One Small Hitch parents guide

One Small Hitch Parent Guide

For viewers who suspect many sowers of wild oats are likely to return to their former habits, the believability of this happy ending comes with one small hitch.

Overall C

Josh's (Shane McRae) dying father has one last wish -- to see his son married. So Josh announces his engagement to his childhood friend Molly (Aubrey Dollar). The hitch is, it isn't true. But the lie becomes harder to undo as more and more family and friends hear about the news.

Release date February 6, 2015

Violence B+
Sexual Content C
Profanity C
Substance Use C

Why is One Small Hitch rated Not Rated? The MPAA rated One Small Hitch Not Rated

Run Time: 105 minutes

Official Movie Site

Parent Movie Review

Have you ever said you’d do anything to help a friend who is going through a difficult time? Molly Mahone (Aubrey Dollar) makes such an offer to Josh Shiffman (Shane McRae), a family friend, when he tells her his father has just been diagnosed with cancer. And Josh does cash in—asking a favor that turns out to be bigger than anything Molly had bargained on.

Apparently the dying wish of Josh’s dad (Daniel J. Travanti) is to meet the woman his son will one day marry. Not wanting to disappoint him, Josh says the lucky lady is Molly, who conveniently just happens to be flying home with him to Chicago to attend a wedding. He knows living the deception during their short stay in the windy city will be asking a lot of their friendship, yet he is hoping Molly’s compassion will persuade her to play along with the phony engagement.

When Molly finds out he presumed to make this announcement before she had even accepted his proposal, she is as angry as a redhead can be. Still her shock is nothing compared to that of their family and friends. While their respective parents are mostly enthusiastic, no one else expected a smooth-talking ladies man like Josh to tie the knot with the awkward, kid sister of his best friend (Robert Belushi). In all the years the two have known one another, they have never shown any interest in each other. Whenever they have talk, their conversation usually turned into spats. And then there is the obvious complication of their Jewish and Catholic backgrounds. (Actually, it is sort of funny that the script includes this dynamic, because it doesn’t include any portrayals of the characters practicing their religion—especially where traditional laws of chastity are concerned).

Despite all skepticism, the couple carries on the ruse, even when it means sharing the same apartment, wearing an heirloom engagement ring and trying on dresses at a bridal shop. But the little white lie that was supposed to last only a few days turns into a longer proposition when Josh promises his mother (Janet Ulrich Brooks) he will postpone his return to LA in order to help her run the family business. Surprisingly (and for no reason she’s prepared to confess even to herself), Molly also agrees to extend her stay.

This film features the usual plot elements of a romantic comedy, yet what might not be unexpected is the amount of sexual content in this production. Josh’s character has several sexual encounters with various women—even while he is supposedly engaged—which are depicted with shots of him passionately caressing, fondling, kissing, undressing and laying with his lovers. Some of these scenes include sexual sounds and motions. Male and female characters are shown stripping down to their underwear and in lingerie. Nudity is implied (but not seen) at a spa, and when a man walks in on a woman taking a bath. Discussions about sex, adultery, infidelity and the use of crass terms and slang names for body parts occur with some frequency. As well, the possibility of an unwed pregnancy is gossiped about.

Also abundant is alcohol use. Characters drink at alone, at home, in bars and during social gatherings. Many of them get totally intoxicated at a wedding. One character even gets “high” after taking medication recommended by a stranger. Exclamations using names of deity, along with mild and moderate profanities are regularly toss about too.

Eventually (and predictably) the nice, loyal girl tames the unfaithful, bad boy. For viewers who suspect many sowers of wild oats are likely to return to their former habits, the believability of this happy ending comes with one small hitch.

Directed by John Burgess. Starring Aubrey Dollar, Shane McRae. Running time: 105 minutes. Theatrical release February 6, 2015. Updated

One Small Hitch
Rating & Content Info

Why is One Small Hitch rated Not Rated? One Small Hitch is rated Not Rated by the MPAA

Violence:
An angry woman punches a man. Characters argue.

Sexual Content:
A man, who brags about getting his way with women, is shown passionately embracing, kissing, fondling and undressing various lovers (no nudity is shown). Some of his sexual encounters include moaning and partners laying on one another. A woman discovers her supposedly single boyfriend is actually married. Women’s menstrual cycles are briefly discussed. Characters speculate about the possibility of an unmarried woman being pregnant. Characters are shown in their underwear and in lingerie. Partial nudity (bare backs and shoulders) is seen when women receive spa treatments, and when a woman takes a bubble bath. (In the latter scene, a man walks in and sees the woman naked—we just see his reaction.) Unmarried couples live together. Adultery and infidelity are briefly discussed. Crude sexual terms, and slang names for body parts are used.

Language:
The script includes frequent use of moderate and mild profanity, scatological slang terms and use of names of deity as exclamations. Some derogatory racial remarks are made.

Alcohol / Drug Use:
Characters drink frequently, at home, at bars, at social gatherings and sometimes alone. Characters at a wedding drink to excess and pass out/fall asleep. A man chews on a cigar. A sad woman takes medication intended to make her feel happier, on the advice of a stranger. It makes her behave like she is high.

Other:
A woman vomits. Characters discuss a terminal illness. A man is hospitalized due to a medical emergency. Religious differences in a marriage are discussed. The birth of a baby is depicted.

Page last updated

One Small Hitch Parents' Guide

One Small Hitch is opening in limited theaters,, as well as on VOD (Video-On-Demand) on February 6, 2015.

From the Studio:
On a flight home to Chicago for a family wedding, childhood friends Josh and Molly innocently agree to fake a wedding engagement to make Josh’s dying father happy. Things quickly get out of hand with their two boisterous families, and a series of events causes them to pretend to be a couple and start planning a phony wedding.
- Freestyle Releasing

Talk about the movie with your family…
What criteria does Josh use when selecting women? Is he at all concerned about long-term commitment? What advice does his father give him about choosing a spouse? Why would the ability to “be yourself” around someone increase the chances of a lasting relationship? Why has this thought never crossed Josh’s mind before?

Molly agrees to pretend to be engaged because she loves Josh’s father and wants him to be happy. Does the lie actually accomplish that goal? Why do deceptions, even well intentioned ones, often have the opposite effect of the desired reaction?

Romance stories often depict nice girls falling for naughty men. Do you believe the notion that the love of a good woman can cure a bad boy’s wandering eye?

Home Video

The most recent home video release of One Small Hitch movie is February 15, 2015. Here are some details…

One Small Hitch releases to home video on February 10, 2015.

Related home video titles:

Other couples fake the nature of their relationships (with comedic and romantic results) in While You Were Sleeping and It Happened One Night.