Approved for 12+

Big Fish

In this delightful drama directed by Tim Burton, young journalist Will Bloom (Billy Crudup) flies home to Alabama because his father, Edward (Albert Finney), is dying. Will sees his dad as a self-centered, lying scoundrel who never shuts up. Even now on his death bed, Edward entertains his amused daughter-in-law (Marion Cotillard) with his over-the-top storytelling that Will and his mother, Sandra (Jessica Lange), have been through endless times. In his stories, Edward is a legend — not a “small fish” — as a teenager (Ewan McGregor) in the small town of Ashton he coaxes a scary, homeless giant named Karl out of town. Each episode of Edward’s life is more bizarre than the last. He and Karl end up joining a circus where he serves as both human cannon ball and lion trainer. Then the country boy meets his dream girl. The combination of fantasy, humor, romance and adventure makes "Big Fish" a memorable film experience.
9
Negative Rating
12345
SexLanguageViolenceDrugsNudityOther
0
Positive Rating
12345
FaithIntegrity

Dove Review

Audiences will be charmed and touched by this “Big Fish” who touches the lives of many. Edward’s adventures go from taming a giant to risking his life during WW II to rescue conjoined twins. Parents are cautioned about the language, a brutal beating and nudity in this film. The nudity is not sexual in nature and occurs with some bare buttocks while swimming and once in a comical fashion. The beating is somewhat graphic and too intense for young kids. While the film’s overall message is positive and Dove awards our Dove “Family-Approved” Seal for ages twelve and above, parents should consult the content listing below to make their own informed decisions.

Dove Rating Details

0
Faith

None

0
Integrity

A brutal beating; another fight; a brief attack of bees; tree branches grab for a character; a dog attacks a man with bared teeth but he befriends the dog.

1
Sex

One crude sexual reference about a woman and the milk man; man is reading a "Playboy" magazine but no photos are seen; kissing.

2
Language

D-3; S-2; B-1; H-2; Sc*ew-1

2
Violence

A brutal beating; another fight; a brief attack of bees; tree branches grab for a character; a dog attacks a man with bared teeth but he befriends the dog.

1
Drugs

Brief drinking scenes; brief smoking.

2
Nudity

Nonsexual rear male and female nudity occurs a few times when a young woman swims in murky waters and when a circus worker bares his buttocks in a comical scene; cleavage; a fat man from the circus is seen shirtless taking a bath.

1
Other

Man on toilet seat but nothing graphic is seen; a reference to misbehaving children being eaten and supposedly in a woman's bad eye future deaths are seen; a nice church scene with the song "Amazing Grace" being sung.

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