Common Sense Media Review
By S. Jhoanna Robledo , based on child development research. How do we rate?
age 16+
Predictable workplace comedy has drugs, sex, swearing.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
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Sex, Romance & Nudity
a lot
An extended scene is set in a strip club, where a topless dancer offers one of the characters career advice while also giving him a lap dance. A couple kisses and embraces; the woman is sometimes seen in her underwear. A minor but important plot line centers on a pimp and the prostitutes who work for him. A man shows his rear end while urinating in a cup for a drug test. A fair amount of discussion about masturbation.
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Language
a lot
Extensive swearing, mainly variants of "f--k" and "s--t," as well as "c--k," "bitch," and "p---y." In an extended sequence, a man is hazed at work by being forced to drink a foul liquid referred to as "deer cum."
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Drinking, Drugs & Smoking
a lot
Characters drink frequently when they're hanging out, at home, or at clubs. Also lots of pot: A big bong is a permanent fixture in the living room where several characters live, and a key plot point is how a straightlaced character starts to smoke weed. Another plotline has a character pulling a drug-fueled all-nighter at work to complete a project.
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Violence & Scariness
very little
A group of young men picks a fight with several security guards, leading to mayhem but no serious injuries.
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Products & Purchases
very little
Brands/products mentioned/seen include LA Weekly newspaper and the video game Halo.
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Positive Messages
a little
Work hard, and you'll get ahead, but it's also important to stay true to your own vision of the best way to get things done; just because things have always been done a certain way isn't a reason to assume that's the best way.
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Positive Role Models
very little
Will marches to the beat of his own drum; while he initially encounters some resistance, he eventually starts to achieve success at work without selling out his principles.
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Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Get a Job is a comedic look at recent college graduates (including characters played by popular actors Miles Teller and Anna Kendrick) struggling to get their careers going in entry-level corporate positions. While there's a message about staying true to yourself/your vision, the situations aren't quite realistic, so it's not something that young people should look to for realistic advice -- plus there's lots of drinking, pot-smoking, and sexual references, as well as some nudity (a topless dancer at a strip club, naked male rear end, etc.). There's also plenty of innuendo and sex/masturbation talk, and you can expect tons of colorful language, including "sh-t," "f-ck," "c-ck," "bitch," "p-ssy" and more. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
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Get a Job
Parent and Kid Reviews
See all
- Parents say (2)
- Kids say (1)
age 17+
Based on 2 parent reviews
IvonneDeVries Parent of 6-year-old
January 7, 2024
age 17+
Darwin A. Adult
March 23, 2018
age 17+
Rate movie
See all 2 parent reviews
What's the Story?
Will (Miles Teller) needs to GET A JOB. He's fresh out of college, somewhat aimless, and not very interested in the boring corporate world. But with few other prospects, he lands a position making recruiting videos. While Will sees plenty of ways he can inject some creativity into the staid films, his suit-wearing bosses have other plans, and Will needs to find a way to conform to their expectations without selling out his artistic vision. Meanwhile, his girlfriend, Jillian (Anna Kendrick), is facing sudden and unexpected unemployment, and his roommates are also trying to take their first step on the career ladder.
Is It Any Good?
Our review:
Parents say (2):
Kids say (1):
Get a Job has a simple premise that should have wide appeal, but its dumbed-down approach will likely strike home for only the most juvenile viewers. (That is, people who might find humor in sexual harassment and trying to cheat on drug tests.) It's neither original nor clever, and its career advice isn't likely to help most young people succeed.
The film does boast a strong cast, though they're mostly wasted. Bryan Cranston is appealing as an older job-seeker who's becoming disheartened (though his storyline is implausible and unentertaining), while Alison Brie's one-note supporting role as lusty co-worker with boundary issues isn't particularly funny. And Marcia Gay Harden's domineering boss is simply repulsive. Get a Job needs to quit and go home.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Get a Job portrays drinking and drug use. How do marijuana and other drugs fit into the characters' work habits? Do you think the film glorifies drug use?
What role does sex play in the characters's lives? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values regarding sex and relationships.
How does the movie portray the corporate world? Do you think the behavior shown here would be tolerated in real offices? Would it help people get ahead?
Movie Details
- In theaters: March 25, 2016
- On DVD or streaming: June 14, 2016
- Cast: Miles Teller, Anna Kendrick, Bryan Cranston, Marcia Gay Harden
- Director: Dylan Kidd
- Inclusion Information: Female actors
- Studio: Lionsgate
- Genre: Comedy
- Run time: 82 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: crude and sexual content, nudity, drug use and language
- Last updated: February 12, 2024
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
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