Movie Review: Valentine’s Day

Rating: PG-13

Genre: Comedy

Release Date: February 12, 2010

Running Time: 90 minutes

Child-friendly?Valentine’s Day basically covers a day in the life of love. It follows several people and couples of all types to reveal their love stories. The movie’s all-star ensemble cast and love theme may appeal to some teens but frank talk about sex and suggestive scenes make it inappropriate for most younger teenagers. It’s rated PG-13, but is recommended for teens over the age of 14.

Valentine’s Day follows a diverse group of people from Los Angeles as they find their way through romance and heartbreak on February 14. The movie includes several different stories about love and relationships, and how these people are connected.

The struggling actress who also moonlights as a phone sex worker is falling in love with someone from her day job who knows nothing about her other job. A florist proposes to his girlfriend, and when she accepts, her friends are amazed. A teacher wants to surprise her doctor boyfriend even though he says he has to work. A soldier on leave from Iraq flies home to surprise her significant other and ends up being talked up by a gay seatmate.

The cast of the movie has something for everyone. Valentine’s Day features A-list stars including Julia Roberts, Jennifer Garner, Anne Hathaway, Bradley Cooper, Ashton Kutcher, Shirley MacLaine, Kathy Bates, Hector Elizondo, Jamie Foxx, Taylor Swift, Taylor Lautner, Patrick Dempsey and George Lopez. It was directed by Garry Marshall, who’s also directed other well-known romantic comedies like Pretty Woman and The Princess Diaries.

Valentine’s Day portrays many types of love and puts an emphasis on the importance of having love in your life. There is a lot of talk about love and sex, and there are scenes that show kissing and other suggestive behavior. There is also some uses of profane language including the words "bitch" and "ass." All of these reasons make it inappropriate for children, tweens and younger teenagers.

While the movie may not provide any outstanding lessons or themes, it may give parents and their teens a good opportunity to talk about the many types of relationships portrayed on screen.