 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
The Blind Side
- Review Date: November 18, 2009
- PG-13
- Genre: Drama
- 2009
Common Sense Media says
Syrupy sports drama uplifts but glosses over deep issues.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this formulaic but uplifting family sports drama -- which is based on the true story of football player Michael Oher -- centers on messages about inclusion, the benefits of hard work, and the importance of family. That said, it sometimes feels as if it glosses over many of the challenges that Oher and his "rescuer" (socialite Leigh Anne Tuohy, played by Sandra Bullock) must have faced. And while it alludes to the prejudice that exists in certain situations, aside from a scene or two, it skirts the topic instead of truly tackling it, and some scenes depict characters who are blatantly racist. Still, Oher’s life story in inarguably encouraging. While language and sexual content are quite mild, you can expect a couple of brief violent scenes, references to drug use, and social drinking.
What's the story?
Before he became an All-American college football star and an offensive tackle for the Baltimore Ravens, Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron) was a brawny-but-tender teen attending a Christian school in Memphis with no roof over his head or family to support him. In THE BLIND SIDE, he's soon befriended by S.J. and Collins Tuohy (Jae Head and Lily Collins), children of wealthy fast-food franchise owner Sean Tuohy (Tim McGraw) and his decorator wife Leigh Anne (Sandra Bullock). Leigh Anne makes it her mission to remake Michael's life, inviting him into the Tuohys' home and, later, into the family itself. A real future for Michael appears on the horizon in the form of football, a sport for which his build and protective instincts seem perfectly suited. But first he needs to get his grades up -- and his head in the game.
Is it any good?
Based on a book by journalist Michael Lewis chronicling the real Oher’s experiences, The Blind Side manages to inspire despite its broad-strokes approach to characterization. Bullock’s winning effort paves the way; her Leigh Anne disarms both Oher and audiences despite a sassiness that edges on caricature -- there's real vulnerability behind Leigh Anne’s type-A façade. Aaron’s take on Oher is a little bit more textbook, but when he smiles, you forget for a moment that he’s playing a role and really imagine him as the young Oher, abandoned but not lost.
Director John Lee Hancock could have explored the challenges that Leigh Anne and Michael faced as they tried to meld their divergent backgrounds with more complexity. Did Oher have any doubts? Was everyone at the school really that embracing? Instead, Hancock goes for the superficial. But the film has plenty of heart, something Hancock appears to have a knack for (he also helmed The Rookie, an even more heartwarming drama based on a real-life athlete). Still, he’s in danger of too much sentimentality here -- that and condescension. The result is a straightforward and entertaining film, if you can ignore, yes, the blind spots.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about what motivates Leigh Ann to welcome Michael into her home. Was it a purely selfless move? Why does she later say that he changed her life (and not the other way around)?
Why does Michael trust the Tuohys? What appeals to him about them? Does the movie adequately address the skepticism and prejudice that Michael and the Tuohys faced when they became a family?
How accurate do you think the movie is? Why might filmmakers have changed certain parts of the story?
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- Teens & kids
AGE
An Inspiring Movie
The Blind Side was a very touching movie filled with good messages and good role models, and the main character was truly inspiring. I would very much recommend this movie, though there is language and a scene of drug use, which might be inappropriate fr younger viewers. As a teen movie, for kids 11+, this movie rocks!
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Kid, 12 years old
January 2, 2010
AGE
GREAT Review for a GREAT Movie
Love it, it is a movie that you just can't miss.
This is a great story and the cast was perfect for the job.
I think that the movie scent a great message that people from the Projects are just like people from the city, and anyone can accomplish anything!
Exceptional Job, 2 thumbs up!
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AGE
Maybe a little too heartwarming?
Inappropriate references in this movie that I noticed that you haven't put down. The family is a great role model though!
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AGE
Educational and powerful.
Okay, so going into this movie you should know that it is about REAL people and that their lives weren't easy - so that's where the warning for bad language, bad role models, sexual (very lightly) implied, and violence come from. I went into this film explaining to my child that some people actually live like this, and that this is their reality. I also hi-lighted the positive role models in Micheal Oher's story who "choose" to help him and therefore probably change the whole course of his life for the better. Positive message that one person can make a difference and by doing so make things better.
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AGE
Inspirational story gets them to think
You have to make your own decision regarding what you child is ready to watch and there are scenes here that are tricky in terms of language and threats. But this is a great movie for getting kids to think about what they have compared to others who have less and how someone can make really a difference in another's life by doing the right thing. Parents should be aware that at the end of the movie, Leighanne makes a joking, but nonetheless verbally graphic, threat to Michael if he gets a girl pregnant in college that might be a little much for younger kids.
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AGE
Awesome Movie!
This movie was great! I loved it. Nothing negative; the violence was either self-defense or football. Michael was wanting to remain passive, so he was a good role model in my eyes, plus he was honest. The positive message was about Michael's success with all his scholarships he got. Language isn't so much an issue; bad words are talked about as bad in the actual movie too, and just about everyone 10 and older most likely knows what us males have between our legs, so it's not very innapropriate. I liked the movie alot even though I quit football a few years ago since i had thought it was violent (even though i laughed at some of my injuries to make my teammates feel better if they knocked me over), but just because i don't love football doesnt mean I did not love the movie. It was great for just about everyone.
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AGE
THE BEST MOVIE EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!
This movie really is THE BEST! No- its better than the best! Who is rating these movies? WHO???? ITS FIVE STARS! I loved it. I actually did cry and I laughed and it made me smile. But the people who rated this three stars ONLY, they have no heart! BEST MOVIE EVER! Thats a fact. There was a drug scene and lots of language, but it was amazing! An AWESOME family movie for parents who have tweens and teens. It's my favorite movie ever!
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AGE
Best movie of 09 Sandra Bullock Deserved the oscar win
This was the probaly the best movie of 09 with the likes of Mr,fantastic Fox.It is trulay a sad movie.One last point Sandra Bullock deserved the oscar win.
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AGE
Good for the whole family
We watched this as a family with my 6-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son. Yes there were minimal disturbing scenes, but overall it was a great family film (very good messages). As far as the cussing, my kids know the words and know not to use them. That is not a huge issue for us. I thought the (very short) scene of Michael going back to hang with his old friends and acquaintances in a gang den was a good way to show what can happen when people choose the wrong friends. Things can get ugly & violent fast with people of low character. Kids need to know this. Whether you show them in a movie now or later is up to you. So for our family, it was a good discussion to have. The only reason Michael got out alive was he was so HUGE to overpower the people (armed with guns) in the room. And the couple kissing each other were the married couple (not the end of the world). Overall, great film, but you have to decide for yourself what your kids threshold is.
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AGE
An Emotional Football Film
I never got a chance to see The Blind Side in theater, and watched it On Demand. It was amazing. Leigh Ann teaches pre-teens and teens some lessons, and there is an abundance of good role models in this movie. However, there are some not-so-good people in this movie. Michael's mom is a crack addict...which would go way over kids' heads. There is some violence at a gang hang-out, involving guns and fistfights. Michael's flashbacks may be scary for some kids, too. There are some sexual references that some kids would not understand. There is language, too, that includes a-words, b-words, d and h words. Michael gets into a car crash with S.J. and they show S.J. with blood on his shirt who makes a funny comment about it. This is an inspirational movie that all of the family should see.
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| Studio: | Warner Bros. |
| Director: | John Lee Hancock |
| Cast: | Quinton Aaron, Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Run time: | 128 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | November 20, 2009 |
| DVD release date: | March 23, 2010 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | one scene involving brief violence, drug and sexual references |
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