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A River Runs Through It

(1992, Rated PG, Drama, Starring Brad Pitt, Tom Skerritt, Craig Sheffer)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 11, age appropriate for kids over 13; suggested age 13.
  • Is it any good?

    3.0
  • Common Sense says

    Moving, powerful movie of two brothers.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 13 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Paul brings a half-Cheyenne date into a bar that does not permit Indians
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Mostly off-screen
  • Sex:

    Jessie's brother brings a prostitute with him when he goes fishing with Norman and Paul; they fall asleep nude and are sunburned badly
  • Language:

    Mild
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Paul has a drinking problem
 

What Parents Need to Know

About A River Runs Through It

Parents need to know that this movie deals with issues between adult brothers, drinking, and gambling.

Read our full review by Nell Minow

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about how you can love someone without being able to understand or save them. Like Norman, Jessie has a brother who is self-destructive, though his part of the story is played more for comedy. In today's terms, Jessie's mother would be considered an enabler because she does not impose any limits on her son, and does not insist that he recognize the consequences of his behavior. If you were Norman, what would you have said to Paul? When? Why didn't Norman say those things? If you were Jessie, what would you say to Neal? Why was it important to have Neal's story in the movie? What does Norman mean when he says that his father saw no difference between religion and flyfishing?

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Our Members Say

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Pennsylvania
    I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it 1.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use

    This was not good

    This movie was not a good one at all. The story line was bland and the only redeeming quality was Brad Pitt's acting.

  2. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in California
    I rate this title iffy for age 17 and give it 1.0

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