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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to let mainly 12 year olds and a single 13 year old watch dirty dancing

166 replies

Wills · 16/11/2022 19:16

Last year (around now) we moved our daughter to private school due to the lack of dealing with continuous bullying (I'm happy to give the back story but not only is it not the point of the thread, but OMG it's worth another thread so be careful what you ask for). For those who bemoan parents sending their kids to private - actually it did alright for the first 2 but failed the 2nd 2.

Needed to say that because MN is notorious for those who attack.

I've got 7 12 to 13 year olds (that's 6 girls and 1 boy) coming to my house this coming weekend to watch a film. I'd love it to be a film they've never seen before. PLEASE could I have suggestions. My daughter has seen Legally blonde, both Princess diaries, Wild child (best tween film ever! In my humble opinion)), Mean girls (not watched but am told is good and not age inappropriate), Clueless (also not watched personally but my older two girls felt it would be age appropriate for her). Others have suggested dirty dancing and said that at 12-13 the abortion bit would go over their head. Ummm no. I can't take the risk. My youngest is the only child we've sent to private. It's both wonderfully naive and a mix of (you're never going to survive unless you grow up etc). The key thing is that given that most of these kids are trying their hardest to still believe in Father Christmas despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.... What the hell do I show them that won't upset the other parents. I'm out of my league here. They've had all their children at private school from the start. Most of them are great. But the last thing I need is a controversy. Sorry - am possibly over worrying. BUT please give film suggestions!!!!

OP posts:
GiveMyHeadPeaceffs · 16/11/2022 20:28

I think I'd go with something really classic, Hollywood glamour. When I was that age my friends and I were obsessed with Marilyn Monroe and loved "Some like it hot" and "Gentlemen prefer blondes".

BigFatLiar · 16/11/2022 20:29

Time bandits
As its coming up to Christmas try a Christmas film
Christmas Carol
Grinch
Miracle on 34th street

Vanillalime · 16/11/2022 20:29

Ferris Bueller is an excellent shout!

Im also a fan of:
What Women Want - Hilarious film with Mel Gibson & Helen Hunt
Moulin Rouge
White Chicks - really quotable!
Dodgeball - if you can dodge a wrench you can dodge a ball!!
13 Going On 30
PS I Love You
Pitch Perfect
Age of Adeline
Titanic

miniaturepixieonacid · 16/11/2022 20:30

Nothing sheltered about private school children from a media point of view. They're just normal kids. I work in a boarding school. The Year 8s have been working through Never Have I Ever on Netflix. I thought it was inappropriate but it's rated 12 so it's allowed and they chose it. They're very well aware of all the content, they're not being corrupted.

I wouldn't even give a 2nd thought to Dirty Dancing.

iloveyankeecandle · 16/11/2022 20:32

I watched it when I was about six 😂

MenaiMna · 16/11/2022 20:46

For those suggesting Pitch Perfect...lots of jokes about anal sex in those! I'd rather explain the horrors of 1950s abortions than have to explain that! Ferris Bueller is brilliant and the 80s are very trendy right now (just about past the curve on that actually!).

Blueblell · 16/11/2022 20:49

Dead poets society - sad but ….

loveliesbleeding1 · 16/11/2022 20:50

Sorry, I didn’t quite catch if your DD goes to private school,could you mention it one last time so I can be sure? 😂😂😂😂

Lockupyourbiscuits · 16/11/2022 20:52

Pretty in pink
Breakfast Club
oldies but goodies

butterfliedtwo · 16/11/2022 20:53

Blueblell · 16/11/2022 20:49

Dead poets society - sad but ….

Yes, such a brilliant film!

TheaBrandt · 16/11/2022 20:54

Dead poets society on a fun sleep over for 12 year olds! Suicide is almost as bad as abortion I’m just a state school parent but I wouldn’t be thrilled at my young teens watching that one.

Ghostbusters 2 /Whip it / Ocesns 13 any of those would work well

TheaBrandt · 16/11/2022 20:55

Oceans 8 not 13 - all women heist great fun

BeanieTeen · 16/11/2022 20:59

We watched ‘A walk to remember’ as a big group when I was 13 - so a while ago, the film is from 2002 or something - I think some of my friends were 14. It’s a pretty wholesome romantic teen film with Mandy Moore and Shane West, with a sad ending. We were all sobbing at the end, but we were so into it we didn’t talk throughout the whole thing.

Trudij123 · 16/11/2022 20:59

Pitch perfect and anal sex ? I’m not sure I’ve watched the same film… 🤣

Trudij123 · 16/11/2022 21:02

If you want to make them cry you could always go with Me Before You or The Fault In Our Stars

the mighty ducks
The blind side
ride like a girl ( if they are horsey probably best, but if they aren’t it’s still a reasonable film!)

PrincessJanet · 16/11/2022 21:11

Hmm it’s tricky to know how to advise when we don’t know what kind of school your DC goes to.

RoseGoldEagle · 16/11/2022 21:12

I think Dirty Dancing’s fine for that age but I can imagine some parents not agreeing with that, so would probably err on side of caution and go for a safer bet that couldn’t possibly upset anyone, loads of good suggestions here!

Scaredycat259 · 16/11/2022 21:15

Uncle Buck
Flight of the navigator

BreakfastClub80 · 16/11/2022 21:20

I’d second Oceans 8

or Crazy Rich Asians?

Nosleepforthismum · 16/11/2022 21:21

My parents were more concerned we would try to break into their booze cupboard at that age than worry about what film we watched (it was a valid concern!) Just let them choose something on Netflix and just rules that nothing above a 12 rating.

I love all the film suggestions as I grew up with most of them but I can’t imagine any 12 year old now being excited to watch a 90’s rom com.

If you insist on choosing, my vote is for the new jumanji, watched it three times now and love it more than the original.

MissMaple82 · 16/11/2022 21:22

I knew dirty dancing word for word at that age, so did all my friends! At that age, I didn't think oooooh sex.. I just liked the music and dancing!!

Tinner01 · 16/11/2022 21:32

Crocodile dundee??

Tinner01 · 16/11/2022 21:32

But I think dirty dancing would be fine!

WishIhadacrystalball · 16/11/2022 21:32

She’s all that
10 things I hate about you
The wedding singer
Bill and Ted
That thing you do
Kissing Booth
Now and then

StripeyMow · 16/11/2022 21:33

I’d ask the kids and parents for ideas too. At 11/12 I was obsessed with Dirty Dancing but teen movies are a bit more empowering nowadays!

Mean Girls
Pitch Perfect
13 Going on 30
Bring it on
Clueless
10 Things I Hate About You

All classic and relatively harmless teen flicks