Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that On the Road is the first official movie adaptation of Jack Kerouac's legendary 1957 novel. There's lots of sex and drugs, and Twilight's Kristen Stewart can be seen somewhat naked and in many depraved situations. Expect partial nudity (female toplessness and naked male bottoms), sex (including threesomes and a graphic scene of two men having sex), and strong sexual innuendo. Characters smoke cigarettes and drink alcohol almost constantly and smoke pot in a few scenes. A minor character is a junkie with track marks on his arms. Language is likewise strong, colorful, and constant, with uses of "f--k," "s--t," and "c--k" throughout. After spending years on the drawing board, the finished movie is really very dull, and despite the K-Stew factor, teens may not even be interested.
Sexual
Content
The main characters each end up sleeping with more than one partner. Brief female toplessness and naked male bottoms. Women get pregnant. Kissing and sex scenes are shown, including one that's pretty graphic and an attempt at a threesome. Very strong sexual innuendo is heard throughout, including detailed stories (one about an "orgy").
Violence
Arguing and the threat of violence. Characters often steal things, ranging from food to cars.
Language
Language is constant and colorful. Words include "f--k," "s--t," "piss," "c--k," "muff," "goddamn," "a--hole," and "God" (as an exclamation).
Social
Behavior
Characters more or less drift around, indulge in iffy behavior, and occasionally decide to "grow up" or move on. Lessons aren't learned as a result of anything, and there aren't really any "arcs" to the characters.
Consumerism
Not applicable
Drugs / Tobacco /
Alcohol
The main characters are almost constantly drinking and smoking cigarettes, and they take other kinds of drugs fairly often. They try pot in one long sequence. No addiction is overtly shown, with one exception: The minor character "Old Bull Lee" is shown to be a junkie, with track marks littering his arms.