Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that Instructions Not Included -- which is primarily in Spanish with English subtitles, though some scenes are played in English -- is a blend of very funny and very sad. Viewers can expect everything from sexual farce and antic slapstick comedy (a stuntman falling from great heights and repeatedly slamming into a brick wall) to the profound love between a father and his little girl. Before he knows he has a daughter, the main character is a confirmed ladies' man; his sexual dalliances are comic and without nudity, though there's a smattering of cleavage, a few male "butt" shots, and lots of rolling around in bed. There are also fart jokes, a dog peeing on camera, occasional swearing ("f--k," "bulls--t," "damn"), and sexual references ("knocks her up," "damn cheap condoms," "you did it with your sister?"). A central character is a lesbian involved in a mature, loving relationship. Fear is a recurring theme (a little boy's fear of threatening wolves is played in flashback throughout; he's also shown at the mercy of a scorpion and being thrown over a cliff, though no one is severely injured during these episodes). Spoiler alert: During the final sequence, the movie takes a tragic turn that may be too disturbing for some, with the death of a major character.

Sexual Content

There's no actual sex or nudity, but expect lots of sexual innuendo, farcical bed-hopping, and many meant-to-be-funny shots of large breasts and male butts. The adult main character starts out as a playboy; a long sequence early in the movie follows his passionate but fast-paced and funny sexual foreplay from one bed to another with assorted voluptuous sex partners, sometimes more than one at a time.

Violence

There's an incredibly sad death that may upset younger/more sensitive viewers. Slapstick action in multiple sequences. The lead character is a comically inept stunt man who jumps from great heights, smashes repeatedly into a brick wall, is shot in the bottom, appears to be set on fire, and more. On a few occasions, the audience is led to believe that he hasn't survived a stunt, but he soon recovers. A toddler has two close calls: at the edge of a swimming pool and on a wild motorcycle escape with her father. Frequent shots of imagined snarling wolves and one encounter with a scorpion represent the lead adult character's difficulty in dealing with fear -- those scenes are set up early by an unwittingly cruel father who places his son in jeopardy (pushing him from a high cliff, facing wild animals) in order to make him fearless. A little girl is bullied by her peers.

Language

Occasional swearing and sexual language (mostly in Spanish with English subtitles) includes words/phrases like "f--k," "s--t," "bulls--t," "crap," "hell," "damn," "boobs," "knocks her up," "busting my balls," "oh God" (as an exclamation), etc. Also fart jokes/sounds.

Social Behavior

Depicts how parenthood can bring life-changing positives and joys for even the most incorrigible of characters. Demonstrates how unselfishness, unconditional love, and finding beauty in individual moments all contribute to a rich, meaningful life. Coping with fear (both imagined and real) is a central theme.

Consumerism

Aero Costa Rica, Johnny Bravo.

Drugs / Tobacco / Alcohol

An adult character smokes.