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Prime Review

Release Date: Oct 28, 2005
Rated: sexual content including dialogue, and for language
Runtime: 1 hr. 46 min.
Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Director:Ben Younger
Cast:Meryl Streep, Uma Thurman, Bryan Greenberg, Jon Abrahams, Zak Orth. Full cast + crew

Movies.com Critics

4.0

Dave White Profile <h3>Dave White</h3> <p><strong>Your Movies.com Man at the Multiplex</strong></p> <br /> <p>Dave White's first movie review was of the animated feature Snoopy Come Home. He was seven years old...<a href="http://www.movies.com/movie-reviews/dave-white">Read full profile</a></p>

… there's funny stuff going on. Read full review

Other Critics provided by Metacritic.com

Critics scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

3.0

58

out of 100

Metascore^®
Mixed or average reviews
based on a weighted average of all
critic review scores.
58

out of 100

Entertainment Weekly Lisa Schwarzbaum
Not one bit of the story tracks. But with these women in these roles, you're asking for truth?

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63

out of 100

USA Today Claudia Puig
Despite its title, Prime is not a cut above. This romantic comedy's predictability and rather dull love story make it the cinematic equivalent of a slightly stale hamburger.

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70

out of 100

Wall Street Journal Joe Morgenstern
Prime is neither deep nor as shallow as it first threatens to be, but surprisingly good fun.
75

out of 100

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert
There are some one-liners that zing not only with humor but truth. On the whole I was satisfied.

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80

out of 100

The Hollywood Reporter Kirk Honeycutt
A prime example of a solid romantic comedy.

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See all Prime reviews at Metacritic.com

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For Families provided by Common Sense Media

Iffy for 15+

Predictable, sexy comedy pushes PG-13 rating.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this movie includes a lot of discussion (though very little imagery) of sexual activity. The protagonist describes her revived sex life to her therapist using explicit language (repeated references to male and female genitals). Characters drink at parties and in their homes.

Families can talk about questions of trust and betrayal. How does Lisa betray her patient, Rafi, by not telling her she's David's mother? How does the therapist-patient relationship resemble a parent-child relationship, but how is it also different, with regard to expectations of confidence and honesty?

The good stuff

Messages: Characters lie to one another repeatedly, then learn they shouldn't.

What to watch for

Violence: One character throws pies at ex-girlfriends' faces; running gag has a grandmother hitting herself in the head with a frying pan.
Sex: Explicit references for a PG-13. Frequent discussion of sex and genitals; minor imagery, including one bar scene with suggestive dancing.
Language: Frequent sexual profanity.
Consumerism: Starbucks, New York's Cinema Village, Magnolia Bakery, Nintendo, Crate & Barrel.
Drinking, drugs and smoking: Drinking at parties, in homes, and at a bar (to the point of drunkenness).

Common Sense Media

An independent nonprofit dedicated to providing families the information they need to help kids thrive in a world of media and technology.