Not Approved

August Rush

"August Rush" tells the story of a charismatic young Irish guitarist (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) and a sheltered young cellist (Keri Russell) who have a chance encounter one magical night above New York's Washington Square, but are soon torn apart, leaving in their wake an infant, August Rush, orphaned by circumstance. Now performing on the streets of New York and cared for by a mysterious stranger (Robin Williams), August (Freddie Highmore) uses his remarkable musical talent to seek the parents from whom he was separated at birth.
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Negative Rating
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SexLanguageViolenceDrugsNudityOther
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Positive Rating
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FaithIntegrity

Dove Review

This story left just about everyone who screened it with a lump in our throats. It is an emotional ride which leads to a fantastic conclusion. If the viewer followed the journey from beginning to end, he/she wouldn’t be disappointed with how it is wrapped up.

The premise of the story is the birth of a child prodigy, whose obvious musical talents begin to shine to all those around him, including those who would help him and one who would exploit him for gain. Separated from his parents at birth, due to some circumstantial situations which are explained in the film, the young boy at age twelve desperately wants to find his mother and father. He knows in his heart they are still alive.

Freddie Highmore gives an outstanding performance, as do Keri Russell and Jonathan Rhys Meyers. Robin Williams is also quite good as Wizard, the Fagin of his day, as there are a couple of similarities between this story and “Oliver Twist”.

Life in an orphanage is depicted in this story and young August is believed to be an orphan. Some of the children haze young August a bit because of his hope in finding his birth parents. He soon runs away and eventually meets Wizard, and he winds up playing music in a church and is “discovered” as a musical genius. However, this film contains a single instance of biblical profanity, therefore we are unable to award it our Dove “Family-Approved” Seal.

Dove Rating Details

0
Faith

None

0
Integrity

A man punches his brother and draws blood; a boy hits a man with a guitar, smashing it; a kid is kicked by another kid; a woman is hit by a car off screen; a child is hit by a car on screen but not hurt; boys haze another boy about being an orphan.

2
Sex

Kissing; an unmarried couple spend the night together but it is not shown as they are fully clothed in the morning and there are repercussions with an unexpected pregnancy.

4
Language

GD-1; D-7; OG/OMG-5; H-1; A-1; P-1; Cr*p-1; Butt-2

1
Violence

A man punches his brother and draws blood; a boy hits a man with a guitar, smashing it; a kid is kicked by another kid; a woman is hit by a car off screen; a child is hit by a car on screen but not hurt; boys haze another boy about being an orphan.

1
Drugs

Casual drinking.

0
Nudity

None

1
Other

A man lies to his daughter and falsifies a document; a boy runs away from orphanage; boys run away from police; a man employs children for their talents in a similar fashion to the character of Fagin in "Oliver Twist."

More Information