Knight and Day

MPAA Rating: PG-13

Entertainment: +3

Content: -2

Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz, Peter Sarsgaard, Viola Davis, Paul Dano, Maggie Grace, Marc Blucas. Action Comedy. Written by Patrick O’Neill and James Mangold. Directed by James Mangold.

FILM SYNOPSIS: Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz star in this action comedy, in which a chance encounter thrusts a woman and a charming but lethal operative into a series of adventures across the globe.   As if dodging assassins and uncovering world-changing secrets weren’t enough, she must now figure out if he is a good guy, a traitor – or just plain crazy.

PREVIEW REVIEW: At times the humor seemed forced and the violence excessive, but the leads have a great chemistry and are fun to look at, especially Ms. Diaz (hey, just a fact).

Main problem for me is the amount of cursing. Mainly the s-word, with one f-word (from the female lead, no less) and at least one misuse of Christ’s name (again, from Ms. Diaz). I know, I bring up the objectionable language all the time, but why is it that no actor can get through an entire movie without cursing? What’s that all about?

DVD Alternative: The In-Laws with Peter Falk and Alan Arkin. “Serpentine, Sheldon, serpentine.” It’s been a while since I’ve seen this suggested video from 1979. It may have some language. I simply can’t remember. But the film is very funny. I bring up this wacky comedy because Falk’s character supposedly works for the CIA and manages to get Arkin’s put upon father of the bride into several screwball situations. It is rated PG, but as I warned, it may have a couple of objectionable words. Normally I wouldn’t recommend something I haven’t seen for a while, but I remember the humor being more organic, not so forced. Pass on it’s remake with Michael Douglas, which does contain objectionable material.

Preview Reviewer: Phil Boatwright
Distributor: 20th Century Fox

Summary
The following categories contain objective listings of film content which contribute to the subjective numeric Content ratings posted to the left and on the Home page.

Crude Language: A couple of suggestive sexual remarks

Obscene Language: Around eight obscenities, mostly the s-word and mostly coming from female characters. In our PC times it’s not supposed to make any difference if a woman swears, but it’s hard to consider them classy once they do. I’m from the old school. I don’t like men swearing, but it seems even worse when women do it. Maybe because the nature of the female is to be a nurturer and there’s nothing nurturing about the f-word.

Profanity: One, maybe two profane uses of Christ’s name. Again, from the lead female.

Violence: Though it’s cartoonish, like a comic James Bond film, the violence is excessive in parts, with beatings, shootings, car crashes and things that go boom.

Sex: Some suggestive sexual remarks.

Nudity: None

Sexual Dialogue/Gesture: None

Drugs: Some social drinking.

Other: None

Running Time: 90 minutes
Intended Audience: Older teens and up

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