Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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:
TheaBrandt · 16/11/2022 21:34

Crazy Rich Asians is a good call. Saw that at the cinema with our two when they were similar age and we all enjoyed it - then went for Chinese!

StripeyMow · 16/11/2022 21:35

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!!

This … it was just about an awkward girl learning cool dances. The sex / abortion storyline wasn’t our focus and certainly not our aim! Most teenage girls just want to be cool!

Coolcreature · 16/11/2022 21:36

Agree with Enola Holmes. Sonic movie? Harry Potter?

Appleandoranges · 16/11/2022 21:36

save the last dance with Julia Stiles in it

miniaturepixieonacid · 16/11/2022 21:46

10 Things I Hate About You was recategorised at a 15. That caught me out when I wanted to use some of it in Year 8 English alongside Taming of the Shrew and Kiss Me Kate.

I've changed my opinion on Dirty Dancing being fine though because I had no idea it is also a 15. I still have no problem with it for 12 year olds personally and can't see why it's a 15 (most modern 12s are more inappropriate than DD imo). I don't think it would be rated 15 if it was made today.

But, as it is a 15 for whatever reason, I wouldn't show it to other people's children.

I second the suggestion of letting them pick their own from Netflix as long as they choose a 12 or below.

savehannah · 16/11/2022 21:53

Another vote for Ferris Bueller. My 12 and 14 year old love it. There's some swearing but no sex, there's mention of drugs but no more and any violence is pure comedy. It's probably only 15 because 12 didn't exist when it was made and the swearing made it not PG. GCSE film studies have it as a set work, in our school that means watching it at school aged 14.

NotLovingWFH · 16/11/2022 21:58

Dd is 12 and loved The Lost Boys, Top Gun, Sister Act, Ghost, Pitch Perfect, The Mummy and Dirty Dancing. Grease she found a bit boring though I loved it. High School Musical was also a hit. Rock of Ages also a family fave. For Halloween she and some friends watched A Quiet Place. She loves the Marvel films too and pretty much anything with Jason Momoa or the Rock.

lalalololou · 16/11/2022 22:00

My 6 year old loved dirty dancing Grin

Existentialallday · 16/11/2022 22:02

Wills · 16/11/2022 19:24

Flipflop0 - have asked, but no response. Suspect they're all thing the same thing - thank god its not us having to tackle this first

belay11 - agreed. So we're opening the first part of the day ice skating. Because it's a private school whole day activities are expected (or that's what I've surmised in the year I've been doing this). I'm totally out of my depth, BUT and it's a big BUT the other mums have been warm and welcoming. I thought they'd be "who's got the biggest ring/car" but they're so not like that. I've been completely welcomed into their circle. so that last thing I want is to screw up now!

As an aside, with mum friends who have kids at private school, I'm SHOCKED at the extravagance of the kids parties.

Mamarsupial · 16/11/2022 22:06

Has she seen Miss Congeniality? Always a fun one!

Confusedteacher · 16/11/2022 22:07

My kids recently enjoyed The Adam Project and Free Guy. DD1 also went through a big Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore stage at that age - films like 50 First Dates, The Wedding Singer etc

Cheeeeislifenow · 16/11/2022 22:15

Dumb and dumber is hilarious
Back to the future has a rape scene in it FYI.

Freddosforall · 16/11/2022 22:47

I think you're overthinking. Give them the remote and tell them to choose something, but nothing over a 12 as you haven't checked with their parents. Then leave them to it. Mine like the simpsons movie and various musicals, which I'd never have thought of (and are sadly unimpressed by some of the 80s classics I adore)

DrinkFeckArseBrick · 16/11/2022 22:47

Home alone since it's near xmas?

Titanic?

Freddosforall · 16/11/2022 22:48

Cheeeeislifenow · 16/11/2022 22:15

Dumb and dumber is hilarious
Back to the future has a rape scene in it FYI.

It's hardly a rape scene.

2bazookas · 16/11/2022 22:50

They won't miss the abortion storyline and its a sensitive topic many parents would object to.

show them a classic Christmas film like Its a Wonderful LIfe.

miniaturepixieonacid · 16/11/2022 22:53

Actually, Dirty Dancing is a 12 on Netflix so they could pick it. It's only the DVD that's a 15. Maybe it was changed.

SylvanianFrenemies · 16/11/2022 22:56

Does your daughter go to a private school by any chance? It isn't clear from your post.

DoctorMartin · 16/11/2022 22:59

Mama Mia and Mama Mia 2 would have been perfect for mine at that age. They're grammar school though which might make a difference.

Zwicky · 16/11/2022 23:20

Crazy Rich Asians is fab

older films my dc have enjoyed -
cool runnings
see No evil hear no evil
stir crazy
blame it on the bellboy
the goonies
stand by me
grave of the fireflies
bowfinger
overboard
wag the dog
rat race
clockwise
big business
johnny English

they didn’t like dirty dancing - thought Jonny was an arsehole, didn’t gaf about the having to do the dance because penny couldn’t. I loved it as a teen but I don’t think it really flys now.

Chilesstanton · 16/11/2022 23:25

Dont tell mom the babysitters dead!

KateMcCallister · 16/11/2022 23:33

My 9 year old has seen Dirty Dancing and Clueless, loves both.

Are we close enough for Christmas movies? Elf?

stevalnamechanger · 17/11/2022 00:04

Freaky Friday ?

123becauseicouldntthinkofone · 17/11/2022 15:22

School of Rock
New netflix film called Slumberland comes out tomorrow looks good
RIPD
Drop dead Fred
Thunder force
Yes day
The school for good and Evil

All currently on Netflix

LBFseBrom · 17/11/2022 15:35

One very good and entertaining film is, 'Yesterday'. It's funny and feel good. Lily James and Himesh Patel (Tamwar in EE) star and there are other well known actors, also Ed Sheeran features. It's quite a clever but fantastic story. Lovely ending, heartwarming.