Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that Paper Towns is another adaptation of a best-selling young adult novel by John Green (The Fault in Our Stars). But unlike that tear-jerking love story, this is more of a comical coming-of-age mystery about a high school senior who convinces his friends to search for his smart, beautiful neighbor, who's disappeared just a couple of weeks before graduation. Language is infrequent but does include one memorable "f--k," as well as "s--t," "a--hole," and "bitch." Sexual content is more pervasive than in Fault in Our Stars; there are a few scenes of off-camera sex, including one in which the guy is caught running out of a house naked (his butt is visible). Another shows a bra-clad teen girl atop a guy, moaning and kissing him. There are also references to virginity loss and comments about a mom that one teen boy says he wants to "tap"/"hit"/etc. Drinking is also an issue: One sequence takes place at a big party where teens do keg stands and -- in one case -- get so drunk they throw up. But the movie compellingly explores relatable coming-of-age issues like taking chances, first love, best friendship, and the difference between fake and genuine people and personalities.
Sexual
Content
A teen guy swears he had sex with two girls. A teen couple is caught having sex; viewers see the guy running out of the house naked (he's covering his crotch, but his butt is visible). The same couple is shown on a bed; the girl, wearing just a bra, is on top of the guy, moaning and kissing him. A guy tells his friends that he and his girlfriend are planning to lose their virginity on prom night. One scene of making out leads (off camera) to sex. A character repeatedly makes comments about Q's "hot" mom, whom he would love to have sex with ("tap," "hit that," etc.).
Violence
An angry jock pushes a much smaller guy against a locker and threatens him before backing down. A van nearly crashes and ends up stalled on the side of the road, scaring all the teens on board.
Language
One "f--k," plus a few uses of "s--t," "a--hole," and "Jesus Christ" (as an exclamation). Scatological humor includes a guy peeing into two cans while in a moving car.
Social
Behavior
A person should never be considered a myth, because that strips them of both their flaws and their humanities. Teens should go outside their comfort zone. Discourages the objectification of girls as "manic pixie dream girl" creatures and encourages living in the present and nurturing close friendships.
Consumerism
Brands/products seen include Honda Odyssey, Volvo, iPhone, Saran Wrap, Nair, Converse, and Pokemon.
Drugs / Tobacco /
Alcohol
Underage drinking at a high school party (one character does a couple of keg stands). One character is so drunk that he throws up.
