SCREEN IT! PARENTAL REVIEW: CRUSH

"CRUSH"
(2002) (Andie MacDowell, Anna Chancellor) (R)

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

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

Sex/ Nudity	Smoking	Tense Family Scenes	Topics To Talk About	Violence
Extreme	Extreme	Minor	Moderate	Moderate

QUICK TAKE:: Romantic Comedy/Drama: Three women's weekly gatherings of commiserating over their romantic woes are threatened when one of them begins seeing a young man nearly half her age.

PLOT:

Kate (ANDIE MacDOWELL) is the American headmistress of a private school in a small English town. Janine (IMELDA STAUNTON) is a divorced, single mom and local police inspector. Molly (ANNA CHANCELLOR) is a physician who's been divorced many times. The three are friends who get together every week to drink, smoke and commiserate about their lousy love lives, with the winner/loser getting a token box of caramels as their consolation prize.

It's not that the women don't have suitors, and Kate's is Gerald (BILL PATERSON), the local reverend who's looking for a companion. She likes him, but unexpectedly finds herself smitten with Jed (KENNY DOUGHTY), the church's replacement organist. Despite him being a former student half her age, Kate has sex with him in the cemetery and the two start dating.

Janine and especially Molly can't believe what Kate's doing, and try - in no uncertain terms - to tell her that. Yet, Kate is happy for the first time in a long time and begins to resent the intrusion and second-guessing of her judgment. As Molly and Janine keep pushing their beliefs on Kate to the point of going too far, they threaten the very companionship and friendship they cherish so much.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?: Unless they're fans of someone in the cast, it doesn't seem very likely.

WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: R: For sexuality and language.

CAST AS ROLE MODELS:: ANDIE MacDOWELL plays the single headmistress at a private school who has a sexual fling with a much younger man (and her former student) that turns into romance. She must then deal with her friends' reaction to that. She drinks, smokes and uses profanity.
IMELDA STAUNTON plays her divorced, forty-something friend who's a police inspector. She also drinks, smokes, and reluctantly goes along with Molly's plan to prove how "wrong" Kate is to be involved with Jed.
ANNA CHANCELLOR plays their other friend, a physician who's been divorced several times. She drinks, smokes, uses strong profanity and sets out to ruin Kate's relationship with Jed.
KENNY DOUGHTY plays Kate's former student and current organist at the local church who has sex with Kate and then falls for her. He also drinks and smokes.
BILL PATERSON plays the local reverend who's sweet on Kate.; IMELDA STAUNTON plays her divorced, forty-something friend who's a police inspector. She also drinks, smokes, and reluctantly goes along with Molly's plan to prove how "wrong" Kate is to be involved with Jed.
ANNA CHANCELLOR plays their other friend, a physician who's been divorced several times. She drinks, smokes, uses strong profanity and sets out to ruin Kate's relationship with Jed.
KENNY DOUGHTY plays Kate's former student and current organist at the local church who has sex with Kate and then falls for her. He also drinks and smokes.
BILL PATERSON plays the local reverend who's sweet on Kate.; ANNA CHANCELLOR plays their other friend, a physician who's been divorced several times. She drinks, smokes, uses strong profanity and sets out to ruin Kate's relationship with Jed.
KENNY DOUGHTY plays Kate's former student and current organist at the local church who has sex with Kate and then falls for her. He also drinks and smokes.
BILL PATERSON plays the local reverend who's sweet on Kate.; KENNY DOUGHTY plays Kate's former student and current organist at the local church who has sex with Kate and then falls for her. He also drinks and smokes.
BILL PATERSON plays the local reverend who's sweet on Kate.; BILL PATERSON plays the local reverend who's sweet on Kate.

CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO

HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE

Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit?
Then read OUR TAKE of this film.

(Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below).

OUR WORD TO PARENTS:

The following is a brief summary of the content found in this R-rated romantic comedy/drama. Profanity consists of at least 16 "f" words, while other expletives and colorful phrases are also used. Sexually related dialogue - some of it explicit - is also present, as are various sexual encounters that show movement, some nudity (a man's bare butt), and include related sounds. A woman passionately kisses another woman, and some nonsexual nudity is also present (women's bare breasts in photos/posters, the top of a woman's bare butt).

Various characters have varying degrees of bad attitudes, while they and others drink and smoke throughout the film. A few scenes may be unnerving or suspenseful to some viewers, including that of a character dying in a hospital after accidentally being struck by a truck. Several scenes show some blood and/or vomiting.

If you're still concerned about the film and its appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home who may be interested in seeing it, we suggest that you take a closer look at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content.

ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE: Molly drinks.
The three women drink while telling their tales of romantic woe.
People drink in a restaurant.
Various people drink at a party, where Janine appears intoxicated and a man brings wine for her and himself.
Various people drink at a dance.
Janine drinks.
The three women have wine in front of them.
Various people drink wine.
Molly shows at up Kate's place for dinner carrying some champagne and we then see some wine. Janine drinks, Jed has a beer, and everyone has drinks with dinner. Later, Jed appears intoxicated.
Janine looks up Jed's record and sees that he was arrested for possession of some drug with the intent to distribute it a few years back. When Kate angrily confronts him about that, he states that he'll never touch it again if that's what she wants. She then says that she doesn't want him to do that and then asks if it's any good.
Molly and Janine drink.
The women have wine with lunch where others also drink.
Jed has a beer.
Janine drinks.
Molly drinks a beer.
Gerald mentions having a drink with Kate and later is seen with boxes of liquor in his car for a wedding reception.
Molly and Janine drink.
Janine and a date have wine with dinner.
People drink at a barbeque.
The three women drink gin.

BLOOD/GORE: A person has some bloody scrapes on their face and body after a truck accidentally hits them.
We briefly see a person vomiting.
We see Kate sitting on a toilet holding some toilet paper with a little blood on it.
Kate vomits on Gerald from nerves and we then see it on his suit.

DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE: Some viewers may take offense at Jed and Kate having sex in or around a church (including on a tombstone in the cemetery).
Janine and especially Molly are not supportive of Kate's decision to see Jed, and Molly isn't nice to him. They eventually decide they must try to undermine the relationship to "protect" Kate from making a mistake and so Molly decides to try to seduce Jed to prove his unfaithfulness. They later interfere with her life again, thinking they're doing so in her "best" interests.
Janine looks up Jed's record and sees that he was arrested for possession of some drug with the intent to distribute it.
Some young women (and employees of a store) giggle about Kate getting married.
Kate nearly cheats on Jed with a stranger she's just met in Paris (but she decides against it in his motel room).

FRIGHTENING SCENES: Some of the following are played for laughs rather than suspense.
Being somewhat intoxicated, Janine gets into a stranger's car for a lift home from a party, and then realizes things aren't right. She then jumps from the car and takes off running through the woods.
We see Molly giving CPR to a man in a restaurant (who's then okay).
Janine and others arrive on a scene where an older man with a rifle is firing shots into the air (they arrest him with no problems or gunfire).
A truck accidentally strikes a person standing in the middle of a country road at night. We then see emergency room people trying to save that person, but their efforts are futile.

GUNS/WEAPONS: Handguns/Machine guns: Carried by Janine and others as they arrive on a scene where an older man with a rifle is firing shots into the air (they arrest him with no problems or gunfire).

IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR: Phrases: "What the f*ck use are you then?" "Oh, f*ck off," "I am the saddest f*ck of the week," "Oh, f*ck," "Why the f*ck should I?" "Bullsh*t," "Shut up," "Bloody" (adjective), "Bloke" (man), "Bastard," "Bollocks," "Fag" (cigarette), "What the hell do you know about...?" and "You stupid cow."
Molly tries to ruin Kate's relationship with Jed by attempting to get him to cheat on Kate with her.

JUMP SCENES: A truck accidentally strikes a person standing in the middle of a country road at night.

MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE): A mild amount of such music plays in several scenes.

MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE): None.

PROFANITY: At least 16 "f" words (2 used sexually as are the terms "shag" and "rogering"), 5 "s" words, 1 slang term for female genitals ("p*ssy"), 2 slang terms for breasts ("t*ts"), 2 asses, 1 bollocks, 1 damn, 1 hell, 9 uses of "God," 2 of "Oh God" and 1 use each of "Christ," "My God," "Dear God," "Oh Christ" and "Good God" as exclamations.

SEX/NUDITY: In a flashback, we hear Molly telling her date that she's glad she brought her toothbrush for the weekend, but he tells her that they're not going to have sex, prompting her to ask, "What the f*ck use are you then?"
In another flashback, we see Janine making out with a guy outside a party.
We hear sexual sounds and then see a shot of Jed having sex on top of Kate in the church cemetery (they've just met). We see his bare butt, her bare leg up alongside his body, and movement. After they're done, she lets out a double-entendre by saying, "Nice organ" (he's the church organist).
The next day, Kate tells her friends that she had sex with a 25-year-old at a funeral on a tombstone. A slang term is then used for sex, and Molly mentions something about Gerald dying to "shag you over a tombstone."
A comment is made about being "f*cked senseless."
We see Kate in her panties as Molly examines her in her doctor's office.
Kate and Jed have sex in a parked car. We hear sexual sounds and see some bare feet up against the window, along with the car rocking back and forth. We then see her putting her panties back on inside the car. She asks Jed if he wanted to do that when she was teaching him (when he was a young teen) and he says he did (she playfully replies that's "hideously perverted"). When she asks if this is a "thing," he says that once is an accident, twice is a coincidence and that three is a thing. They both smile, Kate then removes her panties, he moves toward her and it's implied that they have more sex.
Molly asks Janine if her teenage son is masturbating (by making the hand gesture for it).
One of the women asks Kate if she's had sex again, and Kate initially lies that she didn't, but Molly says she can smell "man" on her.
Kate and Jed have sex up against a wall outside the church with brief movement and sounds.
We see Kate and Jed making out at church, and she drops his shirt down and there's more kissing. Later, Kate thinks she sees Jed bent over at his organ and so she playfully grabs his clothed butt (it turns out to be Gerald who's surprised but happy to see her). There's a double entendre when Jed enters and Kate comments on his organ playing. Jed then responds, "My organ is at your service whenever you like."
Jed chases Kate around Molly's place where she's babysitting the doctor's dog. He then has her wait while bent over the arm of a sofa. He then returns, dressed as a doctor, approaches her from behind (we see this looking directly at her from the other side of the sofa), lifts up whatever she's wearing (no nudity) and has sex with her (brief movement, no nudity). Molly and Janine then unexpectedly walk in and catch them. Kate then admits that she has sex and that she likes it and him.
We see Jed and Kate in bed, talking (with the sheets just covering her breasts and he's shirtless).
We see Kate's bare back and the top of her bare butt while she's on the phone.
Molly keeps staring at Jed's clothed butt at a dinner where some sexually related dialogue takes place.
Molly looks up Jed's medical records and notes that he had "the clap" (gonorrhea) twice and mentions something about being sexually active for a person of his age.
Gerald overhears Kate reprimanding someone in her office for being "naughty," but it's implied that it's Jed and that they're fooling around.
Molly mentions something about "sexual intercourse."
After her friends have taken her to Paris to show her what she's been missing with Jed, we see Kate in a hotel room with an older man. He's shirtless and in bed while she's in her negligee and he kisses her. During this, she imagines being with Jed (we see some flashbacks including that of Jed apparently performing oral sex on her - we see her reactions) and decides she can't sleep with this man.
Molly states that before her previous marriage, her fianc� had an affair with a vicar the night before the wedding.
Molly mentions to Kate something about Jed having nine different ways of "rogering you" (slang for sex).
Kate straddles Jed on a chair at night outside and they kiss.
As some men play poker, we briefly see some posters/photos on the wall of bare-breasted women.
Molly tries to ruin Kate's relationship with Jed by attempting to get him to cheat on Kate with her. He tells her that he's heard that she "shags rich blokes." She then whispers something into his ear and he asks if she'd be willing to do that here and right now. He then says something about her forgetting to take her knickers off, but she says she didn't. He then says that he's not interested, but Molly keeps coming on to him, including showing her cleavage. He then feels her clothed breast and runs his hand along her thigh, but then lets her know he's not interested.
Kate's mad after walking in on the above and taking it out of context. She then mentions something about him wanting to "f*ck her."
We see Kate sitting on a toilet and see the side of her bare thigh.
When talking about Gerald, Kate says, "I haven't even had sex with him."
Janine briefly talks about her new love, a man we see who tells her on a date, "I want to be in your p*ssy right now."
Trying to make her ex-husband jealous after spotting him at a gathering, Molly suddenly grabs a stranger and passionately kisses her. After the initial shock, the two realize they like that and passionately kiss some more. She later comments that she's mainly straight.

SMOKING: Molly smokes around 15 times, Kate smokes more than 5 times, while Janine and Jed smoke several times, as do some miscellaneous characters.

TENSE FAMILY SCENES: We hear that Molly was married three times before, and learn that Janine is a divorced, single mom.

TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT: Being a middle-aged, single woman.
Having sex with someone you've just met (Kate does so with Jed, although she formerly knew him years ago as a student).
People getting too involved in their friends' personal affairs, including relationships.
How misery seems to love company (the women like to get together and commiserate about their romantic woes).

VIOLENCE: Various dancers accidentally tumble to the floor in a chain reaction as Molly lets go of her partner (after being distracted by Kate's news).
Kate hits Jed on the chest and then smacks him while upset with him.
A truck accidentally strikes a person standing in the middle of a country road at night, resulting in fatal injuries (the person is declared dead in the hospital).

Reviewed March 25, 2002 / Posted April 19, 2002

Other new and recent reviews include:

Privacy Statement and Terms of Use and Disclaimer
By entering this site you acknowledge to having read and agreed to the above conditions.