Making The Grades...

The MPAA rated Riding In Cars With Boys (2001) PG-13 for thematic elements, drug and sexual content.

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Overall: B+
Intended for families of older teens only, this disquieting film gives graphic depictions of the harrowing and long-term consequences of teen sex and illegal drug use, giving viewers some hard-edged reality lessons to avoid in their own lives.

Violence: B-
Two cars nearly collide. Boy tries to persuade girl to go in bedroom, some horseplay style wrestling involved. Boys fight at party, one boy injures hand when hitting another boy in head. Character makes comment about shooting. Character attempts to cause miscarriage by falling down stairs. Character breaks window and cuts wrist (blood shown). Mother hits son on head. Woman yells and hits husband. Child nearly drowns in swimming pool. Child yells at adult on at least two occasions. Couple argue in front of visitors.

Sexual Content: C-
Young girls discuss French kissing. Daughter discusses her changing anatomy and desire for a bra with her father. Several scenes show characters in bra and slips, or with their bras showing. Girls change clothes in car, some underwear shown. Couple kiss passionately at party. Male character finds birth control pills. Male attempts to get girl in bedroom during house party. Girl gives boy seductive poem. Unmarried teen couple kiss passionately in car, no nudity shown, sounds heard. Boy comments on things stuffed in girl's bra. Two unmarried teen couples caught kissing in car. Girl tells parents she is pregnant. Character referred to as tramp on few occasions. Another character announces she is pregnant. Frontal nudity of male baby and toddler shown. Girl comments on sexual encounters. Child makes extreme sexual hand gesture. Character discusses infidelity. Little girl kisses little boy. Friends exchange hug.

Language: C-
At least: 4 mild profanities, 5 moderate profanities, 1 use of sexual hand gesture, 1 crude sexual term, 4 mild slang anatomical terms, and 9 terms of Deity used as expletives.

Alcohol / Drug Use: D
Several characters shown smoking and drinking throughout movie, including scenes of teenagers engaging in these activities at home and parties. Character takes birth control pill with alcohol. Girl asks boy for cigarette. Couple drinks in car. Characters drink at wedding reception. Character arrives home drunk on several occasions. Characters consume illegal drugs with alcohol at party and home. Characters depicted as being high on drugs. Characters package illegal drugs in home. Character steals money to buy drugs. Character seeks help for drug addiction. Character experiences severe withdrawal symptoms. Characters discuss illegal drug use on several occasions. Characters play game with beer cans.

Miscellaneous:
Characters discuss abortion options on at least two occasions. Characters steal money on several occasions. Marriage breaks up. Baby urinates on mother, some gets in mother's mouth.

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