What Rhymes with Reason
By Christie Cronan,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Adventure drama addresses teen mental health; language.
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What Rhymes with Reason
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What's the Story?
WHAT RHYMES WITH REASON follows the story of teen Jesse Brandt (Gattlin Griffith) and his crew, which includes his cousin Billy (Ricardo Hurtado), sister Savannah (Katie Burgess), and friends Eli (LaRonn Marzett), Reena (Giselle Torres), and Zack (Juan Carlos Graterol Jr.). In the wake of a tragic loss, the group embarks on a quest to locate a hidden landmark deep in the wilderness. Finding adventure and self-discovery along the way, the teens must navigate their own inner struggles, learn to lean on one another, and have faith to persevere and overcome life's challenges.
Is It Any Good?
This modern take on The Goonies meets The Breakfast Club tackles important mental health topics like anxiety, depression, and suicide prevention in a way that's relatable to teens. Keeping the adventure light and the emotions deep, What Rhymes with Reason is successful at conveying the importance of taking care of your mental health, communicating your emotions, and asking for help. The movie's compelling and emotional acting, humor, and visual imagery ultimately overshadow the lack of CGI and visual effects. And the film successfully reminds us that no one should ever have to struggle alone.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the topic of teen mental health is addressed in What Rhymes with Reason. Is the movie successful in conveying messages about the importance of taking care of your anxiety/depression and the importance of suicide prevention? What resources are available to help both kids and adults?
How can you demonstrate empathy when someone is suffering loss/grief after a tragedy?
Why is it important to open up and talk to someone about your emotions when you're feeling low?
Can you think of other movies with a similar plot or structure? What do they tend to have in common?
Movie Details
- In theaters: October 20, 2023
- On DVD or streaming: February 6, 2024
- Cast: Gattlin Griffith , Giselle Torres , Ricardo Hurtado , LaRonn Marzett
- Director: Kyle William Roberts
- Studio: Virgil Films and Entertainment
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Adventures , Friendship , High School
- Character Strengths: Communication , Compassion , Empathy , Perseverance
- Run time: 125 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG-13
- MPAA explanation: thematic material involving mental health and brief violence
- Last updated: May 1, 2024
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