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"A PERFECT GETAWAY" (2009) (Steve Zahn, Milla Jovovich) (R) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Heavy Extreme Extreme Heavy Extreme Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Moderate Mild Extreme None Extreme Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Heavy Minor Minor Moderate Extreme QUICK TAKE: Suspense/Thriller: A couple honeymooning in Hawaii questions whether others they run into while hiking in a remote area might be responsible for recent murders elsewhere. PLOT: Cliff (STEVE ZAHN) and Cydney (MILLA JOVOVICH) have decided to spend their honeymoon hiking through secluded Hawaiian trails on their way to a remote beach accessible only by foot or ocean kayak. After setting off for the beginning of the trail, Cliff decides to give a ride to two strangers, Cleo (MARLEY SHELTON) and Kale (CHRIS HEMSWORTH), but joins Cydney in thinking that was probably an unwise move. The intense Kale becomes perturbed by the couple's wariness of them and orders Cleo out of the car. The honeymooners think that's behind them, pick up their gear, and begin the arduous eleven and a half mile hike, eventually running into the resourceful and unabashed Nick (TIMOTHY OLYPHANT) and Gina (KIELE SANCHEZ). After Cliff spots Cleo and Kale not far away, he opts to travel with this other couple for possible protection, what with Nick apparently being an ex-military special ops operative. But when Cliff and Cydney run into other hikers who report that some honeymooners were recently killed on an adjacent island, the couple begins to worry that Cleo and Kale or maybe even Nick and Gina might be the suspects. From that point on, they watch the others' every step and move, wondering if their honeymoon might turn into a nightmare. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? They might if they're fans of anyone in the cast and/or films that fall into the suspense/thriller genre. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: R For graphic violence, language including sexual references and some drug use. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: To avoid big spoilers, the following character attributes do not include surprise revelations in the third act (that include murder and attempted murder). STEVE ZAHN plays a new husband who's honeymooning with his wife hiking through Hawaii. A reported screenwriter, he becomes suspicious of most everyone being untrustworthy and/or the recent killers. He uses strong profanity and briefly smokes crystal meth. MILLA JOVOVICH plays his wife who's happy to be married and hiking through Hawaii, but becomes increasingly concerned by worries that someone close-by might be the murderers. She uses strong profanity, briefly smokes crystal meth, and goes skinny-dipping. TIMOTHY OLYPHANT plays a resourceful guy who claims to be an ex-military special ops operative who assists and then befriends the honeymooners, but has a level of slight craziness and/or eccentricity that makes Cliff suspicious of him. He uses strong profanity, drinks in several scenes and goes skinny-dipping. KIELE SANCHEZ plays his equally resourceful girlfriend who befriends Cydney, is handy at gutting an animal, uses strong profanity, smokes once, smokes pot once, and sunbathes/skinny-dips in the nude. MARLEY SHELTON plays a hitchhiker the honeymooners initially pick up for a ride, but her behavior and that of Kale give them second thought. She uses profanity. CHRIS HEMSWORTH plays her intense husband or boyfriend who doesn't treat her nicely, is even meaner and more intimidating to Cliff, and uses strong profanity. 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: Here's a quick look at the content found in this R-rated suspense/thriller. Profanity consists of at least 27 "f" words, while other expletives and colorful phrases are also uttered. Several instances of sexually related dialogue are present, as is nudity as three people (2 women, 1 man) sunbathe or go skinny-dipping nude (no full frontal). Violence consists of various murders and deaths (by gunfire), fighting, and some serious injuries. Most of that is bloody and/or gory to varying degrees (sometimes a lot, while there's also the gutting of a dead goat), and those scenes and related moments of potential peril might be unsettling and/or suspenseful to some viewers. Brief scatological material (urinating outdoors) is present. Various bad attitudes are present, and some behavior might be enticing for kids to imitate. There's some brief drug use (crystal meth & pot), while drinking occurs and one character briefly smokes. 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. For those prone to visually induced motion sickness, there are varying amounts of handheld and/or bouncy camerawork at various points in the film. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE We see video footage from a wedding where people hold or have beer, champagne or wine near them. Some miscellaneous people have beer. Nick tells a story about coming across stuff while in the service and thinking maybe it was some hashish. Nick drinks from a bottle of what's presumably tequila (and there's a purposefully placed, small, dead scorpion floating in there). Nick states that Cliff is probably the kind of guy who sits in first class with champagne. Gina briefly smokes a joint and offers that to Cydney, but the latter declines. Nick holds his bottle of booze. Nick drinks from his bottle and reacts as if possibly poisoned. Cliff and Cydney briefly smoke crystal meth. Cliff lies to some strangers that Gina is on crystal meth, when one asking if that's the case, why are her pupils normal and his dilated. BLOOD/GORE We see video footage from a wedding where one man has another in a playful headlock and the victim complains, "Your armpit smells like ass." We hear Nick urinating as he talks to Nick and Cydney. Nick tells of something being an "ass-puckering" experience. Nick appears to blow his nose out into the air from just one nostril. Nick shows a large scar that he has under his hair on his head. Cliff tells Cydney to pretend she has to pee (so they can talk about something) and she asks who has to pretend. We then see them squatted down while talking, and hear the sound of her urinating. We see Nick carrying a dead goat over his shoulders, with blood from that on him (mostly his arms). Gina then proceeds to gut it, cutting its belly open (she says down to its anus) and then places both arms inside to pull out the intestines. Later, and in the background of the shot, we see her continuing with the butchering, including what looks like skinning the goat. A cop finds human teeth in a small tin. **SPOILER ALERTS FROM HERE DOWN FOR THE REST OF THIS CATEGORY** We see a flashback to Cliff shooting someone in the head (with bloody results, albeit in a monochrome shot in the rain). He then takes a pair of pliers and yanks out a tooth, and we see two bodies on the ground. Cydney then uses a knife to cut off fingernails (with some landing in the water along with some blood). We see a close-up of Gina having to remove a large knife from her leg (shown in bloody and graphic detail). We then see a few drops of blood hit the ground by her, while the knife blade is covered in blood. Gina is shot in the hand (with bloody results). Gina stabs a knife through Cliff's hand, pinning that to the ground until he pulls it out (seen in graphic close-up). There's blood in the water by Nick's kayak, and we then see that a bullet hit the metal plate in his head, saving him, but the hanging flap of skin is bloody. Cliff shoots four men dead, with bloody results. He tries shooting at Gina who flees, but his gun is empty. Just then, Nick jumps down on him from above, driving a knife through Cliff's hand (splitting it in half). Gina kicks Cliff in the face, sending blood flying out. Blood spurts out as a person is shot in the head by a sniper. Nick's shirt is soaked with blood by the end of the film. DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE The killers obviously have bad attitudes for their actions. After stopping to give Cleo and Kale a ride, Cliff becomes unsure of them and then lies about where he and Cydney are headed. Kale then gets out, mad, and tells Cleo, "Get the f*ck out of this man's ride." Cliff looks through Kale and Cleo's bags while they're away. Kale acts in an intimidating fashion toward Cliff about their earlier encounter. Nick playfully taunts Cliff with "Here, kitty, kitty" to join him while hunting in the woods. Cydney tells the story of being with a former boyfriend in his car, and in the middle of fooling around he turned on the headlights and made her get out. She then says that she saw a dog with pantyhose still wrapped around its neck from a previous strangulation committed by that boyfriend. Cliff sneaks up on a couple in the woods and then knocks the man to the ground (thinking he's the killer). When Cliff asks who the woman is with him, that man replies, "That's my bitch." Cliff lies to some strangers that Gina is on crystal meth, when one asking if that's the case, why are her pupils normal and his dilated. FRIGHTENING SCENES Scenes listed under "Violence," "Blood/Gore" and "Jump Scenes" may be unsettling and/or suspenseful to younger viewers and/or those with low tolerance levels for such material. While on a helicopter tour over part of Hawaii, Cliff playfully leans back out of the open door (still strapped in), resulting in Cydney yanking him back in. We see a newspaper headline about a young couple that was butchered in Honolulu. Cliff and Cydney come across a narrow trail passage along a high precipice (we see an overhead shot looking down) that also has water running down part of it. Nick shows them how to pass by that, and Cliff successfully does, but Cydney is more cautious and then starts to slip off when a helicopter suddenly flies overhead. Nick, however, grabs her arm and saves her. Cliff sees Kale and Cleo not far away on the trail and becomes nervous. Cliff looks through Kale and Cleo's bags while they're away and we worry that they'll return and catch him. Kale acts in an intimidating fashion toward Cliff about their earlier encounter. Cliff becomes suspicious that Nick and Gina might be the killers (after seeing a grainy surveillance photo from the crime scene). Nick throws a large camping hatchet over to Cliff (to pound in tent stakes) who barely catches it (and barely avoids the blade). We see that someone is watching Cliff, Cydney, Nick and Gina from the woods. For those afraid of flying: Nick tells a story about being aware of one's surroundings, such as on a plane in case one needs to get out in a hurry. When Cydney questions how often that happens, Nick relates the tale of a plane that cart-wheeled several times in a crash-landing, killing more than a hundred people, and that he was on that plane. **SPOILER ALERTS FROM HERE DOWN FOR THE REST OF THIS CATEGORY** Gina realizes Cliff and Cydney aren't who they say they are and races to warn Nick, but it's too late as he's too far out to sea in kayaks with Cliff to hear her. Accordingly, she races through the inland area to try to get to where they're headed before it's too late. Cliff pulls a handgun on Nick. Cliff shoots Nick, knocking him into the water by his kayak, and then fires several shots up at Gina who's above their sea cave. Cydney then comes at Gina, resulting in the hatchet one's carrying flying down through the air and barely missing Cliff in his kayak. The two women fight and struggle (shaky camera footage), with Gina biting Cydney's arm to make her drop her knife. Cydney eventually and repeatedly pounds Gina's torso down onto a hard surface before she stomps down on her chest. She then goes to retrieve the knife and rushes at Gina. The latter flips her over and down into the cave water below, but not before the knife is jammed into Gina's leg (with very bloody/gory results). Gina sneaks a peek down into the sea cave and then over a precipice looking down at the sea, hoping not to get shot by Cliff. She then receives a cell call and tries to get help, but Cliff then suddenly grabs her leg from that precipice. She breaks free and he repeatedly shoots at her, hitting her in the hand (with bloody results). She then returns and stabs a knife down through his hand, briefly pinning that to the ground until he yanks it out (in bloody/graphic fashion). Cliff shoots four men dead, with bloody results. He tries shooting at Gina who flees, but his gun is empty. Just then, Nick jumps down on him from above, driving a knife through Cliff's hand (splitting it in half). Nick is injured by the fall, but then gets up and walks toward Cliff who tries shooting him with his weaker hand, but misses every time. Nick then grabs Cliff, disarms and elbows him in the face, and then holds that gun and a knife on Cliff. A police sniper aims his rifle at Nick who's over Cliff, with Cydney stating Nick is the villain. Just as the sniper is about to shoot, Gina pulls Nick away from the scene, but kicks Cliff in the face, sending blood flying out. As Cliff then goes for the gun on the ground, the sniper shoots him in the head, killing him. GUNS/WEAPONS Handguns/Knives/Hatchet: Carried and/or used to threaten, wound or kill others. See "Violence" for details. Nick wears a large knife in a holster on his lower leg. Nick carries a bow and arrow while hunting. Cliff pulls a handgun on Nick. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "I f*cking hate you," "Let the f*ck off," "Get the f*ck out of this man's ride," "That's f*cked up," "Monkey f*ck," "What the f*ck, man?" "All that sh*t," "You can't let them get away with that sh*t," "Major sh*t," "Are you sh*tting me?" "Real sh*t," "More and more bull-sh*tty," "I sh*t you not," "Tug job" (masturbation), "Suck," "Friggin,'" "Ass-puckering experience," "Totally freaked me out," "Majorly," "Crazy ass," something sounding like "Whoopty-ta," "Crap-tastic," "I'm a G*ddamn American Jedi," "You're freaking me out," "Shiny ass," "Here, kitty, kitty," "That's my bitch," "Son of a bitch," "Outstanding," "Screw" (nonsexual), "Holy crap" and "You dumb bastard." The fighting and other stunts might be enticing for some kids to imitate. Some kids might be enticed to imitate the red herrings in the film by acting differently than normal to throw off others about their true selves. We see video footage from a wedding where one man has another in a playful headlock and the victim complains, "Your armpit smells like ass." While on a helicopter tour over part of Hawaii, Cliff playfully leans back out of the open door (still strapped in), resulting in Cydney yanking him back in. As Cliff drives, Cydney has her head in his lap (facing up). Cleo has a piercing stud in her nostril. We see that Kale has some sort of lettering tattoo on his chest, while Cleo has a tattoo on her neck. Nick throws a large camping hatchet over to Cliff (to pound in tent stakes) who barely catches it (and barely avoids the blade). Cleo spits at a cop while being arrested. JUMP SCENES A helicopter suddenly flies overhead. Something large suddenly lands right behind a tent, startling Cydney and Gina. Cliff suddenly grabs Gina's leg from down below the edge of a precipice. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) An extreme amount of suspenseful and ominous music plays in the film. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) None. PROFANITY At least 27 "f" words, 22 "s" words, 3 slang terms using male genitals ("d*ck"), 6 hells, 5 asses, 3 craps, 3 damns, 2 S.O.B.s, 6 uses of "Jesus," 4 of "Oh my God," 2 of "G-damn" and 1 use each of "Christ," "God" and "Jesus Christ." SEX/NUDITY Cydney playfully tells Cliff to say he misses her and adds that she'll give him a "BJ" ("blow job") in the car. Cleo wears a bikini top while Kale is shirtless when Cliff stops to pick them up. Cleo then shows some cleavage as she leans over in that bikini top. Cleo shows Cliff and Cydney pictures of her and Kale, saying about one (that we don't see), "That's us doing the deed," but then comments on that referring to them getting married. Some young women show cleavage, one is in small shorts, and another wears a halter top or something similar. We see a side view of Gina lying down on a flat rock or something similar in a lagoon, fully nude (we see the side of her butt and a partial breast view). Nick then disrobes and joins her (we see his bare butt), passionately kissing her (he in the water, she still lying down), followed by Cydney joining them (we only see her bare back) as she enters and then floats in the water with Gina who joins her in that. We see Kale shirtless and Cleo in her bikini top. Nick comments about some story being "tug job" material (masturbatory) for some guy (with other brief, but sexually related talk about that). Cydney states she's working hard at getting pregnant. Gina tells the story of a priest she knew who said people would rot in Hell for having sex out of the sanctity of marriage, but was later caught with a hooker "with a big d*ck." Cydney tells the story of being with a former boyfriend in his car, with the top button of her shorts undone for him, hoping that (sex) was why they were there. She then goes on about what he was doing with his slippery fingers, and that just as he was about to "go off" and she was about to "come" for the first time ever, he turned on the headlights and made her get out. She then says that she saw a dog with pantyhose still wrapped around its neck from a previous strangulation committed by that boyfriend. We see Nick and other shirtless men playing football on the beach, while at least one woman is in a bikini top. We see a flashback to a rear view of Cydney standing in just panties. We see a flashback to the top of Gina's thong sticking up from the top of her pants. SMOKING Gina smokes once. Nick tells a story about experiencing the smell of Havana tobacco and then about a particular cigarette brand. TENSE FAMILY SCENES After stopping to give Cleo and Kale a ride, Cliff becomes unsure of them and then lies about where he and Cydney are headed. Kale then gets out, mad, and tells Cleo, "Get the f*ck out of this man's ride" (the latter two are reportedly married). Cydney briefly mentions her parents who slapped the "crap" out of each other. TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT First impressions and trusting (or not) one's gut instincts about people you've just met. Picking up hitchhikers. Screenwriters, screenwriting, and the use of story elements such as red herrings. The notion of situational awareness. Gina tells the story of a priest she knew who said people would rot in Hell for having sex out of the sanctity of marriage, but was later caught with a hooker "with a big d*ck." Gina stating she doesn't believe people who claim they have perfect lives. VIOLENCE Cliff sneaks up on a couple in the woods and then knocks the man to the ground (thinking he's the killer). Police struggle with Kale and Cleo while arresting them, with Cleo even spitting at one cop. **SPOILER ALERTS FROM HERE DOWN FOR THE REST OF THIS CATEGORY** We see a flashback to Cliff shooting someone in the head (with bloody results, albeit in a monochrome shot in the rain). He then takes a pair of pliers and yanks out a tooth, and we see two bodies on the ground. Cydney then uses a knife to cut off fingernails (with some landing in the water along with some blood). Cliff shoots Nick, knocking him into the water by his kayak, and then fires several shots up at Gina who's above their sea cave. Cydney then comes at Gina, resulting in the hatchet one's carrying flying down through the air and barely missing Cliff in his kayak. The two women fight and struggle (shaky camera footage), with Gina biting Cydney's arm to make her drop her knife. Cydney eventually and repeatedly pounds Gina's torso down onto a hard surface before she stomps down on her chest. She then goes to retrieve the knife and rushes at Gina. The latter flips her over and down into the cave water below, but not before the knife is jammed into Gina's leg (with very bloody/gory results). Gina sneaks a peek down into the sea cave and then over a precipice looking down at the sea, hoping not to get shot by Cliff. She then receives a cell call and tries to get help, but Cliff then suddenly grabs her leg from that precipice. She breaks free and he repeatedly shoots at her, hitting her in the hand (with bloody results). She then returns and stabs a knife down through his hand, briefly pinning that to the ground until he yanks it out (in bloody/graphic fashion). Cliff shoots four men dead, with bloody results. He tries shooting at Gina who flees, but his gun is empty. Just then, Nick jumps down on him from above, driving a knife through Cliff's hand (splitting it in half). Nick is injured by the fall, but then gets up and walks toward Cliff who tries shooting him with his weaker hand, but misses every time. Nick then grabs Cliff, disarms and elbows him in the face, and then holds that gun and a knife on Cliff. Gina kicks Cliff in the face, sending blood flying out. As a man goes for the gun on the ground, the sniper shoots him in the head, killing him. Reviewed August 4, 2009 / Posted August 7, 2009

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