What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that what at first seems like a British parody of American cop flicks turns into a much bloodier (and funnier) homage to blow-'em-up blockbusters. The gun play and cartoonishly graphic violence rivals that of any Michael Bay or Jerry Bruckheimer production, but at least the bulk of the gore is confined to the last third of the film. Like Shaun of the Dead, which was made by the same director and stars, this movie is full of colorful foul language, but it doesn't have the raunchy nastiness of similar movies. Expect cinema-savvy teens to want to check it out.
- Families can talk about how this film parodies Hollywood blockbuster action flicks. What are some good and bad examples of that genre? What specific elements of those movies is this film making fun of? Does it succeed? Why? Is the violence appropriate to the story, or does it go too far? Is all of the gun violence upsetting? Families can also discuss how media helps people find common ground. Kids: Do you and your friends bond over movies the way Nick and Danny do?