"VALENTINE'S DAY" (2010) (Ashton Kutcher, Jennifer Garner) (PG-13) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Heavy Minor Heavy None None Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Moderate None None Moderate Moderate Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Heavy None Heavy Extreme Mild QUICK TAKE: Romantic Comedy: Various people and couples in Los Angeles deal with the pleasure and pressure that Valentine's Day brings on for them and those they love. PLOT: Reed Bennett (ASHTON KUTCHER) is a third generation florist in Los Angeles, so he's used to seeing the crazy business that Valentine's Day brings to his shop. Yet, he wants a life like his best buddy and employee, Alphonso (GEORGE LOPEZ), who's happily married. Accordingly, Reed proposes to his live-in girlfriend, Morley Clarkson (JESSICA ALBA), thus making his best friend, Julia Fitzpatrick (JENNIFER GARNER), happy for him. She's an elementary school teacher who thinks she's found Mr. Right in heart surgeon Dr. Harrison Copeland (PATRICK DEMPSEY) who says he's off to San Francisco for surgery. That leaves her alone for Valentine's Day, thus meaning she'll likely attend an anti-Valentine's Day party thrown by her friend Kara Monahan (JESSICA BIEL). She's the publicist for professional quarterback Sean Jackson (ERIC DANE) who, at the age of 35, finds his career winding down, much to the chagrin of his agent, Paula Thomas (QUEEN LATIFAH). TV sports reporter Kelvin Moore (JAMIE FOXX) would love the scoop on Sean, but his producer, Susan (KATHY BATES), has assigned him to do a love-related segment, which is ironic since his mindset about this February day is perfectly aligned with Kara. Yet, there are those in love, including Liz (ANNE HATHAWAY), Paula's new secretary who secretly moonlights as a phone sex operator, completely unknown to her boyfriend of several weeks, Jason (TOPHER GRACE), who works in the mailroom in her office. While they've consummated their relationship, high school students Grace (EMMA ROBERTS) and Alex (CARTER JENKINS) are planning on doing the same for the first time, unlike their best friends, Willy (TAYLOR LAUTNER) and Felicia (TAYLOR SWIFT), who are also a mad-in-love couple but are holding off. Grace is the babysitter for Edison (BRYCE ROBINSON), a 5th grader in Julia's class and who's paid Reed to deliver flowers to his secret valentine. He lives with his grandparents, Edgar (HECTOR ELIZONDO) and Estelle (SHIRLEY MACLAINE), who've been married for 51 years but are about to hit a bump in their long-term relationship. Meanwhile, headed toward L.A. on a long flight is Holden (BRADLEY COOPER), a handsome man who strikes up a conversation with the woman in the seat next to him, U.S. Army Capt. Kate Hazeltine (JULIA ROBERTS) who's headed home for a quick visit to see the most important guy in her life. As the day plays out, they and everyone else must deal with the pleasures and pressures that Valentine's Day brings for them and those they love. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? If they're fans of romantic comedies, anyone in the very large cast, or are looking for a date movie, they might be interested in it. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13 For some sexual material and brief partial nudity. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: ASHTON KUTCHER plays the owner of an L.A. florist shop who's excited to propose to his live-in girlfriend, but is then shocked to realize she doesn't share his enthusiasm. As he must deal with that, he also tries to warn Julia that Harrison isn't who or what she believes he is. He briefly uses some profanity. GEORGE LOPEZ plays his employee and best buddy who tries to help him out at work and in his personal matters. JESSICA ALBA plays Reed's live-in girlfriend who finally realizes her true feelings toward him after he proposes, and thus throws his plans and life awry. JENNIFER GARNER plays Reed's best friend, an elementary school teacher who thinks Harrison -- with whom she's slept -- is the right guy for her, despite Reed's warnings. PATRICK DEMPSEY plays the heart surgeon who's having an affair with her while married to another woman. KATHY BATES plays a producer at a local TV station who assigns Kelvin to do a story on love rather than sports. JAMIE FOXX plays that sports reporter who isn't happy with the assignment, especially since he hates most everything to do with Valentine's Day. JESSICA BIEL plays Sean's sports publicist, a drama queen who feels the same way and thus is throwing her annual hate Valentine's Day party, but is upset when it appears no one else is going to show up. She drinks some and uses some profanity. ERIC DANE plays the veteran professional quarterback whose career might be coming to an end. While dealing with that, he also contemplates not having a family as well a secret about his personal life that he's about to reveal to everyone. QUEEN LATIFAH plays his agent who's known for being bipolar, and she lets her new secretary carry on with her covert sex phone operator gig as long as she puts her regular work first. She uses some profanity and then gets into fielding some of Liz's calls. ANNE HATHAWAY plays that secretary who moonlights as such an operator in order to make ends meet, although she tries to keep that secret from Jason, her boyfriend of a few weeks with whom she's already slept. TOPHER GRACE plays her coworker and boyfriend who's slept with her, but has been oblivious about it being Valentine's Day. When he learns of her secret profession, he's shocked. HECTOR ELIZONDO plays a grandfather who's been faithful to his wife of 51 years, but is shocked to learn she wasn't always the same in return. SHIRLEY MACLAINE plays that wife who cheated on him in the past. BRYCE ROBINSON plays their grandson, a 5th grader who's quite concerned about flowers being delivered to his secret valentine, and is sad that his mom isn't around. EMMA ROBERTS plays his babysitter, an 18-year-old high school student who's decided to lose her virginity to her boyfriend, but finds those plans thwarted. She briefly uses profanity. CARTER JENKINS plays her boyfriend with the same goal only to be surprised -- while fully nude in her bedroom -- when Grace's mom returns home instead of her. He briefly uses some profanity when surprised by her mom. TAYLOR LAUTNER plays his friend, a high school jock who's madly in love with Felicia. TAYLOR SWIFT plays his girlfriend and Grace's best friend, a somewhat ditzy student with some wild and exaggerated dance moves. JULIA ROBERTS plays a captain in the U.S. Army who's flying home to see the most important guy in her life and strikes up a conversation with Holden, who's seated next to her on their plane. BRADLEY COOPER plays that guy who befriends her when not drawing the eye of the pretty flight attendant who has hers on him, but he isn't interested. 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 romantic comedy that's been rated PG-13. Profanity consists of at least 6 "s" words, while other expletives and colorful phrases are also uttered. All sorts of sexually related dialogue is present (non-explicit, but much of that stems from a woman moonlighting as a sex phone operator -- mostly played for comedy). Various unmarried couples have or attempt to have sex, although the actual encounters are suggested and/or occur off camera, while making out is seen. Characters of both sexes are seen scantly attired, while a teen is completely nude in his girlfriend's bedroom, with just a guitar blocking a view of his crotch, and he then runs off that way when discovered. There's some brief hitting and slapstick style material. Drinking occurs in various scenes, while bad attitudes are also present. Some potentially imitative behavior occurs, while tense family material and various thematic elements are also present. 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 Estelle admits to Edgar that she cheated on him in the past, with his business partner who brought her flowers and champagne, while he was away for a long time working elsewhere. Harrison and his wife have champagne in a restaurant where others have drinks. People have drinks in a different restaurant, and then other people have the same in a third. At the end of a sex operator call, Liz comments that after that one she's going to need a mint julep. Kara has a drink by herself at her empty party. Later, her friends show up, with one asking Kara to lead her to the alcohol. We then see many people drinking, including one woman straight from a bottle of wine. We later see more drinking at the same party. Edgar drinks from a flask at an outdoor movie screening, and we later see Jason handing that back to him, suggesting he took a hit as well. Alphonso and his wife have wine. BLOOD/GORE Liz briefly poses as the waitress serving Harrison (who's shocked to see her, his lover) and his wife in a restaurant. Liz comments on the special of the day including the chef cutting off a pig's testicles and then shoving them back up the pig's "ass." DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE When Reed accidentally nearly drives into another car, that other driver tells him to "get your head out of your ass" and calls him a "freaking moron." Harrison lies to Julia (his lover) about having to fly to San Francisco to perform an operation when he's really just returned home to his wife and family. Jason's coworker jokes that in Indiana (where Jason is from) that Valentine's Day is "love your cousin day" (meant sexually), but Jason jokes that's Kentucky. About surprises, a miscellaneous woman states she surprised her husband once and now he's her ex-husband (implying she caught him with someone else). Kara often acts in a drama queen fashion. Estelle admits to Edgar that she cheated on him in the past, with his business partner who brought her flowers and champagne, while he was away for a long time working elsewhere. FRIGHTENING SCENES None. GUNS/WEAPONS None. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "Oh sh*t," "Thank you for calling naughty nymphs," "Kneed him in the gonads," "Sappy cheese ball," "(You freaking) Moron," "Get your head out of your ass," "What the hell is this?" "Giant cosmic bitch slap," "Hell yes," "Dude," "Hoosier head," "Crappy," "Shut up," "It's in the damn handbook," "That sucks," "Spineless, lying creep," "The whole freaking planet," "He's totally hot," "Chicks," "I'm not above kicking anybody's ass," "I'm gay and I'm gonna play," "Oh crap," "Haul ass," "Now that's open heart surgery" (said after bashing a heart-shaped pinata to pieces), "Who the hell is Edgar?" and "I stand behind you Sean...metaphorically." Edgar jokes with Edison that the "park" part of a street sign reads "crap" backwards. Sean has a tattoo on his arm. Felicia seems to have a tattoo or drawing on her hand. One of Edison's classmates occasionally pulls his shirt up over his own head, and when Julia is out of the class for a moment, he's standing up on her desk. We see miscellaneous graffiti. To try to stop Julia from boarding a plane, Reed runs through security and then the airport while barefoot. Kara often acts in a drama queen fashion. While we don't see the act in the past, Felicia comments about Willy shooting spitballs at her, including finding one in her hair that turned out to be a note from him. Kara takes a hit from a helium balloon and then talks with a high voice. Upset with Harrison, Julia repeatedly takes a bat to a heart-shaped pinata at Kara's anti-Valentine's Day party, destroying it. Edgar drinks from a flask at an outdoor movie screening, and we later see Jason handing that back to him, suggesting he took a hit as well. JUMP SCENES None. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) None. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) As Alex makes his way to Grace's house to have sex with her, the soundtrack repeats the lyric, "Feels like the first time. Feels like the very first time." The ring tone on Liz's cell phone has music one might associate with a porn movie (no lyrics). PROFANITY At least 6 "s" words, 1 slang term for male genitals ("hoo-hoo"), 6 damns, 4 asses, 4 craps, 4 hells, 5 uses of "Oh my God" and 2 uses each of "God" and "Oh God." Alphonso seemingly cusses some in Spanish while upset, but we couldn't make out what he was saying. SEX/NUDITY We see a sign that reads "Frolic Room" above Reed and Morley's bed in which she's sleeping as he attempts to put an engagement ring on her finger. When she wakes up in her nightie that shows a little cleavage, he proposes and then partially climbs on top of her as the scene ends. We see Harrison finishing getting dressed while Julia is still in bed, presumably after sex. She then gets up and there's a brief and partial panty view as her nightie rides up a bit. We see Liz in just a dress shirt, standing above Jason in bed, taking photos of him (he's shirtless). She then drops down and playfully straddles him, with a comment about last night being amazing and her being a former gymnast. When she gets a call (which we later learn is in her capacity as a sex phone operator), she hurriedly gets dressed and rushes out, while he stands in just his boxers. As she leaves, she comments on running into his next door neighbor who thought he was gay, with Liz saying she set them straight on that. We hear just Liz's side of a sex phone operator conversation, with her doing a sexy voice and some slight moaning as she comments about thinking about what the client was going to do to her, that she didn't have a free hand, and then adds that her roommate came home and wonders if the caller is interested in a three-way. A female bystander overhears this and then chimes in that if he says yes, it will only take her a short time to change. We see Harrison's wife in a bikini. Jason's male coworker asks if there might be a little disappointment on Liz's part about her and Jason's first time in bed together. Jason's coworker jokes that in Indiana (where Jason is from) that Valentine's Day is "love your cousin day" (meant sexually), but Jason jokes that's Kentucky. Doing more of her sex phone operator bit, Liz chats about fetishes. We see Sean jogging shirtless, then later in just a towel at home. We then see him adjusting himself with his hand down the front of his open jeans (nothing seen) and then later standing shirtless in those jeans while chatting with some young women exercising on the beach in sports bras or the equivalent. As another female student asks about meeting with Grace, and asks about doing that during lunch, we learn that Grace and Alex are planning on having sex for the first time (with each other, and in their respective lives) during their school lunch break. When Grace asks about lunch the following day, the girl asks if she'll be done having sex by then. Knowing that their friends are off to have sex for the first time, Willy gives Felicia a look to ask about them doing the same, with her replying that they're going to wait. As Alex heads off to have sex with Grace, one of his friends states all of the virgins are pulling for him. As he makes his way to her house, the soundtrack repeats the lyric, "Feels like the first time. Feels like the very first time." He then lets himself into her empty house, goes into her bedroom and is then seen in his boxers doing some pushups. He then grabs his guitar, drops those boxers (the guitar blocks our view of anything explicit), and then puts his foot up on the bed. Unbeknownst to him, Grace's mom has unexpectedly come home, hears the guitar playing, and goes upstairs to find him that way. He then panics and rushes about, eventually running out just holding his clothes and guitar over some parts of his body, with the shocked and embarrassed mom yelling out for him to at least cover his "hoo-hoo." Liz does more sex phone operator material, this time in a Russian accent, including about getting down off a horse, punishing the caller, pulling down his pants, and that she will "beat it" (she keeps repeating that last bit and then thanks him for calling "Naughty Nymphs"). Paula then comes out and mentions fielding one of Liz's calls about Vaseline and bubble wrap. Liz is embarrassed, but Paula says it's cool as long as Liz answers her calls first. We see a miscellaneous couple making out while clothed. On several occasions, we see a nude, animated cupid on a website (no genitalia, but fully nude). Morley shows a little cleavage. A woman on the street hits a man with a sign and then knees him in the crotch, prompting someone to comment about the guy being "kneed in the gonads." Kara complains that her best relationship is with her Blackberry, adding "Thank goodness it vibrates." Felicia and Willy passionately kiss while clothed and standing. Showing off her dance moves to a TV reporter, Felicia does some exaggerated and slightly sexualized stuff with her body. Grace informs Estelle and Edgar that she was supposed to have sex with her boyfriend today, adding for the first time for both of them, but complains about all of the planning involved. Edgar chimes in that love can't be planned, with Estelle correcting him, "It's not love, it's sex." Grace then says it isn't like he's the only person she'll ever sleep with the rest of her life and that no one does that. Edgar suggests he did, adding that people weren't as promiscuous in the past, but Estelle's reaction shows she hasn't been faithful. Estelle admits to Edgar that she cheated on him in the past, with his business partner who brought her flowers and champagne, while he was away for a long time working elsewhere. A couple makes out across a table in a restaurant (leaning over and meeting halfway). When Jason apologizes for the scene being a zoo, Liz comments on another couple fighting and that first one mating. The ring tone on Liz's cell phone has music one might associate with a porn movie (no lyrics). Liz takes another phone sex call, telling the caller that they're going to make this hard and fast. She also comments about licking the caller up and down with her rough tongue (all in a sexy voice). Jason catches her doing that, and thinks she rushed out from their date to talk dirty to her boyfriend. She then admits her secret line of work, adding that Valentine's Day is the busiest day for phone sex operators. We see miscellaneous cleavage. Grace comments about wanting to have sex with Alex to create a bond between them before they headed off to separate colleges. Agreeing not to have sex for the first time, Alex asks Grace if they can still make out, and they do just that. Paula shows a little cleavage and ends up taking one of Liz's sex calls, playing that up by snapping something to make it sound like a whip or other hitting instrument. About a gay man coming out of the closet at a press conference, Kelvin states in his TV segment that he stands behind him, but then adds that he means that metaphorically. We learn that another character is gay as he arrives home to be with his boyfriend (but nothing happens between them). Liz shows a little cleavage. Liz takes a sex call, but says she can't talk as she's going to make love to her boyfriend on Valentine's Day. She also mentions to Jason that she likes make-up sex, with him adding what a coincidence in that he does as well. Kelvin and Kara do some passionate, clothed kissing. Julia and Reed do some passionate, clothed kissing. A deejay on the radio comments, "Let's go get naked!" SMOKING None. TENSE FAMILY SCENES We learn that Edison's mother is not around, and are lead to believe she might be dead (but learn differently at the end of the film), all as he lives with his grandparents and longing looks at other kids interacting with their mothers. We never learn anything about his similarly absent father. About Morley getting cold feet regarding their relationship, Reed tells her that just because her parents had a bad divorce doesn't mean the same will happen to her. About surprises, a miscellaneous woman states she surprised her husband once and now he's her ex-husband (implying she caught him with someone else). Estelle admits to Edgar that she cheated on him in the past, with his business partner who brought her flowers and champagne, while he was away for a long time working elsewhere. This causes Edgar to walk out, but he later forgives her. Liz briefly poses as the waitress serving Harrison (who's shocked to see her, his lover) and his wife in a restaurant. Liz comments on the special of the day including the chef cutting off a pig's testicles and then shoving them back up the pig's "ass." All of that leaves a look on the wife's face that she knows he cheated on her with Liz. TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT Valentine's Day and the pressure that puts on some people in terms of their relationship with others. Infidelity. Losing one's virginity. About Morley getting cold feet regarding their relationship, Reed tells her that just because her parents had a bad divorce doesn't mean the same will happen to her. The comment that young lovers are full of hope and ignorant of reality. The notion that you have to take the good with the bad when it comes to relationships. Coming out of the closet (announcing you're gay). Grace comments about wanting to have sex with Alex to create a bond between them before they headed off to separate colleges. Military personnel who are away from their families for long periods of time. Professional athletes who continue playing past what others believe is their prime. VIOLENCE Grace's mom accidentally hits her head on Alex's guitar as he's wearing that. Sean accidentally drives into the back of Alphonso's van, causing some damage there (and arrangements to fall out later and break on the street). Holden accidentally hits his head on the overhang inside a plane above his seat. A woman on the street hits a man with a sign and then knees him in the crotch, prompting someone to comment about the guy being "kneed in the gonads." Showing off while doing the hurdles, Willy accidentally hits the top of one and falls hard to the track (but is okay). Upset with Harrison, Julia repeatedly takes a bat to a heart-shaped pinata at Kara's anti-Valentine's Day party, destroying it. Reviewed February 8, 2010 / Posted February 12, 2010

Privacy Statement and Terms of Use and Disclaimer
By entering this site you acknowledge to having read and agreed to the above conditions.

All Rights Reserved,
©1996-2012 Screen It, Inc.