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"THE LOOKOUT" (2007) (Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Matthew Goode) (R) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Heavy Heavy Extreme Heavy Extreme Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Mild Mild Moderate None Extreme Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Extreme Mild Mild Moderate Extreme QUICK TAKE: Drama/Suspense: Stilled affected by a brain injury and the guilt associated with its cause, a young man finds himself lured in by a former high school classmate who wants to use him as the lookout for a heist at the bank where he works as the night janitor. PLOT: Several years ago, Chris Pratt (JOSEPH GORDON-LEVITT) was the carefree star of his Kansas high school and its hockey team. Now, however, he's the nighttime janitor at a small bank, thanks in part to the long-lasting effects of a head injury he suffered in a car crash he accidentally caused back then. Still feeling guilt over the deaths of several friends and unable to focus for long on anything, he must rely on written lists to get through every day. This hasn't gone unnoticed by Gary Spargo (MATTHEW GOODE), a former classmate who feels sorry for Chris, befriends him, and hooks him up with Luvlee (ISLA FISHER), an alluring former dancer with whom he quickly becomes intimate. That doesn't escape the attention of Chris' blind roommate Lewis (JEFF DANIELS) who's immediately suspicious of her intentions. Unbeknownst to him, she and Gary are luring Chris into their criminal fold with the intent of using him to gain nighttime access to the bank where he works. Chris is initially reluctant, but Gary eventually persuades him that whoever has the money has the power. From that point on, and realizing they must have Chris deal with Deputy Ted (SERGIO DI ZIO) who stops by every night to check on the janitor, Gary and his gang try to pull off their heist, all as Chris tries to figure out if he's doing the right thing. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? Older teens might be interested in it, along with anyone who's a fan of someone in the cast. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: R For language, some violence and sexual content. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: JOSEPH GORDON-LEVITT plays a young man still suffering from the long-lasting effects of a previous brain injury from a car crash he accidentally caused. Beset with guilt and wanting his old life back, he's lured in by Gary -- as well as Luvlee sleeping with him -- until he agrees to help them with their bank heist. He uses strong profanity and eventually has a change of heart regarding the criminal plans. MATTHEW GOODE plays his former classmate turned bank robber who lures Chris into his fold. While he does seem to care a bit about Chris, when push comes to shove, he has no problem getting violent with him or Deputy Ted. He uses strong profanity, has sex with a woman, and drinks. JEFF DANIELS plays Chris' blind roommate who becomes suspicious of Luvlee's intentions with Chris. He drinks some and uses strong profanity. ISLA FISHER plays a former dancer turned accomplice in Gary's plan who uses sex to lure Chris into their fold. She uses some profanity and briefly smokes pot. SERGIO DI ZIO plays the local deputy who's expecting a new child any day and always stops in to check on Chris at the bank. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: The following is a brief summary of the content found in this dramatic thriller that's been rated R. Profanity consists of at least 28 "f" words, while other expletives and colorful phrases are uttered. Sexually related dialogue (some of it explicit) is present, as are the sounds of a sexual encounter, with partial nudity seen afterwards. Other sex is implied. Violence consists of various people being shot and thus wounded or killed, with bloody results. Other violence includes some hitting, as well as brief scenes involving a bad car accident. Those scenes and moments of potential peril might be unsettling or suspenseful to some viewers, while various characters have varying degrees of bad attitudes. Various characters drink and/or smoke, while some drug use also occurs. Some tense family material is present, as is some potentially imitative behavior. Should you still be concerned about the film's appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home, you may want to look more closely at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE We hear what sounds like a bottle (presumably liquor) breaking when Chris slams on the brakes while driving with his friends. Chris has a beer (presumably non-alcoholic based on later dialogue). Miscellaneous people drink in a bar where Gary has a beer and Chris has a non-alcoholic one. Chris' family has wine at Thanksgiving, and his dad later has a drink after dinner, while Lewis holds a beer. Chris has a non-alcoholic beer in a bar where miscellaneous people drink, including Luvlee. Luvlee has a beer. Gary retrieves a beer from the fridge. When Chris returns home from having sex with Luvlee, Lewis asks him if he got stoned with someone wearing perfume. A man holds a beer while urinating against an outside wall. Some of the robbers drink and at least one smokes pot. Luvlee then smokes a joint and Chris reluctantly agrees to have some wine with them. Gary then drinks a shot of liquor. Gary drinks a shot. Lewis states that his blindness is a result of a meth lab he started in the past. BLOOD/GORE We see scars on Chris' body (from a car wreck 4 years earlier) as he showers (no nudity). A man holds a beer while urinating against an outside wall. We see an aerial flashback to the aftermath of Chris' nighttime car wreck where various bodies are seen on the ground (from a distance), while we also see a close-up of Chris' bloody face (seen again later). Gary is quite bloody after being shot and wounded, while others who've been shot are also bloody at the moment of impact. We see Gary again, very bloody and shivering from a combination of his earlier gunshot wounds and the current cold. DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE Gary lures Chris into their criminal fold (preparing a bank heist), including by having Luvlee sleep with him. Chris eventually agrees to serve as their lookout, but then reconsiders. A bartender tries to take advantage of Chris being unaware that he's giving him an ultra-generous tip with a large bill (Gary calls the bartender on that). Chris' father is reluctant to loan him money (despite being quite wealthy). It's implied that a car is stolen. About Chris and himself, Lewis jokes that it's "Gimps' night out," but Chris takes offense to that. When Chris has second thoughts about the robbery, Gary hits him in the gut and then grabs him by the neck. He then holds a gun on Chris (while hidden out of sight) to make Chris get rid of Deputy Ted. Gary and the robbers kidnap Lewis to try to make Chris return their stolen money. FRIGHTENING SCENES Scenes listed here and under "Blood/Gore" may be unsettling or suspenseful to viewers (particularly younger ones and/or those with low tolerance levels for such material). Chris' friends sit up on the back of his convertible as he drives, and he does some of that without the headlights on (to see thousands of glowing insects all around them). When he turns the lights back on, a parked combine is suddenly in front of them (we don't see the impact, but do hear that the two in the back died in the crash, and Chris' girlfriend was injured, as was he, resulting in a serious brain injury). Luvlee finds handguns in bags in the back of a vehicle, with Gary catching her doing that (but nothing happens). When Chris has second thoughts about the robbery, Gary hits him in the gut and then grabs him by the neck. He then holds a gun on Chris (while hidden out of sight) to make Chris get rid of Deputy Ted. Various armed robbers hide just out of sight when Deputy Ted returns to the bank while they're robbing it. Ted gets suspicious, resulting in a gun battle between him and the various robbers. He shoots several of them, including Gary, wounding him (with bloody results), and tells Chris not to move. However, he doesn't see the guy behind him who shoots Ted with a shotgun, killing him. Chris then rushes out and takes the robbers' car. We see a brief flashback of Chris' earlier car wreck where his vehicle hits the parked combine and then goes airborne, resulting in a bad accident. Gary and the robbers kidnap Lewis to try to make Chris return their stolen money. A robber suddenly breaks the driver's side car window just as Chris wakes up from a dream. He then grabs Chris and throws him from the car. He then repeatedly kicks Chris, and hits Lewis, while Gary holds a gun on Chris (to his face), and the other robber has a shotgun on Lewis. A robber takes Lewis out of a car, has him kneel, and prepares to shoot him, but Chris shoots and kills that robber instead. GUNS/WEAPONS Handguns/Rifles/Shotguns: Carried and/or used to threaten, wound, or kill others. See "Violence" for details. Chris looks at his father's gun collection. Luvlee finds handguns in bags in the back of a vehicle, with Gary catching her doing that (but nothing happens). Chris goes to his parents' home to grab some guns. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "What the f*ck?" "I think about f*cking you all the time" "Why am I all f*cked up?" "War and f*cking peace," "Goldilocks and the three f*cking bears," "Put that f*cking thing out," "F*ck it," "All f*cked up," "Corporate f*ckers," "You were f*cking beautiful," "Shut your f*cking mouth," "Shut the f*ck up," "Don't you f*cking move," "F*ck you," "Where the f*ck are you?" "(That's/Total) Bullsh*t," "Oh sh*t," "Sh*tty (ass)," "Piece of sh*t," "Sure as sh*t," "Beat off" (masturbate), "Son of a bitch, you got laid," "Did you get a hummer?" (oral sex), "I don't know if I'm p*ssy-whipped per se," "I want to bone that blind guy," "Kiss my ass," "You're freaking me out," "Dude," "Take a piss," "Dork," "One hell of a bartender," "Shut up," "Give half a rat's ass," "Deputy donut," "The same damn thing," "Is it hot in here, or just you?" and "Gimps' night out" (what Lewis says about Chris and himself). It's always possible such a film could inspire teens to try to pull off some sort of similar crime. Chris' friends sit up on the back of his convertible as he drives, and he does some of that without the headlights on (to see thousands of glowing insects all around them). Gary and a woman have tattoos, while various robbers also have tattoos. JUMP SCENES A robber suddenly breaks the driver's side car window just as Chris wakes up from a dream. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) A moderate amount of suspenseful and ominous music plays in the film. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) None. PROFANITY At least 28 "f" words (2 used sexually -- 1 written -- as are the terms "laid" and "bone"), 17 "s" words, 1 slang term using female genitals ("p*ssy"), 1 using male ones ("pr*ck"), 4 asses (1 used with "hole"), 4 damns, 2 hells, 1 S.O.B., 4 uses of "Jesus," 3 of "G-damn" and 1 use each of "Jesus Christ," "Oh God" and "Oh my God." SEX/NUDITY About a bunch of luminescent insects, one person says it's like a mating ritual (saying it happens once a year and then they die). A couple in the back of Chris' car makes out, while Chris passionately kisses his girlfriend while driving. While meeting with his female case manager, Chris blurts out, "I think about f*cking you all the time" (due to his head injury, he has a difficult time controlling his verbal responses). About relationships in general, she then tells him that walking up to a stranger and asking for sex is not a good way to start one. We hear a phone message from Lewis who states that Chris' mom called and he told her Chris had a hooker in his room (joking). When Lewis talks of telling stories, Chris makes up an example of "I wake up," "Take a piss" and "Beat off in the shower." About a young woman in a bar, Gary says, "Man, she really wears that sweater." We see Chris in just a towel while shaving. Luvlee shows some cleavage. We hear sexual sounds coming from another room (involving Gary and Luvlee's friend). Moments later, Gary walks out to the fridge completely nude (we only see him from the waist up), and when he returns to the bedroom, we see the young woman lying nude on her stomach facing the camera (we see her bare butt). Chris impulsively tells Luvlee he wants to see her naked. She then says, "I see something still works" (referring to an unseen erection in his pants) and the two passionately kiss on a sofa. Her nightgown then comes off and we briefly see the side of her bare breast. Sex is implied between the two, and when Chris returns home, Lewis states, "Son of a bitch, you got laid." He then asks, "Did you get a hummer?" (oral sex). Later, Chris finds a note that Luvlee left him that reads "I can't believe I f*cked Chris Pratt" and Lewis complains about Chris "getting blown." Luvlee passionately kisses Chris. We see Luvlee in just a shirt and panties standing on some stairs, and she convinces Chris not to leave, leading him back to her room (sex is implied). About being married, Ted says, "I don't know if I'm p*ssy-whipped per se." Luvlee nuzzles on Chris' neck in bed in a head and shoulders shot. We then see her in her bra (from behind), while Chris is shirtless. We then see Luvlee's cleavage as she wears just an open jacket. About Lewis flirting with a waitress, Chris asks him if he thinks the waitress was thinking, "I want to bone that blind guy." SMOKING A woman at the bank smokes at least 4 times, while a robber and a miscellaneous person each smoke at least once. TENSE FAMILY SCENES Chris is uncomfortable around his family at Thanksgiving. Chris' father is reluctant to loan him money (despite being quite wealthy). TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT Having a brain injury. Being blind. Criminal behavior. Making the right choices in life and having to live with the results of misguided or wrong ones. Gary has asthma. Gary's statement that whoever has the money has the power. Lewis states that his blindness is a result of a meth lab he started in the past. We see Chris' former girlfriend with a prosthetic leg, but this turns out to be just a dream. VIOLENCE Chris' friends sit up on the back of his convertible as he drives, and he does some of that without the headlights on (to see thousands of glowing insects all around them). When he turns the lights back on, a parked combine is suddenly in front of them (we don't see the impact, but do hear that the two in the back died in the crash, and Chris' girlfriend was injured, as was he, resulting in a serious brain injury). Upset about being unable to remember how to do things, Chris kicks a kitchen drawer in anger, and then hits a pan on the stove. We see a flashback that briefly shows some standard hockey violence (checking, etc.) during a match. When Chris has second thoughts about the robbery, Gary hits him in the gut and then grabs him by the neck. He then holds a gun on Chris (while hidden out of sight) to make Chris get rid of Deputy Ted. Various armed robbers hide just out of sight when Deputy Ted returns to the bank while they're robbing it. Ted gets suspicious, resulting in a gun battle between him and the various robbers. He shoots several of them, including Gary, wounding him (with bloody results), and tells Chris not to move. However, he doesn't see the guy behind him who shoots Ted with a shotgun, killing him. We see a brief flashback of Chris' earlier car wreck where his vehicle hits the parked combine and then goes airborne, resulting in a bad accident. A robber suddenly breaks the driver's side car window just as Chris wakes up from a dream. He then grabs Chris and throws him from the car. He then repeatedly kicks Chris, and hits Lewis, while Gary holds a gun on Chris (to his face), and the other robber has a shotgun on Lewis. A robber takes Lewis out of a car, has him kneel, and prepares to shoot him, but Chris shoots and kills that robber instead. Reviewed March 13, 2007 / Posted March 30, 2007

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