A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION is many things. First off, it's a comedy, filled with weird, quirky characters and lots of laughs induced by physical and vulgar humor. Next, it's a spiritual film, filled with thought-provoking, metaphorical references to life and death. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, it's a labor of love. The love the writers, actors, and director felt for this odd project shines through in every scene of the movie. The initial plot of the film is very simple, but as the film continues it thickens and gets more confusing. You'll have to ponder it for a little while. But, even if some of it doesn't make sense at first, you can still feel warm sense of love, laughs, and nostalgia shine through in every part of the film. There is some sexual humor: a man dies while preparing for a tryst with a co-worker, and crude names are made for various parts of both male and female anatomy. One song contains a string of bad, corny sexual jokes, but it's nothing worse than a 13-year-old has already heard. There is also some mild language.
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A Prairie Home Companion
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings(Flash is loading. If this text does not disappear you need to install the latest flash version)
Not age appropriate for kids under 11, age appropriate for kids over 13; suggested age 13. -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Quirky, provocative film about relationships.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 13 and Up
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
About A Prairie Home Companion
Parents need to know that this drama explores the idea of death, featuring a metaphorical figure (a woman in a white raincoat who is both an "angel of death" and a dead woman brought to temporary life). One character writes poems about suicide, another dies backstage, asleep in a chair, and others respond with tears on discovering his body (the dead man had arranged for a sexual interlude). The on-stage radio show includes bawdy jokes about sex (mostly using euphemisms) and minor quarrelling between former lovers and sisters. Characters smoke and drink liquor. A cowboy performer holds a prop gun. Mild language (one s-word, some uses of "hell" and "damn"), including sexual and body parts references.
Read our full review by Cynthia Fuchs
Families Can Talk About
- Families can talk about the film's contemplation of death, as an inevitable transition (characters' deaths as well as the passing of the radio show). How does Lola's initial interest in suicide reflect her own adolescent worries about expectations, as well as her family's knotty emotional history? How does she reconcile with her nervous, distracted mother through their shared love of music and desire for connection?
Our Members Say
Most Recent Reviews
- I rate this title on for age 13 and give itMy concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
You May Have to Think for a While...
- I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
Saw this openeing day after waiting for it a while, and I was not let down
This is an excellent movie, and funny too. I like how the movie was filmed in real-time, like United 93. Obviously, I have a different sense of humor than some people, but I loved this movie, even if some call it "quirky". As for content, there wasn't anything that bad except for some sexual jokes ("Risque humor"). So by all mean, I recommend that you go and see this movie. Right now. As in leave this computer. Go. Now.
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Ratings at a Glance
| 100% | of parents say there are good role models |
| 100% | of parents say the sexual behavior isn't age appropriate |
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