Today’s Prayer Focus

Knockaround Guys

MPA Rating: R-Rating (MPA)

for violence, language and some drug use.

Moral Rating:	not reviewed
Moviemaking Quality:
Primary Audience:	Adults
Genre:	Crime Drama
Length:	1 hr. 32 min.
Year of Release:	2002
USA Release:	October 11, 2002 DVD: February 25, 2003

Relevant Issues

Andrew Davoli, Seth Green, Barry Pepper and Vin Diesel in Knockaround Guys

father son relationships

death of a friend

murder in the Bible

crime / organized crime

money in the Bible

stealing money

thieves in the Bible: theft, robbery, the two thieves

FILM VIOLENCE—How does viewing violence in movies affect families? Answer

greed

betrayal

corruption—dirty cop

dealing in illegal drugs—cocaine

drug use

Featuring	Barry Pepper, Vin Diesel, Seth Green, Andrew Davoli, John Malkovich
Director	David Levien Brian Koppelman
Producer	Lawrence Bender Brian Koppelman David Levien
Distributor	New Line Cinema, division of Warner Bros. Pictures

“How many friends can you trust with your life?”

Here’s what the distributor says about their film: “Four sons of a big-time Brooklyn mobster get assigned to a new job: travel to a small-town in Montana and grab a bag of cash. Sounds easy enough but the town’s corrupt sheriff changes the plan.”

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.

Young people
Critics

Comments from young people

Positive—“Knockaround Guys” was a good mob flick, with a redeeming ending. There are lots of curse words and some unexpected deaths, that I found sad, but some may say they had it coming to them. The violence can get bloody, but not graphic. But what a great cast of characters they put together (note: this isn’t one of Seth Greens funniest movies, but he did a great job acting!).

There are lots of positive morals in here, but I do recommend it to a mature audience. Afterwards have a discussion with whomever you saw it with, and talk about how redemption is a key part of Jesus saving us. Personally, I thought it was good, but it had a happy/sad ending.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Average / Moviemaking quality: 4½

Emmanuel, age 15 (USA)

PLEASE share your observations and insights to be posted here.

Movie Critics

…This movie has a dark, rough, gruff tone and never really solves the performance-orientation that rejected children feel with their parents. It will no doubt leave Christian audiences feeling the hollow perspectives of a non-Christian lifestyle…

Lisa Rice, Movieguide

…at least 75 “f” words and other expletives…

ScreenIt!

…Although Knockaround Guys has the trimmed-down look of a studio trying to cut its losses, the movie plays like an entertaining B Western as a bunch of junior mobsters tangle with the corrupt sheriff of a small Montana town…

Bill Muller, The Arizona Republic