What we flagged
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Our take
Three sisters argue over the phone while their father is in hospital. Hanging Up has funny moments, but illness, old family hurts and worries about death sit underneath the banter. There is some strong swearing and a reference to a past suicide attempt. We would start at US PG-13.
Uplifting themes
Forgiveness and showing up for family peek through the snark. The story also shows how pride can keep people from saying what they mean The sisters are flawed but eventually lean toward honesty. None is a clean hero, yet they try to protect their mother and each other
Story (may spoil tone)
Three sisters - Georgia, Eve, and Maddy - do what they do best with life, love, and lunacy on the telephone lines that bind - when their curmudgeonly father, Lou, is admitted to a Los Angeles Hospital. After years of wild living, intermittent affection, and constant phoning, he is finally threatening to die.
What we flagged
Details
Violence Most conflict is verbal. A father's gun collection comes up in stories,…
Most conflict is verbal. A father's gun collection comes up in stories, and sisters shout about a past suicide attempt, but nobody is hurt on screen in the present-day story
Language The sisters and their father swear when arguments flare. The f-word com…
The sisters and their father swear when arguments flare. The f-word comes up twice, with milder swearing more often
Sex / nudity Adults talk about affairs, sleeping together, and kissing trends at par…
Adults talk about affairs, sleeping together, and kissing trends at parties. Nothing explicit is shown, but the relationship talk is clearly grown-up
Drugs / alcohol Wine and social drinking appear at gatherings, and dialogue mentions a…
Wine and social drinking appear at gatherings, and dialogue mentions a painkiller overdose and calls a relative a drunk. The film treats the overdose as past family history, not a how-to
Frightening Hospital tension and fear that a parent may die create a sad, anxious m…
Hospital tension and fear that a parent may die create a sad, anxious mood throughout. There are no horror beats or jump scares, just sustained worry
Self-harm / suicide Characters discuss a father's past suicide attempt and an overdose in p…
Characters discuss a father's past suicide attempt and an overdose in plain language. No method is shown and nobody attempts suicide on screen in the present
Grief / bereavement The sisters orbit a father who may be dying, and the film stays on fune…
The sisters orbit a father who may be dying, and the film stays on funeral planning, regret, and old grudges. The mood is more brittle comedy than weepy, but the loss feels close
Flashing lights We have not confirmed whether this version contains flashing lights.
We have not confirmed whether this version contains flashing lights.
Family watch notes
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Talk after watching
- Each sister handles the crisis differently. Which reaction felt most understandable to you, and why?
- They say harsh things on the phone that they might not say face to face. When does venting help, and when does it hurt?
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Hanging Up
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