What Is It?
This is a remake of a 1977 Jane Fonda film. Jim Carrey and Tea Leoni play Dick and Jane Harper. It opens with a tribute to the children's reader that inspired their names but soon you get into one of Jim's better-known formulas. He is a hard worker and a big deal businessman. He is suddenly promoted and on TV to represent his company. There he finds out that he is a patsy set up to defend the dirty dealings that are about to bring down the business. Once he finds out that his savings are gone and his job prospects are dried up, he and his wife become amateur stick-up artists. Now they are once again on top.
How Was It?
This seems to be a common plot line for Mr. Carrey (The Mask, Bruce Almighty, and The Grinch). After big business or society reduces his life to nothing, he finds a way to get revenge while providing us with his trademark wacky antics, followed by his using his newfound powers to make everything all right in a feel-good semi-moral ending.
Still, he is fun to watch. This is a talented modern clown with a knack for making us just want to see what he will do next. Furthermore, he is well supported by Tea Leoni and a plot that is more than a well suited stage for this talented cast. It's not the best movie you will ever see, but you will probably like the people and enjoy laughing while Jim effortlessly keeps a straight face.
Is It Good For Kids?
There are a lot of sexual innuendos (mostly between married people) and poor choices of language (including names of God as substitutes for cuss words). The biggest influence on children will probably be the fact that crime is looked at as fun, easy, and profitable. They do make a comment about paying people back somehow when they are done, but that comes to nothing. At one time, the robbery even becomes revenge against someone who was rude about not hiring Dick, and then ends in mild (by funny) torture.
For a break down of everything on the screen, check out Screenit.com
What About Spiritual Issues?
The first issue is still the stealing. God tells us that it's a sin. He tells us that sin is only pleasurable for a season. (Hebrews 11:25) This movie tells us that it's a good thing to do as long as you have a good attitude about it.
God is referenced directly three times:
First: when Dick steals some grass from a cemetery, the lightning prompts him to apologize to the sky and put the grass back.
Dick gets a job at a Wal*Mart like store. While Dick is trying to "fill a cup", his female trainer tells him "I will sell you my urine for $100, I've been off the pipe for a year, thank you Jesus"
Then, while Dick and Jane start "slumming it", they use cost cutting techniques like showering in the neighbor's sprinkler and getting 2 foot tall salads at the all-you-can-eat restaurant. During this montage they play a mournful Johnny Cash singing "God Help Me Jesus".
With these 2 references to Jesus, we see Him shown as just a character look to by lowly, underprivileged, and ridiculous people. The life of the corner cutting loser is characterized by Jesus. In Contrast, crime has fun music with it, and leads to higher status and a better life.
What Is Your Recommendation?
(Spoiler) Unlike Bruce Almighty and The Grinch, this does not end with Jim's character seeing the error of his ways and finding redemption through some semblance of repentance. Here, company pay for the suffering that he caused others.
This movie is not insulting to your intelligence. It's fun and entertaining. Still, with the poor view of Jesus and the glorified view of crime, it's not worth the laughs to have your morals insulted.
"Laughter is the first step to acceptance"
