The Fast and the Furious isn't a kid-friendly franchise in the same way as, say, the Ice Age films, but there is something about the racing films that has consistently made whole families embrace them. Maybe it's the overriding theme of family (don't get Vin Diesel started on his family) or the way every movie wraps up with a neat little bow (usually with a backyard BBQ), but the movies can be strangely heartwarming.
If you're considering bringing your kids to see the latest chapter, The Fate of the Furious [1], there are a few things you should know upfront. It's rated PG-13 for "prolonged sequences of violence and destruction, suggestive content, and language," and here's what that actually means.
- Prolonged sequences of violence and destruction: This is the big one. There are many racing scenes that take violent turns, and though death is rarely shown, there are many implied casualties. The only graphic bloodshed comes when a "bad guy" is shoved into a moving propeller. You don't see exactly what happens on impact, but blood is splattered along the side of a wall. There's also a long, violent prison break sequence, villains shooting machine guns at cars with civilians in them, and one character is shot. The most disturbing part of the story is a minor spoiler, but relevant here: the mother of a baby is murdered in front of the baby's father. We don't explicitly see her death, but it may still be upsetting to children (and mothers).
- Suggestive content: There are two scenes with sexual content, but neither of them show any nudity. The first one takes place after two characters have obviously had sex, when they're talking in bed. Later, there's a very sensual kiss that serves as a plot point.
- Language: One character does say "f*ck," but the majority of the bad language is limited to "sh*t," "b*tch," "assh*le," and "damn."
It's really not the individual scenes that might make The Fate of the Furious inappropriate for family viewing, it's the overall message that driving cars over 200 MPH is cool and that the government can give you a free pass for any and all criminal activity. Exercise caution when taking your family (especially children younger than 14 or 15)!