Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

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Screenwise Verdict

Look, the critics loved this (87% on RT), but audiences were lukewarm (67%), and that gap tells you everything. This is a thoughtful, well-made documentary about one of Hollywood's most famous leading men, using his own recorded reflections to explore identity, fame, and mental health. It's genuinely insightful if you're into that sort of thing.

But here's the truth: it's dry. It's slow. It's the kind of documentary your film professor would screen, not what you'd choose on movie night. The 6.6 IMDb rating isn't because it's bad—it's because most people find it boring. Unless you or your teen are specifically interested in Old Hollywood, classic film, or the psychology of celebrity, this will feel like homework.

The WISE components are solid—it's safe, reasonably enriching, handles tough topics well. But the watchability factor tanks the overall score because realistically, who's going to sit through this? Film students, Cary Grant superfans, and people who fall asleep to PBS. That's the audience.

Age Fit

Common Sense says 11+, but let's be real—this is for adults or maybe high schoolers doing a film studies project. The content is appropriate for preteens, but the format and pacing will bore them to tears. If you're a parent who loves Old Hollywood, great date night doc. For the kids? Hard pass.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

78

A mature, reflective documentary about personal growth and self-invention. Grant's story of overcoming a difficult childhood through perseverance models resilience, though the emotional tone is contemplative rather than uplifting. The documentary handles his struggles with mental health and LSD therapy with dignity. No mean-spiritedness or toxic behavior.

Imaginative

62

Uses archival footage and Grant's own words to tell his story—a creative approach to biography, but ultimately follows a fairly conventional documentary structure. The exploration of how Grant consciously constructed his screen persona offers some insight into identity and self-creation, but it's more analytical than imaginative. Not particularly inspiring for creative expression.

Safe

85

Common Sense Media rates it 11+, which aligns with its mature but non-graphic content. The documentary discusses Grant's difficult childhood, failed marriages, and experimental LSD therapy, but handles these topics in a thoughtful, documentary manner without graphic imagery. No violence, nudity, or shocking content. The emotional weight of discussing depression and therapy might be heavy for younger viewers but isn't unsafe.

Enriching

72

Strong ratings from critics (87% RT) suggest substantive content. Offers genuine insight into Hollywood's Golden Age, the construction of celebrity, and the gap between public persona and private self. Grant's candid reflections on mental health, identity, and reinvention provide meaningful material for discussion. However, the 67% audience score and 6.6 IMDb rating suggest it's more educational than entertaining—a bit dry for general audiences.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Uses Cary Grant's own words and audio recordings to tell his story, which is genuinely unique and intimate
Offers real insight into how celebrities construct their public personas and the toll of fame
Handles mental health, therapy, and personal struggle with maturity and respect—good modeling for discussing these topics
Strong for older teens or adults interested in film history or the psychology of identity

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What to Watch For

This is a talking-heads documentary with archival footage—if your kid needs visual stimulation, they'll zone out in five minutes
Discusses Grant's experimental LSD therapy sessions in the 1950s (used for psychiatric treatment at the time) in a clinical, historical context
The pacing is slow and contemplative; the 20-point gap between critic and audience scores tells you everything about its watchability
Really designed for adults or film buffs, despite the 11+ rating

Conversation Starters

"Cary Grant basically invented himself—his real name was Archie Leach. What do you think about the idea of consciously creating who you want to be?"
"He talked openly about going to therapy and trying to understand himself, which was really unusual for men in the 1950s. Why do you think that was brave?"
"The documentary shows how different his real personality was from his movie star image. Do you think celebrities today have that same gap between who they are and who we see?"

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