Review

The Do-Deca-Pentathlon

  • Review Date: July 3, 2012
  • R
  • Genre: Drama
  • 2012

Common Sense Media says

Brothers reunite in warm indie dramedy; some language.
Age
16
Quality
 
  • Positive messages2
    After years of fighting and competing, brothers learn to set aside their differences and love each other. This brings the rest of the family closer as well.
  • Positive role models0
    Most of the characters are selfish and deceitful in many ways. They're all good people, but when they get together as a family, they regress to childish behavior.
  • Violence2
    Two brothers have a fistfight, with pushing and wrestling. Characters also argue a great deal, and in a few scenes, the main character explodes into fits of rage and anger. There are also some somewhat tense events in the competition, such as a fierce arm-wrestling match.
  • Sex1
    The main character is married, and he's shown being affectionate and comfortable with his wife. They kiss once or twice, and she sits with him in the bathroom while he takes a bath (no graphic nudity shown). The other major character is briefly seen in a strip club talking to a stripper, but there's no nudity.
  • Language4
    "F--k" is used more than a dozen times throughout, as well as "s--t," "a--hole," "ass," "crap," "suck," "goddamn," "d--k," "hell," and "son of a bitch," as well as "God" and "Jesus" (as exclamations). Some swearing comes from a pre-teen boy, and adults swear in front of him as well.
  • Consumerism1
    Slurpees are shown and mentioned.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking2
    Adults occasionally drink beer. The main character takes prescription medication (presumably for depression). His wife sneaks off to smoke a cigarette in one scene.
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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that The Do-Deca-Pentathlon is an independent dramedy from filmmaking brothers Jay and Mark Duplass. The biggest issue is language, with more than a dozen uses of "f--k," plus "s--t" and other words, some of which are heard in front of, or from, a pre-teen boy. Characters argue and fight; the main character throws a few angry, raging fits, and there's a big fistfight. There's no real sex, but a husband and wife are comfortable and affectionate with each other, and one character is briefly seen in a strip club (no nudity). Characters occasionally drink or smoke cigarettes. The movie is more likely to appeal to grown-ups, though fans of the Duplass brothers will certainly want to see it.

This review of The Do-Deca-Pentathlon was written by

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Parent of 6 year old
July 10, 2012
13
Pause for kids & under
 
the do deca pentathlon
Families can talk about the relationship between the brothers. What causes them to fight like this? Why would the fight go on for years and years? Do you think it's realistic? The Do-Deca-Pentathlon ultimately has a positive message about communicating and bringing families back together, but are there any positive role models? If so, who, and why? Have you ever competed with your brothers or sisters? Was it fun or stressful? What's the appeal of competition or sports? Jeremy wonders why Mark is so unhappy when he "has everything," i.e. a wife and a son, whereas Mark is jealous of Jeremy's "freedom." Are either of them correct?
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