Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that this martial arts musical from the 1980s, produced by Berry Gordy of Motown records, is terribly dated, and probably didn't look very modern even when it opened. It contains some martial arts violence (very little blood), and some swearing and plenty of sexual innuendo. There's the potential for some offensive racial stereotypes, both African-American and Asian, but the movie has a good heart and a good hero. It features some of the same messages as The Karate Kid, which was released the year before, and teens may find some inspiration in the physical and spiritual martial arts training.
Sexual
Content
The movie is full of sexual innuendo, but very little direct sex talk. We see some kissing and lots of flirting, but that's about it.
Violence
Lots of martial arts fighting here, with kicking and punching, but very stylized and light on the blood. A bully terrorizes the neighborhood and picks on everyone. A gun is fired. Some fighting gets a little dirty and includes leg-twisting and face-beating. One character keeps a piranha tank, but the piranhas do not eat anyone.
Language
This is a typical PG-13 movie, with one use of "f--k" and a couple of uses of "s--t," but otherwise fairly light on the language. The "N" word is heard twice. "Ass," "damn," "hell," God" (as an exclamation), and "pee" are also heard.
Social
Behavior
The main character finishes his training and is sent out to find a "master." He eventually learns that the master is actually himself and that he needs to look within to find the answers he seeks. He learns self-confidence and how to stand up to bullies, but this path also brings him to violence. The movie also features some lame attempts at humor and some potentially offensive racial stereotypes.
Consumerism
Not applicable
Drugs / Tobacco /
Alcohol
One character is selling joints in a movie theater, and we see some characters smoking pot. The main characters do not partake. The girl says, "I need a drink" in one scene, but doesn't have a drink.
