less than intelligent beefcake who has to take his shirt off in at least one scene. Want to guess what character he plays in this movie? Too easy right?
The rest of the cast includes Jennifer Garner as Connor’s childhood sweetheart and former conquest. Although she is normally a good actress, she is given very little to work with in this character. Then there is Michael Douglas, who totally phoned in his performance. The funny thing, he looks like he knows it and is as aloof about it as his character is about life.
However, my biggest issue with the film was the message about casual sex. This is typical PG-13 trash. The sexual content and language throughout the movie are not graphic (no nudity or F-bombs), but there is plenty of inappropriate material. The characters are all flawed and casual sex is not only accepted but encouraged. As far as the effects of casual sex, they are somewhere between down-played and non-existent. In fact the “moral of the story” is: the worse part of just sleeping around is growing old all alone.
Ghosts of Girlfriends Past has nothing redeemable and nothing worth seeing…it’s a coaster.
SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
No, this subject matter is intended for adults only.
Side Note:
As said above, 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?
