Blues Brothers movie... how old to watch it?

[AustinTink]

We let our son watch this movie pretty young, probably 11 or 12. It has a lot of profanity, but it is pretty tame on all other fronts.

I'm asking because we are renting a small theater for a movie party for my son's birthday. Trying to pick a movie and I suggested Blues Brothers. It's rated R, but this is for a group of teenagers, who are 16-17 years old.

DS goes to Catholic school so he does have some friends who are pretty sheltered. But really, it's the Blues Brothers am I right?

Safe or not safe to show to a bunch of teens?

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I saw it in the theater at 13 - first R rated movie I ever saw. Other than 10 F-bombs (IIRC), this would have been PG. I think it's totally safe for that age group.

 

[superme80]

Yeah 12 or 13 is a good age. I just saw it for the first time and thought it was hysterical.

 

[AustinTink]

He wanted a comedy and totally blew off all my 80's movies. And the newer comedies he wanted like Anchorman had too much R content for a mixed crowd. The last thing I need is calls from parents.

 

[kimblebee]

Any age is ok to see it, just depends what the kid is allowed to see. Not sure I'd choose a 40(ish) year olD movie to show kids..I think they'd be bored if anything. Why not something more modern like dumb and dumber or liar liar? If you're looking for a classic, you can't go wrong with Airplane. And stop calling me Shirley!

 

[AustinTink]

Any age is ok to see it, just depends what the kid is allowed to see. Not sure I'd choose a 40(ish) year olD movie to show kids..I think they'd be bored if anything. Why not something more modern like dumb and dumber or liar liar? If you're looking for a classic, you can't go wrong with Airplane. And stop calling me Shirley!

He's seen Airplane, I suggested that too but got a "no".

All the newer teen movies are so serious these days. They are either fantasy flicks like Divergent, Maze Runner, etc. or "chick flicks" as he puts it. He wanted something fun. We're still working on it.

 

[Jafar30]

Blues Brothers is probably pretty tame to most 11-17 year olds.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Generally, I think the movie is FINE for that age group (I would guess my son was around 8 the first time he saw it). That said, (I assume you are in the US?) I would not show a film that is rated higher than the age of some of the kids without making sure all the parents knew that was the plan BEFORE party day. If a parent has an issue, then they can not let their child attend---that is harder to do if they do not learn ahead of time or only learn which film you are showing at drop off.

 

[SMD]

Any age is ok to see it, just depends what the kid is allowed to see. Not sure I'd choose a 40(ish) year olD movie to show kids..I think they'd be bored if anything. Why not something more modern like dumb and dumber or liar liar? If you're looking for a classic, you can't go wrong with Airplane. And stop calling me Shirley!

Blues Brothers and Airplane actually came out in the same year. I'd say of the 2, Airplane is much more dated. I'm not sure kids would get the jive talking scene or even some of the subtler stuff like Kareem as the co-pilot. And I'm not sure I've seen the non-broadcast TV version of Blues Brothers, but does it have snorting cocaine, the inflating the autopilot scene and nudity? Because Airplane does.

I say it's his birthday and if you're going through the expense of renting a theater, show what he wants (within reason, I think it's fair to veto Anchorman.) But I agree with PP, share the movie selection in advance so any younger friends who aren't allowed to see R rated movies can choose whether or not they want to attend.

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

Unless they're all turning 18, I would not show ANY R-rated movie without every single parent knowing ahead of time. And that means you contacting them, sending an invitation, something. Don't rely on DS to tell his friends to check with their parents. It won't happen. And then some parent is going to be upset and you'll be the one to hear about it.

My son got invited to a movie party when he was 11 or so. They went to a PG-13 movie. He had never seen one at that point (mostly because he has a younger brother!). I was not happy. It was one of the super-hero movies, so it wasn't a big deal and I probably would have let him go. But I think it's totally inappropriate for a parent to assume kids can see a movie that's specifically labeled as too mature for them.

 

[mjkacmom]

Teens see R rated movies all of the time. I can't imagine receiving an invitation for ds17 or dd14, warning me about the Blues Brothers. 99% of party invitations are texts - I haven't RSVP'd for a child in years (my youngest are almost 13). If a kid has really uptight parents and lies to them about the movie, that's between them. In a couple of weeks, I'll be the parent of five teenagers, so I'm pretty familiar with what they're watching, and teen parents.

 

[ronandannette]

If he's looking for something hilarious and is willing to see something from back in the "dark ages" how about one of the classics - National Lampoon's Vacation or Tootsie or Planes, Trains & Automobiles or What About Bob? All roll on the floor funny and soooo tame compared to today's standards.

 

[pat fan]

I think Blues Brothers is a great choice. I would also just let parents know the rating, in case someone was uncomfortable, but it's a rating from years ago. My how times have changed.

As for some of the other titles suggested, Airplane is way too dated/suggestive, Vacation has too much innuendo for stuff parents in your group probably would not be comfortable with, What About Bob is a comedy, but a pretty dark one for teens. Blues Brothers is pretty timeless. My DS LOVES it (he's 23) and started watching it years ago. One of the most quoted movies in our family!

 

[Minnesota!]

Man, I love that movie. It was my dad's favorite, and I bet I was watching it by 6...or whenever it came out on VHS. I was about 5 when we got our first VCR and I am sure the movie was bought as soon as it was available.

I have shown it to my kids...they were both under 10 at the time.

I can't imagine parents of 16-17 year olds objecting to the movie, or any R movie at that age, really, but I would let my kid know to tell those kids to tell their parents what movie is going to be shown..

 

[Allons-y!]

Airplane is too suggestive for this particular crowd, but don't count it out based on how old it is. Our kids saw it recently and, at 13 and 16, thought it was hilarious. Maybe they didn't know all of the celebrities, but they thought it was hysterical.

I think Blues Brothers is perfect!

 

[Tay N Evie's Mom]

My kids love The Blues Brothers! Ok, so we're a bit biased though. The beginning of the movie, the prison scene, was filmed in my hometown, Joliet!

Ok, since they're 17 yo boys, I'm gonna put an old cult classic out there my 17 yo twins think is hilarious, Spinal Tap! My kids can quote the entire movie. But, if they're sheltered kids, Lit My Love Pump or Working on a Sex Farm might be too much for them.

 

[ronandannette]

I think Blues Brothers is a great choice. I would also just let parents know the rating, in case someone was uncomfortable, but it's a rating from years ago. My how times have changed.

As for some of the other titles suggested, Airplane is way too dated/suggestive, Vacation has too much innuendo for stuff parents in your group probably would not be comfortable with, What About Bob is a comedy, but a pretty dark one for teens. Blues Brothers is pretty timeless. My DS LOVES it (he's 23) and started watching it years ago. One of the most quoted movies in our family!

What group are we talking about? I'd be pretty surprised if any of the guests at this party would even recognize these movies as being suggestive compared to what they're very likely watching today. I'm thinking of the first 20 minutes of Horrible Bosses 2, for example...

 

[pat fan]

What group are we talking about? I'd be pretty surprised if any of the guests at this party would even recognize these movies as being suggestive compared to what they're very likely watching today. I'm thinking of the first 20 minutes of Horrible Bosses 2, for example...

I'm assuming the way she talked about the group and parents that they have not seen Horrible Bosses. You can't base an opinion on your experience, but have to listen to where others are coming from and base suggestions on that. I have never seen Horrible Bosses. If my kids were younger, I most likely wouldn't have let them see it either. I see them as suggestive (the ones I talked about) and Vacation, I'm referring to the creepy Uncle Eddie liking the daughter. It's a theme in the movies that may go over some heads, but not others, and for some, it may not be funny at all.

 

[mjkacmom]

I don't know a 16 year old boy who hasn't seen Anchorman, Ted, or The Hangover.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

If he's looking for something hilarious and is willing to see something from back in the "dark ages" how about one of the classics - National Lampoon's Vacation or Tootsie or Planes, Trains & Automobiles or What About Bob? All roll on the floor funny and soooo tame compared to today's standards.

My kids are quite a bit younger. They're 8 and loved NL Christmas Vacation so I though they'd like NL Vacation. I remember watching Vacation when I was little and thought it was great. I obviously didn't any of the jokes. We fast forwarded through any majorly inappropriate parts... There are way more dirty jokes in that movie than I remember.