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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Would you let a 6y/o see Barbie?

519 replies

44PumpLane · 16/07/2023 09:42

I'm in two minds about this- kids have been invited to see Barbie the movie but it's rated 12A because of moderate sexual innuendo, brief harassment, catcalling and implied strong language (including bleeped out motherf*er).

Supposedly it has the words bitch, crap, God, hell and damn in.

What would you do? We wouldn't typically let the kids see anything with this sort of language but then it would mean missing out on someone's birthday party.

There is no chance of us seeing it before the girls as we would have to accept or decline the invite today.

I think the swearing would go over the heads of mine, but I definitely know it wouldn't others so they then might chat about it or discuss it afterwards.

Am I being too precious about it all?

YABU- let them go see it

YANBU- yeah I probably wouldn't let a 6 year old see it or I'd want to see it myself first to judge.

OP posts:
liveforsummer · 18/07/2023 08:47

BoohooWoohoo · 18/07/2023 08:17

I'm very jealous of £6 cinema tickets for a new release.

There are tickets for a fiver if you don't want the comfy recliners - standard price, all movies including new releases whatever the time of day. City centre. Vue cinemas are significantly cheaper than odeon etc

EarthlyNightshade · 18/07/2023 09:26

Based on the OP, I'd probably moan a bit about it (to friends) but as it's a party, I'd let them go.
Is there any chance the party holders don't know it's a 12A? It's quite unusual to agree to be in loco parentis to a group of kids for something that would clearly not be suitable for all of them.

It amused me upthread that someone would allow their "intelligent" four year old go see it. I have an "intelligent" DS and I had to be quite careful what he went to see, right up until he was 12.

Piggywaspushed · 18/07/2023 10:01

Newname211 · 18/07/2023 07:41

Buy one of the issues is the use of the word “motherfucker” for example. Swearing doesn’t bother many parents.

Show quote history

Hmm..

The BBFC bases its ratings on regular public consultation.

I can assure you that very strong language does bother people.

Piggywaspushed · 18/07/2023 10:02

ThanksItHasPockets · 18/07/2023 08:32

This is a new level of MN chill parenting that I'm simply not prepared for. If thinking that 6 year olds shouldn't hear a half-bleeped 'motherfucker' makes me uptight then perm my hair and call me Mary Whitehouse.

Show quote history
Grin
redskytwonight · 18/07/2023 10:05

EarthlyNightshade · 18/07/2023 09:26

Based on the OP, I'd probably moan a bit about it (to friends) but as it's a party, I'd let them go.
Is there any chance the party holders don't know it's a 12A? It's quite unusual to agree to be in loco parentis to a group of kids for something that would clearly not be suitable for all of them.

It amused me upthread that someone would allow their "intelligent" four year old go see it. I have an "intelligent" DS and I had to be quite careful what he went to see, right up until he was 12.

Personally I would only take a non-intelligent 4 year old. I'd want it to go over their head and not for them to start thinking about any of the themes too deeply ...

tilourrevoltingsdone · 18/07/2023 10:58

redskytwonight · 18/07/2023 10:05

Personally I would only take a non-intelligent 4 year old. I'd want it to go over their head and not for them to start thinking about any of the themes too deeply ...

Show quote history

I agree. I wouldn’t want my DD to feel angst about any of the themes covered and I certainly wouldn’t want any concerned phone calls from school, or other parents, about something she had picked up and shared. We already have some difficult questions from things she’s seen that are deemed appropriate for her age.

Jennybeans401 · 19/07/2023 06:46

I'd let them go, mine wouldn't have understood the mature stuff at that age but they'd have let it go over their heads.

Take your Barbies and have a blast. The kids will probably just be up dancing to the music, it's a shame to let them miss out on the party.

Piggywaspushed · 19/07/2023 07:10

Getting up and dancing in the cinema is OK now is it??

I am confused as to why so many people want their kids going to a film that will 'go over their heads', I must say. I used to take mine to films because I thought they would enjoy it, and get it, not because they were coming along for my ride. I assumed I would have 2 hours of possible boredom and maybe even a nice nap...

OCaptain · 19/07/2023 07:55

Jennybeans401 · 19/07/2023 06:46

I'd let them go, mine wouldn't have understood the mature stuff at that age but they'd have let it go over their heads.

Take your Barbies and have a blast. The kids will probably just be up dancing to the music, it's a shame to let them miss out on the party.

Why is it a shame? They is so many other things for them to do and other movies available for them to watch.

TinyTear · 19/07/2023 08:09

Jennybeans401 · 19/07/2023 06:46

I'd let them go, mine wouldn't have understood the mature stuff at that age but they'd have let it go over their heads.

Take your Barbies and have a blast. The kids will probably just be up dancing to the music, it's a shame to let them miss out on the party.

Any kid up and dancing to the music in a cinema showing of a 12A film would be evicted, I don't give a shit if I missed 5 minutes but I would tell you to make your children behave and then would go and call some member of staff

Honestly, behaviour people!

And I like Bluey but can't stand the cinema episode! so disrespectful of people who want to watch a film.

Abracadabra12345 · 19/07/2023 08:19

Ginmonkeyagain · 18/07/2023 07:45

I was listening to a review of this on R4 yesterday. Swearing and sexual innuendo aside it doesn't sound like a film aiked at children or one they will understand or enjoy.

The whole premise is a sort of Truman show situation where Barbie and Ken live in a parallel "Barbie world" and what happens when they break out in to our world.

That's exactly what I took from the trailer. It just didn't cross my mind that it would suit small children

melj1213 · 19/07/2023 09:24

Jennybeans401 · 19/07/2023 06:46

I'd let them go, mine wouldn't have understood the mature stuff at that age but they'd have let it go over their heads.

Take your Barbies and have a blast. The kids will probably just be up dancing to the music, it's a shame to let them miss out on the party.

It's a cinema not a fucking disco.

If anyone was "up dancing" in any film in any cinema I was in I would be straight to the cinema staff as it's not fair on the other paying patrons to allow your child to be a nuisance

Vintagecreamandcottagepie · 19/07/2023 10:13

I really don't think the pp meant literally 🙄She meant if families decide this film is right for them, they should ruddy well go along and enjoy it.

FFSwhatisthis · 19/07/2023 10:26

Piggywaspushed · 19/07/2023 07:10

Getting up and dancing in the cinema is OK now is it??

I am confused as to why so many people want their kids going to a film that will 'go over their heads', I must say. I used to take mine to films because I thought they would enjoy it, and get it, not because they were coming along for my ride. I assumed I would have 2 hours of possible boredom and maybe even a nice nap...

@Piggywaspushed

'want', ?? I think want is a bit of a weird thing to say, I don't think people 'want' them to go, just that for a birthday invitation they'd 'allow' then to go.

because it's part of a Birthday Party. I wouldn't take a 6 yo, not because of the swearing (people who think 6year olds don't hear far worse in the play ground at school are deluded) or the adult themes (whoosh, right over their heads) but because they'd be disappointed & bored!!

if the party kids parents are too stupid to have checked the gum out and are lumbered with several bored 6 year olds, that's for them to deal with.

Piggywaspushed · 19/07/2023 11:17

I was talking about some general comments on the thread rather than specifically the party where posters said their young children wouldn't understand most of the film anyway - or even really enjoy it. It just seems a bit odd.

megletthesecond · 19/07/2023 11:22

You only have to watch the trailer to see it's not for kids.

Although it sounds like a cock up promoting it before The Little Mermaid.

melj1213 · 19/07/2023 11:26

if the party kids parents are too stupid to have checked the gum out and are lumbered with several bored 6 year olds, that's for them to deal with.

But the problem is that it's not just the party parents problem to deal with, it will be made the problem of all the other cinema patrons who have paid to see the film and then will be potentially disrupted by a large group of bored 6yos who should never have been in the screening to begin with.

melj1213 · 19/07/2023 11:27

Vintagecreamandcottagepie · 19/07/2023 10:13

I really don't think the pp meant literally 🙄She meant if families decide this film is right for them, they should ruddy well go along and enjoy it.

You can go and enjoy the film but if your enjoyment encroaches on other people's enjoyment by being disruptive then that isn't acceptable and shouldn't be encouraged.

FFSwhatisthis · 19/07/2023 11:34

melj1213 · 19/07/2023 11:26

if the party kids parents are too stupid to have checked the gum out and are lumbered with several bored 6 year olds, that's for them to deal with.

But the problem is that it's not just the party parents problem to deal with, it will be made the problem of all the other cinema patrons who have paid to see the film and then will be potentially disrupted by a large group of bored 6yos who should never have been in the screening to begin with.

@melj1213 I agree with you & in theory I shouldn't allow my 6 year old to go to the party in case she's part of a group of kids that disturb others, however, in reality I would let her go & expect the other parents NOT to allow them to misbehave.
DD's would know it was naughty & they'd be hesitant to join in any noise making/dancing, but I wouldn't bet the house on them having enough restraint 'in the moment' not to!

it's a totally stupid film to take them to, they should have done something different for the 'party' & just taken their DD, but I totally expect they haven't even looked into the film & just assumed barbie would be fine. Probably not even clicked 12a, not PG.

hulahooper2 · 19/07/2023 11:49

It’s not a kids film

StillWantingADog · 19/07/2023 22:09

Just heard Simon Mayo and mark kermode discuss it on the newsagents podcast
“it’s not for 6 year olds” were the actual words used

EconomyClassRockstar · 21/07/2023 01:58

I just watched it and it's absolutely fabulous. I loved it. Every young kid there was bored senseless. It's a very much mid teen onwards, fuck the patriarchy (in a really bizarre way) movie.

DonnaBanana · 21/07/2023 08:17

Mine loves South Park so I think barbie will be a piece of cake.

Abracadabra12345 · 21/07/2023 08:26

EconomyClassRockstar · 21/07/2023 01:58

I just watched it and it's absolutely fabulous. I loved it. Every young kid there was bored senseless. It's a very much mid teen onwards, fuck the patriarchy (in a really bizarre way) movie.

I'm really looking forward to seeing it once the word gets around that it isn't for kids! (Not possible to go to an evening screening). The reviews are great - glad you enjoyed it

YippieKayakOtherBuckets · 21/07/2023 14:05

I saw it this morning. It is absolutely not the film that the marketing would imply. It is VERY mega and self-aware, and it is about gender, and patriarchy, and (very movingly) mothers and daughters. I loved it and it is completely inappropriate for small children, who will be deeply bored.