What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that this modernized take on Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility stars former teen sensations Camilla Belle and Alexa Vega (Spy Kids) as wealthy sisters who move to East L.A. after their father's death leaves them penniless. The word "s--t" is used frequently, and one relationship leads to a sexual situation (but there's no nudity). Characters drink and get drunk, and marijuana use is visible. Expect lots of humor and stereotypes based on Mexican-American culture, but the movie also celebrates the beauty of this heritage and offers positive messages about family, friendship, and love.
- Families can talk about how the media represents different races and ethnicities. Is itpossible to offer a humorous look at a culture’s specificcharacteristics without using stereotypes? When does this humor cross the line into being critical and/orinsulting?
- What do the main characters learn over the course of the movie? Are they -- and their challenges -- relatable?
- How do films stay true to classic tales written bymasters like Shakespeare or Jane Austen while reflecting modern-dayculture and values? What are the different ways that their stories havebeen told over the years? What's your favorite adaptation, and why?