Story

Beth (Kristen Bell) is a successful New York art curator. But she hasn’t been so successful in love. She travels to Rome for the wedding of her sister Joan (Alexis Dziena) to Umberto (Luca Calvani). Beth is immediately attracted to the best man, Nick (Josh Duhamel). But she sees him with another woman, drinks too much, and ends up in a street fountain. Beth takes some coins from the fountain. By magic, the men who threw in the money all fall in love with her.

Back in New York, the bewitched men relentlessly pursue her. To her amazement, so does Nick. Beth thinks he must also be under the spell, so she does her best to avoid him.

Themes

Magic and superstition; stalking

Violence

This movie contains some slapstick violence. For example:

  • Beth accidentally knocks down an old lady while trying to smash a vase.
  • One of the men chasing Beth runs into a horse and carriage.
  • Beth sprays Nick in the eyes with mouth wash, thinking he is someone else.
  • Nick falls down an open hole in the road.
  • A man hanging upside down in Beth’s apartment falls on to a glass coffee table, smashing it.
  • Nick and Beth go out for dinner to a ‘sensory deprivation’ restaurant where they can’t see anything. All her pursuers come into the restaurant wearing goggles and try to grab her.

Sexual references

This movie contains some mild sexual references to the priest and one of the pursuers being gay.

Alcohol, drugs and other substances

This movie contains some use of substances. For example, characters drink at the wedding, clubs, restaurants and other venues.

Nudity and sexual activity

This movie contains some nudity and sexual activity. For example, Beth and Nick kiss each other passionately, and it’s implied that Joan and Umberto kiss and have sex.

Product placement

None of concern

Coarse language

This movie contains some very mild coarse language.

Ideas to discuss with your children

When in Rome is a romantic comedy aimed at teenage girls. It is predictable, light hearted and not very original.

The main messages from this movie are that love is more important than success and that failure in the past doesn’t mean failure in the future.

This movie could give you the chance to talk with your children about real-life issues such as the:

  • futility of pursuing someone who isn’t interested in you
  • real consequences of stalking.

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Raising Children Network is supported by the Australian Government. Member organisations are the Parenting Research Centre and the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute with The Royal Children’s Hospital Centre for Community Child Health.

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