In the Land of Women parents guide

In the Land of Women Parent Guide

Overall C+

Aspiring soft-core porn writer Carter Webb (Adam Brody) has had enough of women after being rejected by his actress girlfriend. But he doesn't get a hoped for change of scenery when he leaves LA for Detroit to take care of his ailing grandmother (Olympia Dukakis). Instead he finds himself In the Land of Women surrounded by complicated romantic opportunities after he meets granny's neighbors --a lonely stay-at-home mom (Meg Ryan) and her teenage daughter (Kristen Stewart).

Release date April 19, 2007

Violence B+
Sexual Content C+
Profanity D+
Substance Use C

Why is In the Land of Women rated PG-13? The MPAA rated In the Land of Women PG-13 for sexual content, thematic elements and language.

Run Time: 97 minutes

Parent Movie Review

Some people run like a constant thread through the fabric of our lives. Others are like cue balls that come along only long enough to radically rearrange things before rolling out of the picture. Carter Webb (Adam Brody) is the latter.

After getting publicly dumped in a diner by his actress/model girlfriend (Elena Anaya), Carter heads out of Los Angeles and travels to an upscale Michigan neighborhood to spend some time with his ailing and addled grandmother (Olympia Dukakis) who is convinced she is dying. She needs a caretaker and the 26-year-old soft-core porn writer needs some space to rethink his life.

There Carter is befriended by Sarah Hardwicke (Meg Ryan), a perfect looking stay-at-home mom who lives across the street. She invites him along to walk the dog. Then while strolling past the well-manicured lawns, she unburdens on Carter, divulging to him the less-than-happy details of her existence. And she isn’t the only one who wants someone to confide in. After Sarah encourages her teenaged daughter, Lucy (Kristen Stewart), to invite Carter out for a movie, the moody teen is equally quick to reveal her secrets, including her smoking habit.

Surrounded by a trio of troubled women, Carter is the compassionate soul who buoys up the ladies by offering encouragemen, and physical affection to both Sarah and Lucy. However, the women impact him as well. Honoring his role as confidence keeper, he steps in where he can, even taking a punch from Lucy’s angry ex-boyfriend at a high school house party. Additionally, the aspiring author makes some career changes, trying his hand at writing less sensual material after his grandmother inquires about his current career.

Still, this little slice-of-life film isn’t without its concerns for younger audiences. While Lucy’s mom asks her to quit smoking, Carter occasionally lights up a cigarette and knowingly shares one with the teen. Soon after his arrival, the young man’s grandmother overhears a phone conversation in which Carter and his boss discuss the erotic activities happening on a porn film set. Later a montage of past memories briefly shows a sexual encounter between the screenplay writer and his former girlfriend. Coarse slang and a strong sexual expletive are also used along with the seemingly casual taking of over-the-counter and prescription drugs.

Face-to-face with the sometimes-harsh realities of life, Carter discovers his isn’t the only heartbreak on the street. His best-laid escape plan turns into a learning opportunity for the young man, and a chance to help others. Although these neighborly interactions offer insightful and often truthful portrayals into relationships, parents will still need to decide if Carter and his women are too mature for family viewing.

Starring Meg Ryan, Adam Brody, Kristen Stewart. Running time: 97 minutes. Theatrical release April 19, 2007. Updated

In the Land of Women
Rating & Content Info

Why is In the Land of Women rated PG-13? In the Land of Women is rated PG-13 by the MPAA for sexual content, thematic elements and language.

Carter leaves his partying ways in LA and heads for the quiet suburbs in Michigan after his girlfriend unceremoniously dumps him. There he not only uses cigarettes, but shares one with a teenager (the teen’s smoking habit is reprimanded later in the film). Some of the characters in the neighborhood use over-the-counter drugs as well as prescription drugs to deal with their challenges. As a soft-core porn writer, Carter comments on sexual compulsions and discusses sexual activities described in his script. At a house party, teens drink, and later a partygoer is punched in the face. An unmarried couple engages in sex. Two adults share a brief, passionate kiss and later a teen and adult do the same. An extramarital affair, drug use and childhood sexual explorations are discussed. Crude slang, profanities, an extreme sexual expletive and hand gesture are used.

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In the Land of Women Parents' Guide

Although Carter is a stranger to both Lucy and Sarah, both are exceptionally open with him about their private lives. Why is it sometimes easier to talk about problems with someone you don’t know well? Is it important to have a place to sound off your concerns and ideas? What does Carter learn about his ability to listen?

What stresses are the picture-perfect Hardwickes facing? What effect can challenges have on family relationships? Do their trials bring them closer together or not? How is Sarah and Lucy’s relationship affected?

What does Carter learn from his grandmother? In what ways does he show care and compassion for her?

Home Video

The most recent home video release of In the Land of Women movie is October 30, 2007. Here are some details…

The DVD release of In the Land of Women is presented in both full frame and widescreen. Audio tracks are available in Dolby Surround 5.1 (English and Spanish), with subtitles in English, French and Spanish.

Related home video titles:

Two sisters, who both love and loathe each other, learn a lot about relationships with the help of their grandmother and the other seniors at her apartment complex in the movie In Her Shoes. Meg Ryan stars as a young bookstore owner who falls in love with a man she meets on the Internet in You’ve Got Mail.