Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that I Am Sam portrays a mentally challenged man and his impassioned efforts to parent and retain custody of his precocious young daughter. There are several heartwrenching scenes during which Sam and Lucy are forcibly taken from one another. Other characters (two of whom are actually developmentally disabled) give insightful performances that may enlighten older kids and teens about people with special needs. A female character swears occasionally: one use of "f--k," along with numerous instances of "goddammit," "hell," and other mild epithets. Starbucks is prominently featured as Sam's workplace, and many other products and retailers are identified.

Sexual Content

Mild references to out-of-wedlock pregnancy, adultery.

Violence

Tense family situations.

Language

Sam, the film's hero, is referred to as "retarded" in some scenes. One leading female character swears several times: "goddammit," "hell," "for Christ's sake," "son of a bitch," "up the wazoo," "screw." There is one use of "f--k."

Social Behavior

Provides a very sympathetic look at the developmentally disabled community and shows elements of both their limitations and strengths. Promotes love, commitment, and good intentions as primary values in parenting and at the same time affirms that "it takes a village to raise a child."

Consumerism

Starbucks is a featured location in numerous sequences. Other products and retailers clearly identified include Equal sweetener, Huggies, Payless, Baskin-Robbins, Tab, Pizza Hut, Bob's Big Boy, and IHOP.

Drugs / Tobacco / Alcohol

Not applicable