jOBS parents guide

jOBS Parent Guide

Deeper issues may arise from the messages presented of a man who we are expected to admire as an economic and technical genius even while he treats others as mere obstacles in the way of his success.

Overall C+

Many people build things in their garages, but few of those creations have gone on to change the world the way Steve Jobs' tinkering has done. This bio-drama traces this exceptional entrepreneur through the ups and downs of his amazing career.

Release date August 16, 2013

Violence B+
Sexual Content C
Profanity D
Substance Use D

Why is jOBS rated PG-13? The MPAA rated jOBS PG-13 for some drug content and brief strong language.

Run Time: 122 minutes

Official Movie Site

Parent Movie Review

Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple Inc. and known the world over for inventing, conceiving, and marketing a variety of technological tools, died on October 5, 2011. Only eighteen months later jOBS, a feature dramatic film about his life, began circulating among theaters. The production’s quick turnaround is a testament to how technology has created a desire for immediacy—something the Jobs’ revolution helped to make possible.

Breaking from his usual genre, Aston Kutcher takes on the difficult role of playing the ultimate whiz kid. While I had never noticed a resemblance between Kutcher and Jobs in the past, with some makeup and superb technique, the former That ‘70s Show star moves into a new realm. The walk, the talk and the arrogance are all there as we watch one of the most admired men in the world cheat his best buddy Steve Wozniak (Josh Gad) out of thousands of dollars during Apple’s infancy—and we chalk it up to shrewd business tactics.

Deceiving poor “Woz” on a business deal pales in comparison to a later scene where Jobs hasn’t the courage to admit his paternity for his daughter Lisa. (The movie later shows Lisa, played by Annika Bertea, living with her father.) Other depictions paint him as a businessman spewing disparaging remarks and firing employees with an indifferent efficiency. It all fits with the strong-willed personality Jobs became famous for. And these illustrations develop a theme that becomes the rigid backbone of this screenplay.

Due to the public profile of this hero of all things tech, the story within jOBS is likely to influence young people who make the effort to see this film. Portrayals of post-hippie era sex and pot parties, along with frequent profanities and two sexual expletives, are certainly surface concerns for parents considering whether this biopic is appropriate for teen viewing. Deeper issues arise from the messages presented (within the context of what is included in this script) of a man who we are expected to admire as an economic and technical genius, even while he treats others as mere obstacles in the way of his success.

It is important to remember of course that the media interprets personalities and events through a very narrow lens. In the case of motion pictures, typically it is the director and screenwriter who control the lens. Because just a few people were actually able to have personal experiences with Steve Jobs, the rest of us can only speculate about the real personality of the mastermind behind the many gadgets we now revere, and even worship. Undoubtedly many aspects of this man’s life are left out of this movie, and others may be distorted. Yet based on what we see in this film, jOBS illuminates our society’s attraction to economic ingenuity that often comes with little regard for humanity.

Directed by Joshua Michael Stern. Starring Ashton Kutcher, Josh Gad, Annika Bertea. Running time: 122 minutes. Theatrical release August 16, 2013. Updated

jOBS
Rating & Content Info

Why is jOBS rated PG-13? jOBS is rated PG-13 by the MPAA for some drug content and brief strong language.

Violence: Verbal arguments occur. Moments of deep personal grief and anxiety are portrayed. Dishonesty without negative consequences is depicted.

Sexual Content: An unmarried man and woman have sex (no details are seen). Later the man denies the possibility of fathering the woman’s child. A party depicts sensual activity between men and women. Infrequent sexual innuendo is included.

Language: A sexual expletive is used twice in non-sexual contexts. Frequent scatological slang is heard. Infrequent mild cursing, profanity, and vulgar expressions are included in the script.

Alcohol / Drug Use: The use of illegal substances is portrayed without negative consequences. Alcohol is frequently consumed. Smoking is depicted in a historical context.

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jOBS Parents' Guide

There are many resources on the Internet devoted to the life of Steve Jobs and the history of Apple Inc. including All About Steve Jobs. As you read some of these sources consider what elements are left out of this movie. A few points to think about include:

- Steve’s initial visit to Xerox’s research labs where he saw the first computer mouse and “point-and-click” computer interface.

- The hours of work and effort Steve would have put into marketing, conceiving and directing his projects.

- The role he played at Apple after his return.

- His health struggles over the past decade.

If you were writing a movie about Steve Jobs (or any other real-life person) how would you decide what to include and what to ignore? How does the length of a typical movie influence these decisions? Does a movie provide any advantages over a book, which provides more for greater detail?

Do you think Aston Kutcher was the best person to cast as Steve Jobs? If someone created a movie about your life, who do you think would be the best actor or actress to play your role?

Home Video

The most recent home video release of jOBS movie is November 26, 2013. Here are some details…

Home Video Notes: jOBS

Release Date: 26 November 2013

jOBS relelases to home video (Blu-ray/DVD/Ultraviolet Digital Copy) with the following extras:

- Ashton Kutcher is Steve Jobs: Ashton Kutcher and others discuss the challenges of playing one of the most enigmatic figures in American history, and co-stars reflect on how Kutcher transformed himself into the groundbreaking entrepreneur.

- The Legacy of Steve Jobs: Cast and crew reflect on how Jobs and his innovations have impacted and inspired everyone’s daily lives.

- Jobs - Behind the Score: Composer John Debney explains how he approached creating the score.

- Audio Commentary with Director Joshua Michael Stern

- Deleted Scenes

Related home video titles:

The lives of other inventors have been made into movies, including Preston Thomas Tucker who introduced improved safety features to the automotive industry (Tucker: the Man and his Dream), Robert Kearns who invented the intermittent windshield wiper (Flash of Genius) and Dr. Alfred Blalock who pioneered heart surgery (Something the Lord Made).

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