Story
Aloha is the story of Brian Gilcrest (Bradley Cooper), a former Air Force pilot who has begun working as a defence contractor after suffering a physical injury while he was in Afghanistan on business.
Brian travels to Hawaii at the request of his boss, Carson Welch (Bill Murray). In an awkward turn of events, his pilot is John ‘Woody’ Woodside (John Krasinski), the man who is now married to Brian’s ex-girlfriend Tracy (Rachel McAdams). While in Hawaii, Brian also meets Alison Ng (Emma Stone), a fiery and enthusiastic Air Force pilot with a bright future.
What unfolds is a complicated story of romance, truth and betrayal – Brian and Alison develop strong feelings for one another, Carson is recognised as a morally bankrupt individual who is on a mission for power and financial gain, and Brian discovers that he is the father of Tracy’s twelve-year-old daughter.
Themes
Violence
Aloha has minimal violence. In a flashback scene, Brian is shown in the Middle East during a time of conflict. No actual violence is shown but he is later seen recovering in hospital after being injured.
Content that may disturb children
Under 8
In addition to the above-mentioned violent scenes, Aloha has some scenes that could scare or disturb children under 8. For example,
there is a disturbing image of a man who has another person’s toe attached to his foot.
From 8-13
None of concern
Over 13
None of concern
Sexual references
Aloha has some mild sexual references. A man talks about being ‘erect’, and there are some other mild references to sex and attraction.
Alcohol, drugs and other substances
Aloha has mild use of substances. For example:
- Characters drink alcohol and smoke cigarettes in a social setting.
- A woman appears quite drunk by the end of a party.
Nudity and sexual activity
Aloha contains mild sexual activity and partial nudity. For example:
- Two characters kiss and embrace.
- A couple is seen lying in bed together, after they have presumably had sex.
- Several women are seen wearing revealing bikinis.
Product placement
Aloha has some product placement, including references to Facebook and the technology brand Sony Vaio.
Coarse language
Aloha has occasional coarse language.
Ideas to discuss with your children
Aloha is a romantic comedy-drama about love, redemption and taking chances. It follows Brian as he learns to forgive himself for his past indiscretions, and allows himself to fall in love again with the woman of his dreams – someone who challenges him to improve himself and strive to be better. The film highlights the rewards of taking a chance with other people and new experiences, whilst also remaining cautious at times about the motivations of those who seek power and authority.
Although there is little in the film to disturb young children, the story and themes make it more suited to older viewers, so it is not recommended for children under 14.
Values in this movie that parents may wish to reinforce with their children include:
- The importance of forgiving yourself, and being able to forgive others
- allowing yourself to be open to the possibility of change and new experiences
- learning when to make amends for mistakes made in the past.