Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that this flawed-but-interesting dramedy takes on a potentially overwhelming topic -- faith -- and manages to make it approachable. It even stirs a bit of hope. That said, it's so geared up for a fight that it misses its chance to be a truly profound discussion movie. In some ways the content is age-appropriate for tweens -- language, violence, and sexual content are all mild -- but in others it's very mature. The main character is a terminally ill man who drinks like a fish and doesn't seem to care about living -- which may feel too tragic, or even scary, for young viewers. Even the religious themes (neighbors are having visions in the main character's back yard) may overwhelm some kids.
Sexual
Content
A kiss between two adults who are falling in love.
Violence
Hints of a child's troubled childhood; a man on the edge knocks down an entire house by hacking at it with an axe; discussions about a child witnessing horrible fights between her now-divorced parents.
Language
"Jerk" and "damn," and one use of "holy s--t."
Social
Behavior
A man who is clearly an alcoholic seems hell-bent on performing a slow suicide by indulging in destructive behavior. He's also anti-social. But he goes through a change, fueled in part by his kindly new neighbors, and he opens his heart in the end.
Consumerism
Labels and signage for Krispy Kreme doughnuts, Super Bueno Market, liquor, etc.
Drugs / Tobacco /
Alcohol
Lots of drinking -- the main character, who is terminally ill and careless about life, drinks vodka and other liquor throughout the day as if it's water.
