Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that this adaptation of a popular graphic novel series -- which stars teen favorite Michael Cera -- features some strong language, superhero- and video game-style violence, and teen sexuality, but it's ultimately age-appropriate for teens. The sexuality includes some passionate kisses and a couple of hooking-up scenes (both gay and straight); in one scene, a couple ends up in bed -- she in her bra, he shirtless -- but no sex is shown on screen. One character explodes after unexpectedly having an instantaneous orgasm. Language includes some uses of words like "s--t" and "ass," and there's one character who says "f--k" several times, though they're mostly bleeped. All of the violence is stylized and cartoonish rather than realistic and bloody. And for a geeky-hipster tale, there are remarkably few product placements.
Sexual
Content
Scott barely holds hands with Knives, the girl he's dating at the beginning of the movie, but he does hook up with Ramona in a scene that shows them both in bed and half-dressed (though they never have sex). Scott's roommate, Wallace, ends up in bed with not just one but two guys, one of whom started out being a girl's date (no sex is shown on screen). Wallace is also shown making out a couple of times. Scott and Wallace share a bed but have a platonic friendship. One of Ramona's evil exes is a "bi-curous" girl; Scott defeats her by touching her in an innocuous place that makes her have an instantaneous orgasm and explode. Scott's band is called Sex Bob-omb. References to "bases" (as in "making it to second base").
Violence
The six big face-offs are staged like video game battles, with lots of almost cartoonish martial arts and hand-to-hand fighting. There's no blood, but the defeated exes do blow up, disappear, disintigrate, etc.
Language
Fairly regular use of "ass," "bitch," "s--t," "hell," "oh my God," etc. -- plus one sequence in which "f--k" is used several times; they're mostly covered by bleeps, but you can read the character's lips. Also words like "c--k," "boob," and "bang" and insults like "loser," "creep" and "slut."
Social
Behavior
Utlimately the movie's message is that you have to harness the power within yourself to be powerful -- you have to know who you are to figure out what you want. Teamwork is also encouraged.
Consumerism
Fairly moderate for a teen-targeted film: a Sharpie T-shirt, Amazon, mentions of Pac Man and other video games.
Drugs / Tobacco /
Alcohol
Several scenes take place in nighclubs or concert venues where people have bottles in their hands, but there's no drunkenness. References to drugs but no obvious drug use.
