Don’t Make Me Go Parent Guide

Dedicated single father Max (John Cho) has just received devastating news. His chronic headaches aren’t just the result of stress: he has a rare form of cancer that will kill him, likely within a year. The recommended surgery has a low likelihood of success and high risks of death or serious damage.

Terrified of leaving his teenage daughter, Wally (Mia Isaac), alone after his demise, Max drags her off on a cross-country road trip, ostensibly to attend his college reunion but really to find her mother, who abandoned them years ago. As they cruise the endless highways, Max imparts life lessons (mixed in with terrifying driving tutorials) and Wally helps her dad see the world through her eyes.

The entire movie hinges on the relationship between Max and Wally and thankfully the actors are up to the task. Both characters have consistent, believable emotions and their interactions are authentic. Wally frequently indulges in risky or thoughtless behavior, but it’s not unexpected for a teenager and her father provides an appropriate mix of consequences and compassion. The best reason to sit through the film is to watch their relationship unfold and observe how their love for one another powerfully influences them. This is a great tribute to the power of the bond between fathers and daughters.

Sadly, for me that’s the only reason to watch the movie. I dislike the entire genre of “cancer movies”: in a world full of pain and suffering why on earth would anyone spend their free time watching people die as their loved ones mourn? I know some viewers find these films inspirational but I just find them gut-clenching. Don’t Make Me Go is even worse than the average cancer flick, saddled as it is with a plot twist that had me yelling at my screen, completely enraged at the writers. So, yes, this movie has some fun, tender, poignant moments, but it also has whole scenes that will leave you depressed, angry, or sobbing uncontrollably. If that’s your thing, I’m not going to judge you, but I’m not making the popcorn either.

What I am going to do is warn parents about the content issues in the movie. The most glaring is a repeated scene that takes place on a nude beach – and I mean nudity in a 360° sense. There is explicit breast and genital nudity and although it’s not sexual, it’s certainly graphic. Non-explicit sex (in a “booty call” context) and teen make-out sessions also ramp up the negative content. In addition, the movie features frequent scenes of alcohol consumption some of which involve excessive drinking and intoxication by underage teens. Throw in over three dozen swear words (including three sexual expletives) and this is definitely not a family film.

As I think about this film, my strongest feeling is frustration. There’s some real human emotion here and a truly moving examination of how parents and kids change each other. Sadly, the negative content problems and the horrendous plot twist turn what could have been a magical little film into a bang-your-head-against-the-wall exercise in aggravation.