Rated PG-13 for violent action, sexual material and language.
Directed by Robert Luketic (Legally Blonde, Monster-in-Law)
Starring Ashton Kutcher, Katherine Heigl, Tom Selleck, Catherine O’Hara…
This title will probably scare away the target audience…because in reality, this movie is a great date flick. I speak from experience, because I saw this movie on a date with my wife along with another couple. All of us enjoyed the film.
The story was creative, and, something I can’t say too often…new! I actually haven’t seen this before. A vacationing woman meets her ideal man, leading to a swift marriage. Back at home, however, their idyllic life is upset when they discover their neighbors could be assassins who have been contracted to kill the couple.
It’s very funny, balanced with romance and action. Pretty unique actually.
Guys will like the film because it has really good action with creative car chases and some decent fighting scenes. Girls will like the film because of the funny banter between the two married leads. It’s a fun love story.
Leaving the theatre, I told my wife and friends, “Hey, that was actually worth the $10 bucks!”
SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
Not for young kids, but I would be comfortable showing my teenagers this…discussing certain moments of the film. The violence was tame by today’s standards. Some fight scenes, and a few killings that might frighten the young.
The sexual content was present, but again, mild by today’s standards. The film shows a girl in a towel, and later hints that the couple had premarital sex. But the rest of the jokes and conversation are between man and wife. Far cleaner than most TV bantar. If you let your kids watch My Big Fat Greek Wedding, then you’ll find this sexual content and humor to be similar.
Conversation Starter
Three Simple Questions (with Answers You May Be Looking for):
Q: What’s the message/theme of this movie?
A: This film was surprisingly “pro-marriage.” If you get past the craziness of his job and all the chaos that followed them, the two of them realized that their marriage was for the long-haul. The two of them realized the need to be open, honest and committed to each other through all that life throws at them.
Q: How do you suppose we—as serious Christ-followers—should react to this movie?
A: As believers in Christ, we must walk away from the film with a renewed passion to be honest and trustworthy in our relationships.
It’s easy to see why Jen felt betrayed by Spencer; he kept a very big part of his former life from her. Had he told her all of that upfront – while she was actually awake – she might not have ever married him.
We’ve been called to the truth and to love. Everything we do must exemplify both truth and love.
Q: How can we move from healthy, Bible-based opinions about this movie to actually living out those opinions?
A: We cannot keep secrets like Spencer kept from Jen. Just like it did for her, it will breed mistrust and anger.
This film also gives us a good reminder about who we should involve ourselves in, romantically speaking. Jen seemed to be interested in fairly shallow things, instead of deeper values. The fact that two attractive people like each other is rarely enough for a solid, committed relationship. We need to make sure that the other person is as committed to Jesus as we are.
