The Perfect Storm parents guide

The Perfect Storm Parent Guide

Overall B-

Based on a true story, The Perfect Storm follows the life and death struggle of the crew (played by George Clooney and Mark Wahlberg, John C. Reilly, William Fichtner and Michael Ironside) of a small fishing vessel that is caught in the midst of mother natures' wrath.

Release date June 30, 2000

Violence C-
Sexual Content C+
Profanity C-
Substance Use C

Why is The Perfect Storm rated PG-13? The MPAA rated The Perfect Storm PG-13 for language and scenes of peril.

Run Time: 130 minutes

Official Movie Site

Parent Movie Review

On October 30, 1991, a dying hurricane off the east coast of the U.S. collided with two other weather systems, resulting in “The Perfect Storm”—the most powerful storm in recorded history.

The Perfect Storm - Official Site Trapped in its clutches was the Andrea Gail, a swordfishing boat from the historic fishing community of Gloucester, Massachusetts. Captain Billy Tyne (George Clooney) and his crew had set sail earlier for the Grand Banks in hopes of more profitable fishing. A sparse catch including a menacing shark (which attacks one of the crew) motivates them to explore the Flemish Cap on the extreme eastern reaches of their usual fishing area. Although they find success, word of the storm brewing between them and Gloucester forces Tyne to decide between waiting out the weather and letting his fish spoil, or sailing head-on into danger.

The Perfect Storm - Official Site Based on the true story of the Andrea Gail, this film begins with all the elements of a perfect movie. Unfortunately, it is any thing but the perfect screenplay. Lengthy introductions to the main characters and a disconnected sub-plot about another small craft that gets stuck in the storm contribute little to this over two-hour epic.

The Perfect Storm - Official Site Parents may be concerned by the movie’s depiction of these fishermen and their rowdy lifestyle. When they aren’t at sea risking their lives, they spend their evenings in The Crow’s Nest; a Gloucester bar conveniently equipped with rooms upstairs for personal “meetings.” The cast’s only married crewmember is separated from his wife, while the others hope to be the next to head upstairs. If they are lucky enough to get involved in an activity that will shake the lights in the bar below them, the bar’s patrons cheer.

Sexual innuendo subsides after the Andrea Gail leaves port, and the focus shifts to fishing. But once the storm sequences begin, young viewers may be troubled watching the crew face extremely tense moments fighting against the elements, only to come to the inevitable unhappy (but true) conclusion. Combine this with some profane language and smoking, and this storm may have too many rough waters for your family.

Directed by Wolfgang Petersen. Starring George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, John C. Reilly, William Fichtner, Michael Ironside. Running time: 130 minutes. Theatrical release June 30, 2000. Updated

The Perfect Storm Parents' Guide

The best part of this movie is its accompanying website at www.perfectstorm.net The site features an incredible amount of information about how the movie was made, the history of fishing on the East Coast, and how severe storms are born. Make sure you follow the link on the left side called The Storm and then press Storm Science for an exhaustive list of other weather-science websites featuring information about many storms, including the one featured in this movie.

Home Video

The most recent home video release of The Perfect Storm movie is June 4, 2004. Here are some details…

The Perfect Storm releases to DVD on June 1, 2004.

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Interested in other weather disasters? Check out our reviews of Twister and White Squall .