Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that Smashed is a gritty drama about a woman who's an alcoholic and tries to stop drinking. (Her husband is also a heavy drinker, and he doesn't stop.) Though the main character's alcoholism is really only shown during the movie's first third, it's intense, and the horrifying side effects of her drinking start to outweigh whatever fun she's having. She also smokes crack in one scene. Language is the movie's other big issue, with several uses of "f--k," "s--t," and "bitch." There's no physical violence but expect lots of shouting and arguing; there's no nudity, but viewers see a married couple kissing and initiating sex with one another. There's also a failed attempt at sex. Overall, this is a well-made cautionary tale with hope as well as harshness, and it could be a good way for teens to learn empathy for people facing addiction.
Sexual
Content
No nudity is shown, but a married couple is shown kissing and initiating sex with each other. One attempt at sex is thwarted because a drunken lover keeps falling asleep. In a brutal scene, a violently drunk woman tries to initiate sex with her husband.
Violence
Characters fight and shout at one another, but no hitting or physical violence is shown.
Language
Strong language throughout, including many uses of "f--k" and "s--t," as well as "a--hole," "ass," "bitch," "damn," and "oh my God."
Social
Behavior
Smashed has the complicated, difficult message that if an alcoholic quits drinking, the rest of his or her life might not automatically be improved. In fact, things could get worse. But the main character continues to struggle and look forward, in spite of much misfortune.
Consumerism
McDonald's is shown and mentioned. The main character explains how, when they were poor, her mother used to stock up on McDonald's hamburgers and freeze them. Later, viewers see that the mother still does this; she thaws out a plate of burgers to serve to guests.
Drugs / Tobacco /
Alcohol
Chronic alcoholism is the movie's main subject. The main character drives drunk, gets violently angry with others, passes out and wakes up in strange places, urinates in her bed and on the floor, and throws up in front of a classroom full of children. She drinks upon waking up in the morning and hunts for last sips of alcohol in a table full of empty bottles. She's shown to be unable to stop drinking once she starts. In one scene, another woman goads her into smoking crack. At about the one-third point, the character realizes she has a problem and starts attending AA meetings. She falls off the wagon once.
