NEW YEAR'S EVE | FAMILY MOVIE REVIEW INFORMATION FOR PARENTS AND KIDS

"NEW YEAR'S EVE"
(2011) (Hilary Swank, Katherine Heigl) (PG-13)

QUICK TAKE:
Romantic Comedy: Various people contend with their various issues as they count down the hours until midnight on New Year's Eve.

PLOT:
It's New Years Eve in New York City and Claire (HILARY SWANK) is the new Vice President of the Times Square Alliance, and her job today is to make sure the giant ball drops on schedule at midnight. With the aid of police officer Brendan (CHRIS "LUDACRIS" BRIDGES) she seems to have things in control, but when the ball ends up stuck during testing, she hopes they can convince former maintenance wizard Kominsky (HECTOR ELIZONDO) to show up and fix things.
She's also hired rock star Jensen (JON BON JOVI) to perform at the festivities, but he's preoccupied with the fact that he formerly proposed to caterer Laura (KATHERINE HEIGL) but then got cold feet. While she isn't happy to see him, her eager and sultry sous chef, Ava (SOFIA VERGARA), certainly is. Another woman, Elise (LEA MICHELE), also wants to see Jensen, but that's because she's one of his new backup singers. Unfortunately for her, she's stuck in a stopped elevator with comic book artist Randy (ASHTON KUTCHER) who doesn't like anything about New Year's Eve.
On the other hand, his best friend and courier, Paul (ZAC EFRON), is far more upbeat, and he gets an offer that might make his night outstanding. Record label employee Ingrid (MICHELLE PFEIFFER) has her hands on tickets to a big party, and she says she'll give them to him in exchange for helping her fulfill a number of potentially challenging resolutions she wants to make come true.
Sam (JOSH DUHAMEL) is also desirous of getting to that party, but after a minor car wreck, he must hitch a ride with a family headed to Times Square in their RV. As they travel along, he wonders if the stranger he met one year ago will show up as promised. Speaking of showing up, Griffin (SETH MEYERS) and Tess (JESSICA BIEL) are hoping that their baby will arrive right around midnight, so they can collect a prize of $25,000 if their child is the first born in the new year. They must contend, however, with James (TIL SCHWEIGER) and his pregnant wife who are desirous of the same thing.
Kim (SARAH JESSICA PARKER) doesn't have any newborns at home, but she does have 15-year-old daughter Hailey (ABIGAIL BRESLIN) who desperately wants to head into the city in order to be with the boy, Seth (JAKE T. AUSTIN) she likes. Her mom, though, doesn't think that's a good idea, much like a doctor (CARY ELWES) doesn't think his terminally ill cancer patient, Stan (ROBERT DE NIRO), she be allowed up on the hospital roof for one last view of the ball dropping. As a result, his nurse, Aimee (HALLE BERRY), stays close by to make sure Stan's last hours are as comfortable as possible.
As the hours count down toward midnight, all of those people try to resolve their various issues.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?
If they're fans of anyone in the cast, films such as "Valentine's Day" or romantic comedies in general, they might show some interest.

WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13
For language including some sexual references.

CAST AS ROLE MODELS:
HILARY SWANK plays the new Vice President of the Times Square Alliance whose job is to make sure...

The rest of this review is available in our Screen It Subscriber Site.
We invite you to please log in or consider signing up and joining thousands of parents and other viewers who now know what they and/or their kids will see (or not see, if that's their choice) in the movie theaters, at home, or at someone else's house.

You'll get everything you see above PLUS immediate access to the Our Word to Parents objectionable content summary, as well as all of the specific listings in our 15 content categories (including profanity counts, specific details about the sexual content, violence and more).

With our reviews, you'll be a more informed parent and thus know what your child might see or hear, and you'll be able to discuss what they've seen or heard after the fact if a surprise viewing occurs somewhere away from you.

For those without kids or whose children have grown up, our reviews will give you peace of mind that you won't see or hear something that will shock or disgust you, thus allowing you to enjoy what you're viewing, or make another choice if you find somewhat objectionable listed in our review.

And our reviews are unlike any others available online or anywhere else. Nobody provides the amount of detail we do (and our reviews take more than 10 hours each to complete).

You get all of that for just $7.95 a month (with a 30 day Money Back Guarantee) or -- if you'd like to save more than 50% -- just $47 a year (less than $1 a week, with a 90 Day Money Back Guarantee). No hassles, no questions, no pressure. After all, it's your money. And we know once you read our reviews and become truly informed, you'll find this service to you far more valuable than that.

Remember, you can't take back what you or your kids might see or hear if you watch something without our help -- but our reviews will give you peace of mind that you've made the right choice.

Just Click the Sign Up Button below and you'll have Instant Access to this review and thousands of other new and older reviews:

Other new reviews available this week include:

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