Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

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Screenwise Verdict

Look, Housesitter is harmless in the 'no one gets shot or says the f-word' sense, but it's teaching some genuinely questionable life lessons. The whole movie is about a woman who commits multiple felonies (breaking and entering, fraud, identity theft) and is rewarded with romance and a happy ending. It's all played for laughs, but the underlying message is pretty sketchy.

Beyond the ethics, this movie is just... fine? The critics didn't love it (36% on RT), audiences were lukewarm (47%), and it shows. It's a formulaic early-90s rom-com that doesn't do anything particularly clever with its premise. Goldie Hawn and Steve Martin are charming, but they're working with a script that's more 'mildly amusing' than 'actually funny.'

The real issue is watchability. This came out in 1992, and it feels every bit of those 33 years. The pacing is slow, the humor is dated, and modern kids raised on Marvel movies and TikTok will be checking their phones within 15 minutes. If you're feeling nostalgic and want to show your tween what rom-coms used to look like, go for it—but don't expect them to thank you.

Bottom line: There are dozens of better family comedies out there that are actually funny, don't normalize criminal behavior, and won't put your kids to sleep. Skip this one unless you're doing a 90s film studies project.

Age Fit

Common Sense Media suggests 11+, which tracks for the mild romantic content and themes of deception. But honestly, most kids under 14 will find this painfully boring—it's slow, dated, and the humor doesn't land for Gen Z or Alpha. This is really for nostalgic adults who remember the 90s fondly.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

38

The entire premise revolves around deception, lying, and fraud—Gwen is literally a con artist who breaks into someone's home and impersonates his wife. While it's played for laughs in a rom-com framework, the core message is that manipulation and dishonesty can lead to romantic success. Not exactly modeling healthy relationship dynamics or ethical behavior.

Imaginative

42

Standard early-90s rom-com formula with a slightly quirky premise (con artist pretends to be wife), but executed in a conventional way. The 'imaginative' element is the setup, but it doesn't invite any creative thinking or exploration—it's a passive viewing experience with predictable beats. Goldie Hawn and Steve Martin have charm, but the script doesn't do much inventive with the concept.

Safe

72

Common Sense Media rates it for 11+, and it's a PG-rated rom-com without violence, gore, or explicit content. The main 'unsafe' element is the normalization of lying and criminal behavior (breaking and entering, fraud, identity theft) presented as charming and consequence-free. There may be some mild sexual tension and innuendo typical of early-90s rom-coms, but nothing graphic or shocking.

Enriching

28

Very little enriching value here. The film doesn't offer meaningful life lessons—in fact, it arguably teaches the opposite by rewarding deceptive behavior. No skill-building, minimal emotional depth, and the 'happily ever after' ending undermines any potential moral about honesty. It's entertainment without substance, and dated entertainment at that.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Goldie Hawn and Steve Martin have natural chemistry and comedic timing
Harmless PG-rated content without graphic violence or explicit material
Could spark discussions about honesty, consequences, and what makes a healthy relationship (by showing what doesn't)
Nostalgia factor if you grew up in the 90s and want to share that era with your kids

⚠

What to Watch For

The entire plot rewards lying, fraud, identity theft, and breaking-and-entering—presented as cute and consequence-free
Extremely dated pacing and humor that will likely bore modern kids raised on faster-paced content
Mixed critical reception for a reason—it's formulaic and doesn't do much with its premise
Some mild romantic/sexual innuendo typical of early-90s PG rom-coms

Conversation Starters

"What would actually happen if someone pretended to be married to you and moved into your house? Why is that a crime?"
"Do you think it's okay to lie to get what you want if nobody gets hurt? What about when people do get hurt?"
"How would you feel if someone you trusted had been lying to you the whole time?"
"What makes a healthy relationship—honesty or chemistry? Can you have one without the other?"

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