Review

Safety Not Guaranteed

  • Review Date: June 7, 2012
  • R
  • Genre: Comedy
  • 2012

Common Sense Media says

Fresh sci-fi comedy has strong language, a little raciness.
Age
16
Quality
 
  • Positive messages2
    Safety Not Guaranteed rewards empathy and tolerance. It also raises the question of how we could possibly help others if we had the ability to travel back in time and right wrongs (i.e. regret).
  • Positive role models2
    Darius is a positive female role model in many ways. She stands up for herself, shows bravery, and isn't easily perturbed. Best of all, she shows empathy and love for a societal misfit, someone who others consider a "weirdo." She stands up for him, even when most others don't.
  • Violence1
    Some sports clashes during a few shots of a football game. Characters also argue and insult one another, and in one or two scenes they grow angry. Two main characters practice shooting guns at targets but never at people. (There's no blood.)
  • Sex3
    Two of the main male characters have sex with women off screen. The main female character shares a passionate kiss with a man. Frequent sexual banter and innuendo.
  • Language4
    Language includes many uses of words like "f--k," "s--t," "vagina," "retards," "laid," "a--holes," "jerk," and "freakin'."
  • Consumerism1
    Cans of Campbell's soup are shown at length during a key scene.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking2
    One of the major characters (a man around 40) is seen drinking in several scenes. He's thrown out of a high school football game for drinking beer. He also drinks heavily (and smokes a cigarette) during a "party" sequence, mainly to kill the pain of a broken heart. Two characters wake up to hangovers.
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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Safety Not Guaranteed is a genre-crossing indie movie with elements of science fiction, comedy, romance, and drama. It has been a word-of-mouth success at film festivals and has the potential to become a long-running sleeper hit with high teen interest. Language is probably the biggest issue, with many (though not constant) uses of "f--k" and "s--t." Characters have sex and talk about sex, but nothing more than a kiss is actually shown. Characters also shoot guns at targets, but actual violence rarely gets worse than insults and arguing. One character seems to drink regularly, but his behavior is played for laughs. Two characters share a night of hard partying (one cigarette is shown) and wake up hung over.

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Teen, 17 years old
June 23, 2012
15
OK for kids & up
 
Safety Not Guaranteed (very small spoilers in the post below)
Reasons it's rated R: -The big reason is the language, the bad language isn't excessive, but if the occasional "f" and "s" word bothers your family, that might be something to watch out for. In my opinion, the cursing isn't there to make the movie "edgy", it's there because that's what an average person would say if they were in that situation. - In a conversation, a b.l.o.w j.o.b is mentioned. There's several scenes with kissing. In one scene, Jeff is making out with a woman on a picnic table. They are both fully clothed. Some characters have sex, but it's all off screen. - Some characters drink alcohol, one character drinks and smokes while driving a go cart. -Racism is mentioned very briefly in a scene. This is a movie about love, regrets, mistakes and loss. "The mission has to do with regret, mistakes." I wasn't sure what to expect with this movie, but I wasn't expecting a movie with so much heart. It's a funny movie (well, it is a comedy), but more then that the message is powerful. None of it feels forced. There is a question throughout the movie, can Kenneth actually travel through time, or is he simply crazy or delusional? But time travel really isn't what the movie is about. Safety Not Guaranteed is a character driven movie. The focus is on the character's interactions and dialogue. I thought a couple things in the movie didn't quite add up and the ending was a bit rushed. Other than that, it's a brilliant and incredibly enjoyable movie. I'd give it 4.5 / 5 stars.
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Teen, 13 years old
November 23, 2012
13
Pause for kids & under
 
What Would You Go Back For?
Safety Not Guaranteed is one of the best films of 2012. It has terrific acting and a really sweet story and it may seem predictable but the end takes you by surprise. I can't really think of a problem with this film and I'd recommend it. There is some language including f-words and other mild profanities. There is one scene with some drinking but the character's motives are explained. Language is really the issue to pause for kids thirteen and under. A.
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Helped me decide (3) | Had useful details (3) | Read my mind (2)
Teen, 14 years old
November 10, 2012
14
Pause for kids & under
 
Not very funny quirky sci-fi comedy dissapoints
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Parent
January 10, 2013
16
OK for kids & up
 
Quirky, funny
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