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ChildCare Action Project: Christian Analysis of American Culture (CAP Ministry) www.capalert.com/ Entertainment Media Analysis Report A service to His little ones (which includes at-home teens) through you, their parents and grandparents, in His name by His Word MAR23127 (2003), PG-13 Analysis Date CAP Final Score CAP Influence Density MinMax December 12, 2003 56 out of 100 0.97 -100

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ALERT: To fully understand this report you should first visit the topics suggested by the CAP Site Map (Table of Contents). Further, if you do not want the plot, ending, or "secrets" of a movie spoiled for you, skip the Summary/Commentary. In any case, be sure to visit the Findings/Scoring section -- it is completely objective to His Word and is the heart of the CAP Entertainment Media Analysis Model applied to this movie.

SUMMARY / COMMENTARY: If Scriptural references appear, the full text appears at the end of the Summary / Commentary likely using a mix of KJV and NIV. (2003), PG-13 -- ... a story of geriatric immorality. Cast/Crew Details Courtesy Internet Movie Database Production (US): Columbia Pictures Corporation, Waverly Films Distribution (US): Sony Pictures Entertainment Director(s): Nancy Meyers Producer(s): Bruce A. Block, Suzanne McNeill Farwell, Nancy Meyers Written by: Nancy Meyers Cinematography/Camera: Michael Ballhaus Music: Original - Blake Neely, Hans Zimmer. Non-original - Ary Barroso, Henri Betti, Cliff Burwell, George Gershwin, Chrissie Hynde, Louiguy, Charles Trenet, Marcos Valle, Harry Warren Film Editing: Joe Hutshing Casting: Janet Hirshenson, Jane Jenkins Production Design: Jon Hutman Art Direction: Steve Graham, John Warnke Viewed At: Driftwood Theater 6 I guess the most foul of the foul words and God's name in vain with the four letter expletive are no longer reasons for declaring an R rating. The MPAA must think like a lot of teenagers who have told me things like "What's the difference? They're just words and we've heard them all before!" To that, let me say the first time of a sin does not excuse the second. Nor does the second time excuse the third -- or the thousandth. Nor does the thousandth excuse the first. While it is not a sin for Johnny to hear Jimmy say a foul word, it is sinful for Jimmy to say it and to influence Johnny with it. And it is sinful for Johnny (and Jimmy) if Johnny starts using it because of Jimmy ... or because of the movies [Luke 17:2]. Because of this copycat influential relationship and because of the massive influence of the entertainment industry, it is our position that the only exofamilial influence that more deeply and intimately saturates our youth than the entertainment industry is air. [Matt. 18:10] Of the 30 uses of foul language and God's name in vain, 7 were of the three/four letter word variety [Prov. 22:11], two were the most foul of the foul words [Col. 3:8] and 31 were of God's name in vain, once with the four letter expletive [Deut. 5:11]. And with full female frontal nudity repeatedly, off screen intercourse, multiple rear male nudity, nude in-bed antics and long discourse about approval of immoral sex, how the MPAA can justify this film as fit for your 13 year old kids (or anyone for that matter) is beyond me. [1Ths. 4:1-5; Rev. 22:15] I hope Something's Gotta Give is "beyond" you and your kids, but that is your call to make. We just give you the details about the content of films plus some application of Scripture to noted behaviors/imagery so you can make an informed decision whether a film is or is not fit for your family. Only a score of 100 in each of the Wanton Violence/Crime (W) and Murder/Suicide (M) investigation areas saved this "cess-xual" film from the "R-13" realm. Loss of only two more points in any of the six CAP investigation areas would have dumped this flick into the growing R-13 cancer. I guess the MPAA are now the ones who decide for you what is and is not fit for your kids, huh? Well? The current movie rating system is just another theft of another piece of your parental authority, mom/dad. What are you gonna do about it? (Aren't you getting a little tired of it? That is what we are trying to help you with.) maybe one day the CAP analysis model will replace the MPAA. Now there's a thought! You would then have full control of your family's entertainment diet again! In a tale so suggestive of "Jack and Diane" by John Cougar Melencamp, Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton team up with Keanu Reeves (what's he doing here?), Frances McDormand and Amanda Peet to bring us a story of geriatric immorality, all justified as comedy of course. Nicholson plays the part of 63 year old Harry Sanborn, a record company owner bachelor from Manhattan who avoids romancing any woman over 30. Sanborn's current sights are set on Marin Barry (Amanda Peet), daughter of the famous recently retired and divorced after 20 years of marriage, Erica Barry (Diane Keaton). As Sanborn and Marin team up to shack up at her mother's house for the weekend mom shows up with aunt Zoe (Frances McDormand), feminist Columbia University professor. Well, now. What to do? Marin is an adult with a mind of her own and mom is the one who is uninvited in her own home which the pesky pair who do not own it decided to use as their shack up shack. So what's a progressive and enlightened mother with a feminist sister to do but approve? How can mom say "No?" Her daughter is all "growed up" and mom wasn't supposed to be in her house for the weekend! Sanborn has a mild coronary while dancing and Dr. Julian Mercer (Keanu Reeves) decides Sanborn must not travel during his recovery -- Manhattan can wait. So, Sanborn is now confined to Erica's house. How serendipitous it is that Dr. Mercer is an obsessed fan of Erica's. Now he has the perfect opportunity to begin a romance with her. Now Mercer has an excuse to see Erica' at his convenience. And Sanborn now has an excuse to see Marin at his convenience, too. That is a nutshell of the start of the movie. And it gets morally worse. It is indeed a modern comedy but that is the problem. I am sorry I cannot tell you more but I have to shorten these Summary/Commentary sections to save costs. Not to worry. the Findings/Scoring sections - the heart of the CAP analysis model - are not shortened or compromised in any way. So, please inspect the listing in the Findings/Scoring section in detail before you decide whether to let your teens (and yourselves) see Something's Gotta Give. SPECIAL NOTE: We will be reducing the volume of coverage in the Summary/Commentary section of our reports and the number of reports generated in an effort to reduce costs until full funding can be achieved. The Findings/Scoring section of each report, the heart of the analysis model, will NOT be reduced in any way. Thank you for your patience as we diligently search for funding. Anyone who wishes to volunteer to help us locate 501(c)(3) nonprofit funding and sponsors is encouraged to notify me. ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo SCRIPTURAL APPLICATION(S) If needed to focus or fortify, applicable text is underlined or bracketed [ ]. If you wish to have full context available, the Blue Letter Bible is a convenient source. If you use the Blue Letter Bible, a new window will open. Close it to return here or use "Window" in your browser's menu bar to alternate between the CAP page and the Blue Letter Bible page. Matt. 18:10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. ["Despise" is kataphroneo {kat-af-ron-eh'-o}: 1) to condemn, despise, disdain, think little or nothing of (which includes abuse, even by influence) and "little ones" includes at-home teens. So, if you have taught a "little one" to sin with foul language, the Father knows it.] Prov. 22:11 He who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious will have the king for his friend. Col. 3:8 But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Deut. 5:11 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain: for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. [Vain is shav' {shawv}: emptiness, nothingness, vanity, such as an expletive. With or without the four letter expletive, the use of God's name in any way other than respect, reverence or thoughtful discussion is in vain. That includes the popular three syllable sentence with His name trailing it AND the misuse of Jesus' name.] 1Ths. 4:1-5 Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his [or her] own body [which includes control of drives, touching, seeking, lusting (even after images), promiscuity, etc.] in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; Rev. 22:15 Outside [of Heaven] are the dogs, those [unforgiven] who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. ***Selected Scriptures of Armour against the influence of the entertainment industry*** Ps. 12:8 The wicked freely strut about [e.g., create progressively vile/offensive entertainment with impunity and no consequences and present it to younger and younger audiences every year] when what is vile is honored among men [when enough people continue to defend it, embrace it, pay for it, enjoy it, want it, submit to it. I call attention to Ps. 12:8 to warn of the creeping desensitizing power of "entertainment."] Col. 2:8 Beware lest any man [by his influence] spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 1 Cor. 15:33 (KJV) Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. (NIV) Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character. Rom. 5:19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. Jude 4 For certain men* whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change [warp, distort, falsely represent, situationally redefine, counterfeit, conditionally apply] the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord. [*men: anthropos {anth'-ro-pos}, generic, a human being, whether male or female] Matt. 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto [or for] one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto [or for] me. Luke 17:2 It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. [cause by teaching or example] Ps. 119:133 Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me. John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. 1 Thess. 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil. ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo As always, it is best to refer to the Findings/Scoring section -- the heart of the CAP analysis model -- for the most complete assessment possible of this movie.

FINDINGS / SCORING: Wanton Violence/Crime (W) none noted Impudence/Hate (I) 7 uses of the three/four letter word vocabulary two uses of the most foul of the foul words an order to lie mother's approval of daughter's sexual immorality Sexual Immorality (S) camera angle to force viewer n private parts, repeatedly stripping to underwear - female woman on man in underwear inappropriate touch, repeatedly adult in underwear, repeatedly rear male nudity (hospital gown opening) excessive cleavage, repeatedly sex talk dressing to maximize the female form and/or skin exposure sexual innuendo, repeatedly full frontal female nudity, repeatedly anatomical reference planning sexually immoral activities man on woman in bed man stripping woman for sex imagery of oral sex intercourse off screen man and woman in bed making out long discourse about approval of immoral sex cohabitation, repeatedly woman in shower multiple full rear male nudity man and woman in bed Drugs/Alcohol (D): smoking, repeatedly dinner wine drinking bar Offense to God (O) one use of God's name in vain with the four letter expletive and 30 without reliance on zen Murder/Suicide (M) none noted

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There are some in the entertainment industry who maintain that 1) violent programming is harmless because no studies exist that prove a connection between violent entertainment and aggressive behavior in children, and 2) young people know that television, movies, and video games are simply fantasy. Unfortunately, they are wrong on both accounts." And "Viewing violence may lead to real life violence." I applaud these associations for fortifying 1 Cor. 15:33. Read the rest of the story. From our more than eight years of study, I contend that other aberrant behaviors, attitudes, and expressions can be inserted in place of "violence" in that statement. Our Director - Child Psychology Support, a licensed psychologist and certified school psychologist concurs. For example, "Viewing arrogance against fair authority may lead to your kids defying you in real life." Or "Viewing sex may lead to sex in real life." Likewise and especially with impudence, hate and foul language. I further contend that any positive behavior can be inserted in place of "violence" with the same chance or likelihood of being a behavior template for the observer; of being incorporated into the behavior mechanics and/or coping skills of the observer. In choosing your entertainment, please consider carefully the "rest of the story" and our findings.

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