SENSE AND SENSIBILITY

"SENSE AND SENSIBILITY"
(1995) (Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant) (PG)

Alcohol/ Drugs	Blood/Gore	Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude	Frightening/ Tense Scenes	Guns/ Weapons
Minor	Minor	Mild	Minor	Minor

Imitative Behavior	Jump Scenes	Music (Scary/Tense)	Music (Inappropriate)	Profanity
Minor	None	None	None	Minor

Sex/ Nudity	Smoking	Tense Family Scenes	Topics To Talk About	Violence
Minor	None	Minor	Minor	Minor

QUICK TAKE:: Two sisters share their experiences as they try to find romance for themselves and for each other.

PLOT:: Elinor (EMMA THOMPSON) and Marianne Dashwood (KATE WINSLET) are sisters who have to move from their estate when their father dies. Taking up residence in a family friend's cottage, the two begin their goal of each finding a good man. While Elinor is the more restrained and level headed of the two, Marianne is more passionate and impulsive about love. Although she has a good man, Colonel Brandon (ALAN RICKMAN), courting her, she's more attracted to the dashing John Wilhoughby (GREG WISE). Meanwhile Elinor is hard pressed to admit her fondness of Edward Ferrars (HUGH GRANT), "a man incapable of going back on his word," who seems smitten with her. Another woman, Lucy Steele (IMOGEN STUBBS) is also attracted to Edward, however, and soon both Elinor and Marianne discover that love is not as easy as it seems and both go through some heartache before finally finding joy.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?: Not unless they're familiar with the Jane Austin novel.

CAST AS ROLE MODELS:: Other than the two male suitor characters (Ferrars and Wilhoughby) who misrepresent themselves in the world of love and romance, there are no bad role models in this production.

CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO

HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE

OUR TAKE: 6 out of 10: This is an enjoyable, if not fast paced film. The performances are excellent all around and the story will keep an adult's interest. If, however, you like your films loud and action filled, then this isn't the movie for you. We didn't enjoy this as much as the latest Jane Austin adaption, "Emma," simply because this adaption seems too constrained. The characters want to act upon their goals, but they're held back by their own insecurities and this might drive some viewers a bit stir crazy. Still, that's just this reviewer's take on that and many will find it immensely enjoyable and not notice the pacing. But for that reason, we give it a 6 out of 10 instead of the higher rating it might have gotten for a more interesting and forward moving plot.

OUR WORD TO PARENTS:: There's nothing to object to at all in this film and it could easily have been given a G rating. You can read through the category listings, but we doubt you'll find much to object to. It's too bad that this film won't be a greater draw to kids since it's about as innocent a film as you'll find.

BLOOD/ GORE: A bowl of blood and Marianne's slightly bloody arm are seen after a "blood letting" where a doctor is treating her.

DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE: Both Edward and Wilhoughby court the Dashwood women while they are actually involved with other "out of town" women.

FRIGHTENING/TENSE SCENES: Wilhoughby "rescues" Marianne in a rainstorm after she's sprained her ankle. The youngest of kids might find this scene a little bit scary, but older kids will not.
Marianne gets a disease and is believed to be dying and looks very sick in bed. Again, this may be a little disturbing to younger kids.

GUNS/WEAPONS: Edward and young Margaret Dashwood are seen "sword fighting" with wooden swords.
Hunting rifles are seen being cleaned.

IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR: Edward and Wilhoughby lie about not being in other relationships when they really are.

SEX/NUDITY: There really isn't any, but there's a fair amount of cleavage seen in the low cut, period dresses.
Also there's brief talk of another character (never seen) who had an illegitimate child.

TENSE FAMILY SCENES: A son (who is half brother to Elinor and Marianne) visits their father on his deathbed where he makes the son promise to take care of the women in the family.

TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT: Class differences between the elite and the "common folk."
A bowl of blood and Marianne's slightly bloody arm are seen after a "blood letting" where a doctor is treating her.

VIOLENCE: Edward's mother and Lucy briefly struggle after Lucy tells her of her engagement.

Reviewed September 5, 1996

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