Special Correspondents – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Special Correspondents

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2016

32%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A journalist fakes his own kidnapping in this comedy that critics agree should have stayed fake—unwatchable and unfunny.

16%

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Special Correspondents

movie

PG-13, 2016

32%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A journalist fakes his own kidnapping in this comedy that critics agree should have stayed fake—unwatchable and unfunny.

16%

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Screenwise Verdict

Let's be real: this movie is a dud. With a 16% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 2.6/5 on Letterboxd, critics and audiences agree that Special Correspondents is unfunny, uninspired, and forgettable. It's a Netflix original from 2016 that feels like it was made just to fill content quotas.

The premise—journalists faking their own kidnapping—could have been clever satire about media manipulation and the 24-hour news cycle. Instead, it's a lazy comedy that doesn't earn its laughs or its runtime. The moral framework is weak: the protagonists lie, manipulate, and exploit a crisis, with no meaningful consequences or growth.

For families, there's nothing here worth your time. It's not enriching, barely imaginative, and while it's technically "safe" in that it won't traumatize anyone, it will bore everyone. Skip this and watch literally anything else on Netflix—there are hundreds of better comedies that will actually make you laugh and maybe teach you something too.

Age Fit

Common Sense Media suggests 16+, which seems right given the mature premise around fraud and media manipulation. That said, this is such a poorly-executed film that even adults will struggle to sit through it—there are infinitely better options for every age group.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

The premise centers on deception and fraud—journalists faking their own kidnapping for fame and money. While it's framed as comedy, the core moral modeling is problematic: lying to the public, manipulating emotions, and exploiting a crisis for personal gain. There's no strong redemptive arc or meaningful consequences that would make this a wholesome watch. The tone is cynical rather than kind or cooperative.

Imaginative

The concept of faking a kidnapping has some creative potential, but execution appears flat based on critical reception. A 16% Rotten Tomatoes critic score and 2.6/5 on Letterboxd suggests the film fails to deliver on its premise with originality or wit. It's a remake of a French film, not an original idea, and reviews indicate it's predictable and uninspired. No evidence of visual creativity, clever storytelling, or thought-provoking scenarios.

Safe

Common Sense Media rates it for ages 16+, suggesting some mature content but nothing extreme. The premise involves a fake kidnapping in a conflict zone, which could include references to violence, but likely no graphic content given the comedic framing. No indication of gore, nudity, or shocking content. The deception theme might be concerning for younger viewers who could misunderstand the ethics, but it's not triggering in a trauma sense. Reasonably predictable content for a Netflix comedy.

Enriching

This film offers minimal educational or personal growth value. The protagonist's scheme is morally bankrupt, and there's no indication the film provides meaningful commentary on journalism ethics, media manipulation, or personal responsibility. With a 36 Metacritic score and 5.9 IMDb rating, critics and audiences found it unfunny and forgettable. It's not entertaining enough to justify its lack of substance—it's neither a clever satire nor a fun romp. Just a poorly-executed comedy that wastes your time.

Parent Info

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Why It Might Be Great

If you're doing a film studies unit on "How Not to Remake a French Comedy," this is exhibit A
Could spark discussions about journalism ethics and media manipulation, though the film itself doesn't explore these meaningfully
Short enough that your suffering will be time-limited

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What to Watch For

The entire premise glorifies lying, fraud, and exploiting global crises for personal gain—not great moral modeling
Rated for ages 16+ by Common Sense Media, likely for mature themes around deception and possible language
With a 16% critic score, this is genuinely not entertaining—you'll be checking your watch
The humor falls completely flat according to reviewers, so don't expect laughs

Conversation Starters

"Why do you think the journalists thought faking a kidnapping was okay? What would the real consequences be?"
"How does social media and 24-hour news make it easier for people to manipulate the truth?"
"If you were a journalist, what ethical lines would you never cross, even for a great story?"

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