I am such a huge Melissa McCarthy fan starting from her days on the Gilmore Girls (I am going to hope she was on the Spy Press Junket missing the Gilmore Girls reunion.)
From the first ad, Paul Feig (“Bridesmaids,” “The Heat”) directed Spy the Movie , I wanted the movie to be funny showcasing McCarthy’s talent. I was thrilled that the early buzz was good because I really wanted to see the movie. But my dilemma, should I bring my 12 year old to the movie to a “R” rated movie? This is a big decision for me. We, of course, have seen many PG-13 movies which for some I wondered why they weren’t rated R for violence.
Just in case you aren’t up on how the The Rating Board defines an “R” rated movie, here is the definition.
R (Restricted, Under 17 Requires Accompanying Parent Or Adult Guardian.):
In the opinion of the Rating Board, this film definitely contains some adult material. Parents are strongly urged to find out more about this film before they allow their children to accompany them.
An R-rated film may include hard language, or tough violence, or nudity within sensual scenes, or drug abuse or other elements, or a combination of some of the above, so that parents are counseled, in advance, to take this advisory rating very seriously. Parents must find out more about an R-rated movie before they allow their teenagers to view it.
In my mind, I figured yes, there would violence, yes there would be cursing, yes, there would be inappropriate jokes and probably lots of sexual references. I kept thinking what would bother me more, the cursing, the sexual references or the violence.
So let me break it down.
Sexual References – We had just seen Pitch Perfect 2 which many parents would consider inappropriate for a 12 year old but as I remember back to Pitch Perfect 1, I was shocked at how many parents had take, their then 10 year olds to the movie.
So after seeing Pitch Perfect 2 with my daughter which is so filled with inappropriate references, sexual references both innuendo and obvious, I thought how bad could Spy be.
Violence – Again back to PG 13 movies like The Avengers series, I would consider those to have lots of “violence” so no problem there.
Cursing – Stand outside any middle/high school or even walking the streets of New York City, cursing abounds so sadly she would hardly be shocking for my daughter.
So my last arbiter of insane parenting decision making – asking Facebook friends. Well, that was an eye opener. Apparently, I have been behind the eight ball since all the kids my daughter’s age has seen R movies. Okay, then.
So I took a chance and met my Mitch (from gaynycdad) , his husband and their 12 year old son and saw the movie.
And let me say there is a reason this movie out performed Entourage and San Andreas at the box office. It is hilarious from the start to finish.
Everyone brings their A-Game and Paul Feig, the Director/Writer has gotten to be given an award for writing a script that makes use not only of McCarthy’s talent but the entire cast. It is just a well-written and funny movie. Some great lines have been written and be quoted for years to come.
Yes, I survived the first R rating movie and Yes, it was so inappropriate which my daughter agreed it was inappropriate. That said she thought it was extremely funny. Interestingly enough, I finally get the difference between PG 13 violence and R rated violence. R rated violence is much more squeamish in nature.
But don’t worry, even though the door has been opened, I will not be letting her see every “R” movie that is released. I will have to evaluate each movie based on the plot, the characters, etc.
At what age did you allow your child to see a “R” age movie and what movie was it?
I want to see this movie so bad. It looks hilarious and I LOVE Melissa McCarthy! I think she is hilarious.
Movies were not as violent and had as much sexual references when I was little! This movie looks to be hilarious and I cannot wait to see it! Thanks for highlighting your review!
We still haven’t made that leap with ours. Our eldest is 14 and there is enough awkward in watching PG-13 movies. However, I remember my first R movie and it was Nightmare on Elm Street and I was in 5th grade at a friend’s sleepover. I was too young and we ended up watching the Care Bears movie in order to get to sleep!
Having never had children I have never faced this dilemma. My biggest problem is–can I stand a r-rated movie!! If there is intense violence–NO. Glad to hear that this one is essentially funny–I will have to make a point of going to see it.
This sounds like a fun movie. I like Melissa McCrathy and I would love to see this movie.
I can do without Jude Law, but OH MY MY MY I’ll watch Jason Statham in anything lol. I’ve never seen him in anything but action movies, what a genius cast here though, I love Melissa McCarthy, she’s hilarious.
I heard this movie was getting great reviews. I’m excited for it! I think the first R film my son saw was “The Matrix” on DVD with his dad.
Controlled environments (with adult) watching an R-rated movie at 12 is Brilliant! Adding movie to my list . I could use some laughs
Will have to add movie to my lis. watching the movie in a controlled environment (with an adult) at 12 is Brilliant
I can not wait to see this movie! I am not sure what age I was when I saw my first R movie.
12 is a fairly mature age, so as long as you talk to your daughter afterwards about what she saw I think it’s fine. You have to make a judgement on your child’s personality too 🙂
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That’s so cool you got to go with another blogger and had fun! I am ready to see this movie. She is hysterical.
Omg This movie sounds so good!!! Cannot wait to see it! Something I have to lol forward to now!
Actually I never let my children watch an R movie deliberately. They saw it on their own once they moved out. We weren’t a big TV family any way. We liked movies, but they were mostly Disney Movies or funny movies. If my kids went to their friends or the show I trusted them to use their good judgement.
I love your comment about not watching them watch deliberately. And yes we have to trust their judgment at some point, right.
I loved the Ads for this moving and glad you enjoyed it, I will be seeing it next weekend so excited.
It’s definitely a LOL movie.