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Avg. Critic Score: 62 out of 100 Generally favorable reviews Metascore® based on all critic reviews
Information for Parents:
13 Iffy for 13+
Read Common Sense Media review

Critic scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

  • 80
    Rolling Stone | Peter Travers

    The ending leans to soap opera, but Van Sant, revisiting the closet-genius theme of "Good Will Hunting" is too keen an observer of character to let this funny and touching film go soft. Read full review

  • 80
    Washington Post | Michael O'Sullivan

    Manages to take the cerebral act of literary creation and make it exciting, sexy even. Read full review

  • 80
    Variety | Emanuel Levy

    Provides a platform for Sean Connery to deliver a definitive, career-summation performance. Read full review

  • 75
    Boston Globe | Jay Carr

    A juicy and gratifying teacher movie (a genre to which I'm partial). The joy in performance shared by Connery and Brown is the big reason. Read full review

  • 75
    USA Today | Mike Clark

    One can't underestimate the appeal of any movie constructed around Sean Connery's charm. Read full review

  • 75
    Chicago Sun-Times | Roger Ebert

    The scenes between the old man and the teenager are at the heart of the movie, and it's a pleasure to watch the rapport between Connery, in his 50th year of acting, and Brown, in his first role. Read full review

  • 67
    Entertainment Weekly | Lisa Schwarzbaum

    Highly unoriginal but nevertheless stirring drama. Read full review

  • 60
    Los Angeles Times | Kenneth Turan

    Even fairy tales could use a bit more substance than this. Read full review

  • 50
    San Francisco Chronicle | Bob Graham

    Rich supplies some eloquent grace notes, and Van Sant uses them to make understated music. Read full review

  • 50
    The New York Times | Stephen Holden

    The screenplay by Mike Rich is so far-fetched and riddled with holes that Mr. Van Sant's urban realist touches only underscore the falseness of what's on the screen. Read full review

View more reviews for Finding Forrester on Metacritic

Information for Parents
Common Sense Media says Iffy for 13+ Quality characters, solid film; OK for ages 14+.
What Parents Need to Know Parents need to know that this movie has brief strong language and sexual references and situations (Jamal's neighbors have loud sex on the other side of his bedroom wall). Forrester says that women will have sex with anyone who has written a book. Jamal and Claire take their relationship very slowly and show a lot of respect and concern for each other. Forrester drinks a good bit, and talks about a character who died in a drunk driving accident.
  • Families can talk about why Jamal and Forrester hide their talents. How does the fact that both have lost family members provide an important connection for them? Why is it important for us to find people who can teach us? Why was Crawford so angry, and do you agree with Forrester's comment about "bitterly disappointed teachers?" What prejudices are revealed by the characters? Do you agree that "people are most afraid of what they don't understand?" Family members can also talk about Forrester's advice that the first draft is written with the heart, the second with the head, and might want to try his technique for getting started on writing.
What to watch for
  • violence false2 Violence: Some tense moments -- characters push one another, one character throws a glass into a wall.
  • sex false2 Sex: Overheard sounds of couple having sex, some sexual references.
  • language false3 Language: Some strong language including "f--k."
  • consumerism false0 Consumerism: Not an issue
  • drugsalcoholtobacco false3 Drinking, drugs and smoking: Character drinks often, reference to drunk driving accident.
An independent nonprofit dedicated to providing families the information they need to help kids thrive in a world of media and technology. © Common Sense Media Inc. 2010. All rights reserved.

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