Common Sense Media Review
By Nell Minow , based on child development research. How do we rate?
age 11+
Film about robot who wants to be human is so-so.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 11+?
Any Positive Content?
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Language
some
Some four letter words.
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Drinking, Drugs & Smoking
a little
Social drinking.
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Violence & Scariness
very little
Mild.
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Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that this film has some mild profanity and sexual references, including a "facts of life" discussion, Andrew's adaptation so that he can have sex (but not children), a post-sex conversation in bed, and one of the most romantic descriptions of the sex act ever written. There are also ill-behaved and surly children whose behavior is not curtailed by the family. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
Where to Watch
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Bicentennial Man
Parent and Kid Reviews
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- Parents say (6)
- Kids say (5)
age 11+
Based on 6 parent reviews
slowcelebral Adult
June 27, 2020
age 16+
Good Movie but not for kids under 16
PG rating is very misleading. Words $hit and a$$ were used several times during the movie. Discussion of Sexual intercourse and org*sm was brought up twice. Mention of man's genitalia and a couple were shown in bed implying that they just had sex. Several scenes of couple kissing on lips and one long French kiss. Kind f shocked really to see MPAA gave it a rating of PG.
doctora Parent of 7-year-old
December 21, 2023
age 11+
A bit of a Williams snoozer
This film can be placed in a whole bucket of Williams' films that aim for sentimentalization and reach to be as potent as Dead Poet's Society but fall too short of that mark and end up in a bucket of saccharine. Williams is always interesting and perhaps if I were younger when I saw it I would like it, but I wasn't and it was not. It's dutiful and predictable and we end up caring for Williams, but the coincidences in the film are a bit much and then I just kind of wonder what the whole point is.
Rate movie
See all 6 parent reviews
What's the Story?
Set in the not too distant future, this adaptation of Isaac Asimov's story stars Robin Williams as Andrew, a robot in the Martins' fancy home. Although the family elects not to activate the "personality chip," they see that there is something special about Andrew's wiring, a spark of consciousness, creativity, and yearning. Mr. Martin (Sam Neill) promises to help Andrew become all that he can. This is fine when he is teaching Andrew about history, biology, and even humor, and when he wants to be adapted so that he can show more expression in his face, but less fine when Andrew wants freedom. And he is uncomfortable with his growing affection for Andrew: "You can't invest your feelings in a machine." Martin's understanding daughter, "Little Miss," (Embeth Daviditz) does not hesitate to care deeply for Andrew, and remains close to him all her life.
Is It Any Good?
Our review:
Parents say (6):
Kids say (5):
Overall, BICENTENNIAL MAN is a sweet movie that gives families a good opportunity to talk about what makes us human. As Andrew lives on past the lives of his original family, he stays close to their descendants, especially "Little Miss's" look-alike granddaughter, Portia. He uses the latest technology to provide himself with skin, hair, a neural system, a digestive system, and finally, to become fully human, mortality. Just like Woody in Toy Story 2, Andrew has a choice between pristine immortality and a limited, uncertain, but deeply engaged existence.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what makes us human. Why did Andrew's makers want to remove what made him special? Why did Andrew want to find others like himself? What do you think made him different? When do you think he became human? When he created something? When he wanted freedom? When he felt love? When he allowed himself to grow old and die? Why did he stop referring to himself as "one?" Why didn't some people in the family like Andrew? Why didn't Andrew like Portia at first? Why did he want to be with her, when he didn't like her? Do you think that's what life will be like in the future? What would it be like to have a robot in our house?
Movie Details
- In theaters: December 17, 1999
- On DVD or streaming: June 13, 2000
- Cast: Embeth Davidtz, Robin Williams, Sam Neill
- Director: Chris Columbus
- Inclusion Information: Female actors
- Studio: Touchstone Pictures
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Robots
- Run time: 132 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG
- MPAA explanation: language and some sexual content
- Last updated: August 9, 2024
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Bicentennial Man
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