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A ministry of the ChildCare Action Project: Christian Analysis of American Culture (CAP Ministry) A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Christian Ministry. www.capalert.com/ Entertainment Media Analysis Report A service to His little ones through you in His name by His Word MAR2011.061  (2011), PG-13 [Hard R-13*] (1hr 49.5min) The #1 Christian entertainment media analysis service on the Internet. We give you OBJECTIVE tools NO ONE ELSE CAN to help YOU make an informed decision for yourself whether a film is fit for your family. Over 1300 analyses for parents, grandparents, pastors, youth leaders and more. |
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(While the Scriptural references are certainly not subjective, my commentary may be and sometimes is somewhat subjective.)
 Cast/Crew Details Courtesy Internet Movie Database Production (US): Columbia Pictures, Happy Madison Productions Distribution (US): Columbia Pictures Director(s): Dennis Dugan Producer(s): Barry Bernardi, Allen Covert, Jack Giarraputo, Tim Herlihy, Steve Koren, Heather Parry, Adam Sandler Screenplay: Allan Loeb, I.A.L. Diamond Stage Play: Abe Burrows French Play: Pierre Barillet, Jean-Pierre Grédy Cinematography/Camera: Theo van de Sande Music: Rupert Gregson-Williams Film Editing: Tom Costain Casting: Roger Mussenden, Jeremy Rich Production Design: Perry Andelin Blake Art Direction: Alan Au, John Collins Viewed on Sony Pictures Home Entertainment DVD  After viewing the film but before crunching the numbers I set back for a moment and noticed there are six full pages of findings annotations and that the vast majority are in Sexual Immorality. The entire film felt like hundreds of little slaps in the face of sexual humility and responsibility - all as if such a corrupt moral standard is the way things are supposed to be, just like the adulteress in Prov. 30:20 who eats and wipes her mouth and says she's done nothing wrong. Well, even a champion prize fighter can take only so many "little slaps in the face" until they finally combine to equal a KO. (For those who are still too young or not familiar with the prize fighting world, "KO" means "knock-out." At least it used to mean that.) I wagered myself that this film was going to be another KO on sexual humility and responsibility and, combined with so many lies and uses of God's name in van, will be a full-fledged R-13. It seemed that everyone was doing or saying something sexual while using God's name in vain or lying ... or all three. Even the kids. We'll see. My predictions were correct. After more than 1300 of these film analyses using the same model, the same equations, the same investigation standards and forms, it would seem that one might become able to safely predict the outcome based only on the listing of findings made. Such is this case. Just Go With It is a hard R-13 film with a zero out of 100 investigation area score in Sexual Immorality, Impudence/Hate (which includes profanity and lying) and Offense to God (which includes using His name in vain). The final score of 38, when R-rated films in the comparative baseline database earned scores from 54 and below out of 100, might seem to cinch the "R-ness" of the film but the Influence Density figure of 2.05 when R-rated films in the database earned ID figures from 0.78 to 2.04 cinches the "R-ness" of this film completely. Danny Maccabee (Adams Sandler) is an unmarried plastic surgeon who pretends to be married to win one-night stands using sob stories about marriage. It worked for him on his failed wedding day years ago so he kept his wedding ring and kept up the charade of being married. Now in a successful practice with divorced-with-two-kids Katherine (Jennifer Aniston) as his receptionist/assistant, Danny runs into 23 year old Palmer (Brooklyn Decker) who seems to be the one. But Danny met Palmer under his lying and does not want Palmer to know about his lying - she will not be "the other woman" to a man's marriage. So, Danny convinces Katherine to 'just go with it' and perform as his soon-to-be divorced wife. Complication after complication arises from moment to moment but Danny juggles his lies to keep his lies alive. One more point about the content of this film causing such a low scoring distribution. As with many PG and PG-3 films, including this one, nothing in particularly invasive of wholesome moral standards as is typically found in R-rated features. There are not that many big dogs chomping out bites of morality but there s-o m-a-n-y little ankle-biters that the overall effect is the same. It is akin to comparing knocking down a brick wall with cannon balls or beebees. It takes a lot less work to knock down a brick wall with cannon balls but the job can be done with beebees. Eventually. This film does not present that many cannon balls of immorality but it is full of beebees. For more information on this relatively new technique of loading down the content of a film with tons of lesser attacks on morality and decency to achieve the same "feel" as fewer but more extreme assaults, see our CAP Rule of 1000 publication. In a few locations throughout this report I note "by children" and "including children." There is a reason for this. Jesus warned that whatever we do to his little ones we do to Him (Matt. 25:40]. He further warned that s/he who teaches and/or causes His little ones to sin would be better off [figuratively] with a millstone tied about his/her neck then cast into the sea [Luke 17:2]. Jesus further warned that children have angels who behold the very face of God [Matt. 18:10]. Thus, by only these three verses of many, it is unwise to use children in the demonstration of sin. It would be good of the filmmakers (and we who set our children before the works of the filmmaker) to take His Word seriously. For each of us will eventually take His Word seriously, whether now, by choice, or after our last breath when the choice is made without us. In other words, by not choosing, the choice is made. Whether we believe it or not. Whether we like it or not. Whether we care or not. Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - 94 out of 100 The only violence and/or criminal activity demonstrated in the entire 109.5 minutes of actual story were a child threatening to kill a man and a slap in the face. The film is fully G-equivalent in violence. Impudence/Hate (I) - Zero out of 100 While the amount of profanity seems atypically light in comparison to most PG-13 films, 14 times someone, including the adolescent children, uttered a form of profanity. [Col. 3:8, Luke 17:2] But the profanity by itself was not what caused the loss of all the starting 100 points in this investigation area - it was all the lying, including by the children. God is so adamant about the evil of lying that He promises that the [unforgiven] liar will not make it into Heaven. [Rev. 21:8] Sexual Immorality (S) - Zero out of 100 If you have ever heard a sexual innuendo, booty call, offer of sex and anatomical references, you'll likely hear it in this film. In addition, you'll see many sexually-oriented behaviors such as inappropriate touch, excess cleavage, dressing to maximize the female form and/or skin exposure and a hundred other examples of sexually-oriented display. There are far too many examples of sexual assault on wholesome standards to even summarize here. Please look to the listing in the findings/Scoring section for a full accounting of the sexual immorality content of this film. [1 Ths. 4:1 - 5] Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 36 out of 100 There is enough booze, and drinking in this film to be equivalent to the booze and drinking in most R-rated films. And this film is rated PG-13 - for the middle school crowd. But the American College of Physicians (ACP) disagree. A 2002 study by the ACP revealed that adolescent exposure to drinking in and as entertainment undeniably leads to abuse of alcohol among underage viewers. The finding entitled Relation Between Parental Restrictions on Movies and Adolescent Use of Tobacco and Alcohol reports that of 4544 youths from grades 5 through 8 of fifteen Vermont and New Hampshire middle schools (90% of the youths were under fourteen years old) only 16% were completely restricted in their entertainment diets. Within the ACP study population, the prevalence of having tried alcohol without parental knowledge was Offense to God (O) - Zero out of 100 Here is where the popularity of the three-syllable sentence with God's name trailing it is suggested. Every few minutes someone, even the children, spoke His name in vain in the popular three-syllable sentence. The numerous uses of God's name in vain is the sole purpose of the loss of all the starting 100 points in this investigation area. [Deut. 5:11] Murder/Suicide (M) - 100 out of 100 No murders or suicides were noted. SCRIPTURAL APPLICATION(S) If needed to focus or fortify, applicable text is underlined or bracketed [ ] or bold. If you wish to have full context available, the Blue Letter Bible is a convenient source. If you use the Blue Letter Bible, a new window will open. Close it to return here or use "Window" in your browser's menu bar to alternate between the CAP page and the Blue Letter Bible page. CHAPTER/VERSE ***Selected Scriptures of Armour against the influence of the entertainment industry*** As always, it is best to refer to the Findings/Scoring section -- the heart of the CAP analysis model -- for the most complete assessment possible of this movie. |
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(The objective heart of the CAP Analysis Model, independent of and insulated from the Summary / Commentary section.)  Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - 94 out of 100 Impudence/Hate (I) - Zero out of 100 Sexual Immorality (S) - Zero out of 100 Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 36 out of 100 Offense to God (O) - Zero out of 100 Murder/Suicide (M) - 100 out of 100 |
| There are some in the entertainment industry who maintain that 1) violent programming is harmless because no studies exist that prove a connection between violent entertainment and aggressive behavior in children, and 2) young people know that television, movies, and video games are simply fantasy. Unfortunately, they are wrong on both accounts." And "Viewing violence may lead to real life violence." I applaud these associations for fortifying 1 Cor. 15:33. Read the rest of the story. From our years of study, I contend that other aberrant behaviors, attitudes, and expressions can be inserted in place of "violence" in that statement. Our Director - Child Psychology Support, a licensed psychologist and certified school psychologist concurs. For example, "Viewing arrogance against fair authority may lead to your kids defying you in real life." Or "Viewing sex may lead to sex in real life." Likewise and especially with impudence, hate and foul language. I further contend that any positive behavior can be inserted in place of "violence" with the same chance or likelihood of being a behavior template for the observer; of being incorporated into the behavior mechanics and/or coping skills of the observer. In choosing your entertainment, please consider carefully the "rest of the story" and our findings. |
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| For G rated Films with G equivalence: G PG equivalence: PG-G PG-13 equivalence: 13-G R equivalence: R-G< | For PG rated Films with G equivalence: G-PG PG equivalence: PG PG-13 equivalence: 13-PG R equivalence: R-PG | For PG-13 rated Films with G equivalence: G-13 PG equivalence: PG(13) PG-13 equivalence: PG-13 R equivalence: R-13 | For R rated Films with G equivalence: G-R PG equivalence: PG-R PG-13 equivalence: 13-R R equivalence: R | For NR rated Films with G equivalence: G-NR PG equivalence: PG-NR PG-13 equivalence: 13-NR R equivalence: R-NR |