Father Stu is based on a true story and stars Mark Wahlberg and Mel Gibson. Your teens and tweens might be asking if they can see this one, despite its R rating. But is Father Stu ok for kids? This parent’s guide and review will help you decide if this one is safe and kid-friendly enough for teens and tweens in your household.
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About Father Stu
Based on a true story, Father Stu is an unflinchingly honest, funny and ultimately uplifting drama about a lost soul who finds his purpose in a most unexpected place.
When an injury ends his amateur boxing career, Stuart Long (Mark Wahlberg) moves to L.A. dreaming of stardom. While scraping by as a supermarket clerk, he meets Carmen (Teresa Ruiz), a Catholic Sunday school teacher who seems immune to his bad-boy charm.
Determined to win her over, the longtime agnostic starts going to church to impress her. But surviving a terrible motorcycle accident leaves him wondering if he can use his second chance to help others find their way, leading to the surprising realization that he is meant to be a Catholic priest.
Despite a devastating health crisis and the skepticism of Church officials and his estranged parents (Mel Gibson and Jacki Weaver), Stu pursues his vocation with courage and compassion, inspiring not only those closest to him but countless others along the way.
Watch the Father Stu trailer here.
Is Father Stu Ok For Kids? Parents Guide and Review
Bankable and likable Mark Wahlberg is a big draw for most teens (see Uncharted for proof!).
So it may not be surprising when your teens ask if they can see his latest movie on the big screen.
But is Father Stu ok and safe for kids?
In this parent’s guide and review, we’re breaking down the language, sex/nudity, adult themes, and violence that happens in the movie to help you determine if watching Father Stu is safe for kids in your home.
Language: Father Stu Parents Guide
If language is a hangup for your family, then you will want to steer clear of Father Stu for kids.
This is the reason the movie is rated R.
Pretty much every swear (including multiple F-bombs and uses of diety) is found throughout the movie.
Stu does not edit himself at all when it comes to, shall we say, colorful language.
Included are a twice-used R-word and a once-used N-word.
Is Father Stu Safe For Kids? Sex and Nudity
There is a discussion of premarital sex and a few kisses, but there is no nudity or sex shown on screen.
Father Stu is pretty clean when it comes to sex and nudity.
Violence in Father Stu: Is It Too Scary For Kids?
There are a few violent scenes in the movie that could be triggering for some.
Stu is a boxer and early in the movie there are some bouts that are bloody and, well, violent. As a boxing match will be at times.
There is another scene that was quite shocking involving a motorcycle incident.
Stu experiences a traumatic accident that is shown pretty explicitly on screen. A child or adult with any car or motor vehicle incidents in their past may find this episode disturbing to watch play out.
Adult Themes
Father Stu is an emotional story that doesn’t hold back in the realities of family or addiction.
Smoking, drinking, drinking and driving, and sex are all discussed throughout the movie.
The death of a young child is also a key theme that has affected Stu and his family over the years.
Father Stu Age Rating
Why is Father Stu rated R?
Essentially: the language. It’s a lot.
If you don’t have issues as a parent with language, then Father Stu can be ok for kids to watch. Maybe even as young as 10 depending on your family.
But we’d say the Father Stu age rating is more accurate for 14 and up.
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Patty Holliday is a parent movie reviewer, writer, and podcaster living in the Washington, DC area. Her goal is to bridge the gap between casual fandom and picky critic with parent movie and television reviews. As a lifelong fangirl and pop culture connoisseur, she’s been creating online since 2009. You can find her work at No-Guilt Disney.com, No-Guilt Fangirl.com, No-Guilt Life, and as host of the top-rated No-Guilt Disney Podcast.