Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson, based on child development research. How do we rate?
age 18+
Depraved, unfunny anthology comedy wastes tons of talent.
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Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Movie 43 is a collection of short but over-the-top comedy films (directed by the likes of Peter Farrelly) that are tied together with a wraparound sequence about a writer making a pitch at a Hollywood studio. The content is astoundingly vulgar, loaded with sex (including full-frontal female nudity) and sexual innuendo, depravity, the foulest language imaginable ("f--k," "s--t," and much more), some violence, and drinking and drug use. The film boasts an incredible cast of talented actors and a funny trailer, so teens will no doubt be interested in seeing it. But the situations are so depraved and of a negative nature that any and all potential viewers are hereby warned.
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Language
a lot
Language is extremely strong and includes frequent use of "f--k," "s--t," "fag," "pubes," "d--k," "suck off," "blow," "boobies," "ass," "balls," "vag," "vagina," "beaver," "son of a bitch," "butthole," "masturbate," "jizz," "p---y," "c--k," "c--t," "prick," "douche," the "N" word," "hell," "crap," "damn," "goddamn," "oh my God," and more.
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Sex, Romance & Nudity
a lot
A naked woman is shown full-frontal; she's an "iBabe," which is a something like a life-size iPod. Several other women are shown topless in the same sequence. Halle Berry mixes guacamole with her naked breast in another sequence; she's seen later with huge, naked (and obviously fake) breasts. A woman asks her boyfriend to poop on her during sex. A mother and father play sexually charged scenarios with their teenage son. A man has a pair of testicles hanging from his neck. A man has a climaxing penis tattooed on his face. An animated cat is shown masturbating (including inserting a brush into his anus). Strong innuendo and heavy kissing.
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Drinking, Drugs & Smoking
some
A teen party is briefly shown, with suggestions of drinking and drugs. Adults drink vodka at dinner.
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Violence & Scariness
some
Characters threaten one another with guns and grenades. Two guys fight with two leprechauns, with punching, shooting, and lots of blood. Parents humiliate their teenage son by throwing basketballs at his head. A teen girl gets her first period; blood is shown. There's a discussion of men losing their hands and penises while using a "naked girl iPod." A man punches another man in a restaurant. A woman gets hit by a car and then tries to kill an animated cat with a shovel.
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Products & Purchases
very little
Match.com is mentioned. The Rocksmith video game is shown.
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Positive Messages
very little
Mostly very iffy/problematic behavior (with little consequence), including greed, lust, threats, and revenge.
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Positive Role Models
very little
No characters behave admirably or responsibly, and the segments aren't long enough for them to learn or change.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
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2:10
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Movie 43
Parent and Kid Reviews
See all
- Parents Say (10)
- Kids Say (23)
age 17+
Based on 10 parent reviews
myopinionisbest Adult
May 23, 2017
age 14+
The worst movie I've ever seen
Wow, just wow. I'm astonished. I've seen over a thousand movies in my life, and out of all of them, this is the worst. Its worse than The Garbage Pail Kids Movie, After Last Season, and Ren Seeks Help. This is the worst, most pointless, hollow, and lazy excuse for a theatrical feature I've ever seen. There is no vision or creativity here, its literally just a bunch of unrelated 5-minute skits. I could at least give this movie some credit if the skits were funny at all, but they're not. They're all disgusting and repulsive. As I sat through the first skit, I was like "well that sucked, maybe the next one will be better". After the next four, I was like "well maybe one of them will make me laugh". I was wrong. The rest was just a vapid, soulless, agonizing experience. I didn't laugh, chuckle, or even involuntarily smile during this whole movie. The whole product just feels cynically slapped together with no respect for its audience and for the sole purpose of making money. Many of the celebrities they got were either bribed or guilt tripped into being in their skits. This isn't even a real movie; its like a bunch of unfunny YouTube videos mashed together. Think of the 15 worst Smosh videos you've seen, and watch them back to back. That's basically this movie but with more depraved sexually graphic content and random celebrities. You'd have a lot more fun watching YouTube videos for 90 minutes than watching Movie 43. Normally I have no problem with gross and inappropriate content, but only if there's a point. Movies like this are the reason IMDB should allow a 0-star rating. This movie is nothing. This movie deserves nothing. Therefore, I shall give it nothing. 0/10.
BestPicture1996 Adult
April 4, 2015
age 18+
As bad as you've heard it is
Even as a film buff I don't consider myself a glutton for punishment. I'm not one of those midnight movie dudes who goes to bad B movies for fun. I see movies because I want to see them or I hear they're good. Well here is the exception. I heard "Movie 43" was capital G garbage, but I wanted to watch just out of sheer curiosity of how revolting people had made it sound! It is truly revolting, a racist, sexist, awful stab at comedy. The only way this was able to me made was the fact that it was a Farrely passion project, and they just waited, waited and guilted tons of hot shots in Hollywood til they agreed to be in this terrible movie. The best way I can suggest this movie is with a big group of friends, and you can laugh at the absurdity in it. Some of these sketches are just ugly and hateful, the worst offender being the Liev Schriber and Naomi Watts homeschooling skit. It made me want to take a lifelong shower.
See all 10 parent reviews
What's the Story?
A screenwriter (Dennis Quaid) pitches several story ideas to a Hollywood executive (Greg Kinnear). Among them is one about a woman (Kate Winslet) who goes on a blind date with a man (Hugh Jackman) who has testicles hanging from his neck. In another story, a couple (Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber) homeschools their teen son and tries to offer him the humiliations of high school as well as the lessons. In another, a woman asks her boyfriend to poop on her during sex. Then a company has technical issues with its new "iBabe" line of iPods, and an Internet date turns into a cruel game of "truth or dare." And so it goes. Does the movie ever get made? Who cares?
Is It Any Good?
Our review:
Parents say (10):
Kids say (23):
This movie's so bad it may acquire legendary status someday; but then again, maybe not. Twelve directors came together for this anthology film, with Peter Farrelly taking the connecting, wraparound sequence as well as the first short. It's one of his worst efforts, sinking too far into so-called shocking, vulgar humor and too little into any kind of emotional connection to real-life experiences. Other directors -- including Brett Ratner, James Gunn, Rusty Cundieff, and Griffin Dunne -- don't fare any better.
The wonderful comic actress Elizabeth Banks makes her directorial debut with her segment -- about a teen girl getting her first period -- but it's frenetic and cruel and doesn't suggest much of a future for this part of her career. MOVIE 43 is the kind of film that makes you wonder which sequences are the most irresponsible and depraved and what these talented people were thinking to get involved with such a project.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Movie 43's sexual situations. Are there any relationships in the movie that could be defined as healthy or positive? What messages does the movie send about sex?
Some segments revolve around cruelty to children and teens. Are they funny? Why or why not? Who are they intended to appeal to?
In the final sequence, an animated cat is involved in some of the movie's most depraved humor. Does the fact that the cat isn't real affect the impact of those scenes?
Movie Details
- In theaters : January 25, 2013
- On DVD or streaming : June 18, 2013
- Cast : Emma Stone, Gerard Butler, Hugh Jackman, Kate Winslet
- Directors : Elizabeth Banks, Peter Farrelly, Steve Carr
- Inclusion Information : Female directors, Female actors
- Studio : Relativity Media
- Genre : Comedy
- Run time : 97 minutes
- MPAA rating : R
- MPAA explanation : strong pervasive crude and sexual content including dialogue, graphic nudity, language, some violence and drug use
- Last updated : September 3, 2024
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