What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that this is a crass comedy aimed at 13-year-olds who like jokes at others' expense. A character in a wheelchair is ridiculed, a cartoon character is a racial stereotype, and there's lots of innuendo about a character's large genitals. There's a generous helping of "f--k"s and "s--t"s, along with scenes in which a husband and wife negotiate when and how to be intimate beyond basic canoodling, two men talk about what makes a wife willing to have sex with her husband, co-workers gossip how a physically disabled man pleases a woman, and more. Plus, an elementary-school-age kid gives Tom the finger and swears, and the two main male characters do lots of fighting and trash talking.
- Families can talk about how the media sets up expectations about parenting roles. Do movies and TV shows gloss over the difficulties of parenting, or are they portrayed with clichés? Also, how is Chip's physical handicap handled in the movie? Do people have preconceived notions about those who are impaired? What are they, and how can they be dispelled? How is Braff's character in this movie different from many of the more-vulnerable characters he's played in the past? What do you think made him branch out?