Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

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Screenwise Verdict

All My Life is a competent, heartfelt tearjerker about a couple racing to marry before terminal cancer takes over. It's based on a true story, which gives it emotional heft, and it models genuine love and community support during crisis.

But let's be real: this is a pretty standard romantic drama. You know exactly where it's going from minute one, and it hits every expected beat along the way. Jessica Rothe and Harry Shum Jr. are charming, and the film avoids being overly manipulative, but it's not breaking new ground.

The bigger question is whether your tween/teen is ready for a movie about watching someone die. This isn't Air Bud where a sad thing happens—the entire film is about terminal illness. Common Sense Media says 11+, which feels about right for emotionally mature kids who can process heavy themes.

It's a decent choice if you want to open conversations about mortality, illness, or how to support people facing crisis. But if you're looking for something more original or less emotionally draining, there are better options out there.

Age Fit

Best for ages 11-12+ who can handle serious illness and death themes. This isn't for younger kids—the cancer storyline is the entire plot, not a surprise element. Teens and adults who appreciate romantic dramas will find it moving, though it's fairly conventional in execution.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

78

The film centers on genuine love, commitment, and community support during a devastating health crisis. It models how friends and family rally around a couple facing terminal illness, showing kindness and sacrifice. The romance is warm without being manipulative. However, the heavy emotional weight of watching someone die of cancer—even handled sensitively—makes this a tough watch that requires emotional maturity. Brief mild profanity and implied sexual content are age-appropriate for the PG-13 rating.

Imaginative

42

This is a straightforward romantic drama based on a true story. It doesn't invite creative exploration or spark curiosity beyond the emotional journey of its characters. The narrative follows a predictable arc of diagnosis, brief hope, and decline. While the 'dream wedding' concept shows community creativity, the film itself doesn't encourage imaginative thinking or offer novel perspectives. It's competently made but conventional in its storytelling approach.

Safe

68

Rated PG-13 for brief language, with Common Sense Media suggesting age 11+. Content includes: one scene with implied nudity (couple waking up together, brief bare chest), occasional mild profanity, and scenes of medical treatment. The primary safety concern is emotional intensity—watching a young person deteriorate from cancer and face death is genuinely distressing. This isn't 'surprise' content (it's the premise), but it's heavy material that could upset younger or sensitive viewers. No gore, toxicity, or inappropriate surprises beyond the inherent sadness of the subject matter.

Enriching

62

The film offers opportunities to discuss mortality, serious illness, love under pressure, and how communities support each other during crisis. It can build empathy and help teens process difficult life realities. However, it's not particularly insightful or nuanced—it's a competent tearjerker that hits expected emotional beats. The 'based on a true story' element adds some weight, but the execution is fairly conventional. It's more emotionally cathartic than intellectually or ethically challenging.

Parent Info

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Why It Might Be Great

Models how communities rally around people facing crisis—friends and family pull together to create a 'dream wedding' under impossible circumstances
Opens conversation about mortality, serious illness, and love without being preachy or manipulative
Shows a healthy romantic relationship where partners support each other through devastating news
Based on a true story, which adds emotional weight and authenticity to the premise

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What to Watch For

This is emotionally heavy—watching a young person die of cancer is genuinely sad and may be too much for sensitive kids under 12
Brief implied nudity (couple in bed together) and mild profanity
Medical scenes showing treatment and physical decline
The film is pretty conventional—if your teen rolls their eyes at predictable romance, this won't change their mind

Conversation Starters

"How do you think you'd want your friends to support you if you were going through something really hard?"
"The movie shows them trying to squeeze a lifetime into a few months. What would you prioritize if you knew time was limited?"
"Do you think getting married was the right choice for them, or would you have made different decisions?"
"How do you think Sol's friends felt trying to stay positive while knowing what was coming?"

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