Movie Review: *batteries not included
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What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that this film's overall content is
very mild. However, there are some scenes of violence. One
includes an arsonist burning down an apartment building.
Another scene shows characters threatening others with axes and
baseball bats. This film clearly depicts characters as either
good or bad. Even young children will recognize what behavior
is acceptable.
Families who see this movie can talk about the importance of home. Why were the tenants willing to fight so vehemently against those who attempted to evict them? Parents could also highlight the importance of standing up for what you believe in.
Common Sense Media Review
Set in an impoverished section of New York City, *BATTERIES
NOT INCLUDED tells the story of honest, blue-collar citizens
threatened with eviction to make way for a modern housing
complex. The tenants find their prayers answered by an unlikely
source: mechanical alien flying saucers. The saucers have the
uncanny ability to restore the decrepit apartment complex and
defend the tenants from their evictors. It's a quintessential
movie of good people vs. bad people.
Although the film often drags at points, its message is warm and heartfelt. The movie emphasizes the notion of standing up for one's beliefs. One major flaw is Jessica Tandy's character. Her performance as a senile wife is not credible as she teeters in and out of senility like a metronome. Attention is directed toward the struggles and triumphs of the characters. The relationships between the characters are mature, but not overly complex for a child to understand. *BATTERIES NOT INCLUDED features a unique plot and conveys an overall positive message that both children and adults will appreciate.
Families that enjoy *BATTERIES NOT INCLUDED may also enjoy such films as E.T. (1982), Short Circuit (1986), and Short Circuit 2 (1988).
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
