Ratings Roulette

A series of fortunate events enabled me to see not just one but two movies this weekend: 17 Again (which I mentioned in my Saturday morning post) and State of Play, a much more mature film about a Washington, D.C. journalist and a rising-star Congressman, former college roommates who end up intertwined in a major news story—murder, mayhem, corporate corruption, cover-ups, and of course forbidden affairs (plural).

What really surprised me (besides the fact that I made it to the movie theater at all, nevermind 2 times in 1 weekend) is that both flicks—dramatically different in sophistication and intensity—are rated PG-13. I’m becoming more conscious of Motion Picture ratings as Vi enters the tween years. She really wanted to see Zac Efron in 17 Again when it came out April 17. (So did I.) But Will and I read several reviews and decided the movie’s themes were a bit beyond Vi’s mindset. Having “snuck out” and watched it without her, I think we made the right decision.

Still, even though I wished to shield my 9-year-old daughter from thoughts about teen sex, unplanned pregnancy, adolescent bullying, and “no-fault” divorce, those matters seemed meek-and-mild compared to the violence, greed, and general hard-heartedness depicted in the disturbing storyline of State. I found 17 light, fun, entertaining, even heart-warming, and its message, surprisingly moral. I awoke the next morning laughing about some of the scenes, particularly the silly software tycoon/best friend of the protagonist. I thought, “I’d like to see that again sometime!”

State of Play upset my sense of peace about the world and the way things work. I slept fitfully; I dreamt of impending doom. I’m not necessarily sorry I saw State. I think it’s good to be challenged by ideas outside my seemingly safe sphere—by films, by books, by reality! But I wouldn’t want to watch the murder/mayhem movie a second time. And I would certainly prefer to expose my tween to the relationship struggles and resolutions of 17 over the collective callousness portrayed in State.

I suppose, like many systems, movie ratings represent a sliding scale of relativity. The corresponding lesson I need to impress on my children: The world is complex and gray, but also wide and wonderful.

I see trees of green, red roses too
I see them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world

I see skies of blue and clouds of white
The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world

The colors of the rainbow, so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of people going by
I see friends shakin’ hands, sayin’ “How do you do?”
They're really saying “I love you”

I hear babies cryin’, I watch them grow
They’ll learn much more than I’ll ever know
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world
Yes, I think to myself, what a wonderful world

(song by George Weiss / Bob Thiele, made famous by the inimitable Louis Armstrong)