Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that this is a touching family drama wrapped in an intense "David vs. Goliath"-style fight. The movie deals with some weighty issues that most younger kids won't fully understand: the conflicted relationship between fathers and sons, the estrangement of brothers, alcoholism, and the willingness of a husband and father to do whatever it takes to help his family. The movie's many mixed martial arts sequences are fast and furious and feature a lot of beatdowns, but no one is killed -- just down for the count. There's some profanity ("s--t," "ass," "goddamned," etc.) and some marital intimacy (two bathroom conversations with the couple half-dressed, and a kiss or two), but otherwise it's really only the themes and violence that make this movie an iffy pick for younger viewers.
Sexual
Content
A husband and wife kiss, embrace, and have a couple of mature late-night conversations in the bathroom -- once while she's in her underwear and tank top, another while he's shirtless and in the tub. Women in bikinis are "ring girls."
Violence
The entire movie centers around mixed martial arts (MMA) fights; some are quick (an instant knock-out), while others are brutal and drawn out. Characters get seriously hurt (a few look like they're nearly unconscious during/after a fight), and in a couple of cases, fighters have bones broken. There's not much blood, and no one is killed, but the competitors sport a variety of bruises and are shown limping or dragging their wounded limbs. The fighting style involves arms and legs, so there's a lot of intense punching, kicking, headlocks, body slamming, and more. Commentators narrate the action and often talk about how so-and-so looks like he's "getting killed," "not moving," etc.
Language
Language includes "s--t," "bulls--t," "ass," "hell," "idiot," one use of "f--k," "crap," "damn," "goddamned," "oh my God," etc. Insulting and hurtful words are exchanged by estranged relatives.
Social
Behavior
The movie's overall message is that to be a family, you need unconditional love -- and that you have to forgive yourself for past wrongs. Additionally, there's a positive lesson about a healthy marriage and family dynamic versus the very dysfunctional family dynamic that the three main characters display.
Consumerism
No overt product placements, but the movie is bound to draw attention to Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and the mixed martial arts (MMA) style of kickboxing. ESPN is briefly shown in a couple of scenes.
Drugs / Tobacco /
Alcohol
An older man -- an alcoholic -- falls off the wagon and is shown drunk, disoriented, and nearly incoherent. There are empty bottles strewn around a hotel room to show just how much he's had to drink. A character is known to be a pill-popper and is made to relinquish his prescription bottles in a somewhat humorous manner.
