Paper Towns-Teen Movie Review

High school can be challenging and often difficult at times, especially for Quentin (Nat Wolff). Quentin is a shy and somewhat nerdy high school senior. He has never even been to a high school party, or done anything too exciting during his teenage years. However, his life dramatically changes the night that Margo (Cara Delevingne) climbs through his window. Margo, a very cute and popular girl and Quentin’s childhood friend/crush, wants to recruit Quentin to help her seek revenge on her cheating boyfriend. Margo has a list of vandalizing pranks and needs Quentin to drive her around. Initially hesitant, Quentin helps his friend and ends up having a great night. Though when Margo disappears the next day, he and his friends gather clues in hopes to find this mysterious girl that changes Quentin’s life. Based on a young adult novel by John Green, Paper Towns is dramatic romance for pre-teens and teens.

Rating: 3 and 1/2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: October 20, 2015
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 12+
Sexual Content: Moderate
Violent/Disturbing Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate
Will Teens Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

Quentin, the main character, stresses the importance of not idolizing the pretty and popular people…and to learn to enjoy your life.
Margo and Quentin do some malicious pranks with no consequences involved. Their pranks include breaking and entering, spray painting several walls, and spreading Nair hair removal on a boys’ eyebrows.
A group of teens skip school and take a 24 hour road trip without parental permission…again no consequences.

Sexual Content: Moderate

We see a teenage couple making out on someone’s bed. They are both shirtless, the girl is shown wearing a skimpy bra.
A high school boy climbs out of his girlfriend’s bedroom, and he is naked (his privates are covered). Later, teenagers make several comments about the size of his private parts.
One girl comments that she had chlamydia and proceeds to complain about her sexual reputation.
A teenage boy makes several comments about girls he’s had sex with. He also makes sexual comments about his friend’s mom.
Another teenage couple is shown making out. It’s noted that the boy lost their virginity that night.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Mild

Two children find the corpse of a man who committed suicide. We see blood on his head and shirt.
We see a high school jock slamming a nerdy boy against his locker.

Crude or Profane Language: Moderate