Is there anything actually inappropriate for a 10-year-old?

Not really in terms of 'bad' content. There's some mild swearing and a lot of talk about who is sleeping with whom, but it's all very verbal and 'grown-up.' The real risk isn't trauma; it's boredom.

Does the divorce plot make it a 'downer' movie?

It’s a dramedy, so it balances the heavy stuff with humor. The divorce of one couple is the main source of conflict, but the movie is ultimately about the resilience of the group as a whole.

Why is it called 'The Four Seasons'?

It’s literal and metaphorical. The movie is divided into four chapters based on the seasons, and it uses Vivaldi’s famous violin concertos of the same name to bridge the gaps.

Will my kids find the 80s setting too distracting?

The fashion and the tech (or lack thereof) are definitely dated, but because it's a movie about people talking on vacations, it feels less 'dated' than an 80s action movie or sci-fi flick.

The Four Seasons – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

The Four Seasons

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie1981

58%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A witty, talky 80s time capsule about why vacationing with your best friends is both a dream and a total nightmare.

68%

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The Four Seasons

movie

12, 1981

58%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A witty, talky 80s time capsule about why vacationing with your best friends is both a dream and a total nightmare.

68%

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Screenwise Verdict

The Four Seasons is a charming, well-acted movie that your parents probably loved, but for a modern kid, it’s a tough sell. It’s essentially two hours of wealthy 40-somethings complaining about their lives while eating expensive food. If you have a teen who loves MASH* or vintage Carol Burnett, there’s some gold here, but for most families, this is 'background movie' territory at best.

It gets points for being smart and emotionally honest, but the 'outdated' penalty is heavy. The gender dynamics—specifically how the 'new wife' is treated as a shallow interloper—haven't aged gracefully. It’s a 58 because while it's a 'good' movie, it’s just not a 'kid' movie in any sense of the word.

Age Fit

This is strictly for teens (13+) who have a high tolerance for 'adult' movies. While it's safe for younger kids, the themes of marital boredom and mid-life regret will be completely lost on them.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

It celebrates long-term friendship and the work required to keep marriages alive, though the central conflict involves a messy divorce and a 'trophy wife' replacement that creates significant friction.

Imaginative

The seasonal structure is clever and the dialogue is sharp, but it's a grounded, talky dramedy with no visual or conceptual world-building.

Safe

Typical 1980s PG fare. Lots of arguing and adult themes (infidelity, mid-life crises), but no graphic violence or nudity. One scene involves a character nearly drowning in a frozen lake.

Enriching

The film is an excellent study in empathy and the nuances of adult relationships. It also serves as a great introduction to Vivaldi's music, which scores the film.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Alan Alda and Carol Burnett have incredible chemistry and deliver the kind of fast-paced, neurotic dialogue that defined early 80s comedy.
The seasonal structure gives the story a rhythmic, predictable flow that makes the heavy relationship talk easier to digest.
It provides a realistic look at friendship, showing that being close to people for decades means learning how to tolerate their most annoying habits.
The use of Vivaldi's 'The Four Seasons' isn't just background noise; it's a masterclass in how classical music can drive a narrative's mood.

⚠

What to Watch For

The plot point where one friend dumps his age-appropriate wife for a much younger, 'bubbly' woman is the catalyst for most of the drama and feels very dated now.
There is a fair amount of 1980s-style yelling. These characters are 'venting,' but to a modern kid, it might just look like adults being mean to each other.
The pacing is extremely slow by modern standards. If your kid isn't into 'people talking in rooms (or on boats),' they will be checked out by the fifteen-minute mark.

Conversation Starters

"Why do you think the other two couples were so upset when Nick brought a new, younger girlfriend on the trip?"
"Which of the four seasons did you think looked like the most fun vacation, and why?"
"Is it possible to be 'too honest' with your friends, like Jack is in the movie?"
"How do the characters change their behavior depending on which season they are in?"

Deep Dive

The Alan Alda 'Nice Guy' Era

To understand The Four Seasons, you have to understand Alan Alda’s cultural footprint in 1981. He was the king of the 'Sensitive Man' movement. In this film, which he also wrote and directed, he plays Jack, a guy who thinks he’s the moral compass of his friend group but is actually just a bit of a control freak. For a parent watching today, it’s a fascinating look at how we used to talk about feelings before 'therapy speak' became the norm.

Why the Music Matters

The decision to score the entire film with Vivaldi was a stroke of genius that keeps the movie from feeling like a filmed play. Each segment—Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter—has a distinct visual and auditory palette. If you’re trying to get a kid interested in classical music, this is actually a pretty decent 'Trojan Horse' entry point. They’ll recognize the tunes even if they don't know the names.

The 'Autumn' Problem

The movie’s biggest hurdle for a 2026 audience is the character of Ginny, the younger woman who replaces the group's long-time friend after a divorce. The film tries to be sympathetic to her, but she’s mostly used as a foil to show how 'shallow' the man’s mid-life crisis is. It’s a trope that was everywhere in the 80s, but today it feels a little mean-spirited. If you watch this with a teen, that’s the part they’ll likely push back on—and it’s a great opening for a conversation about how movies used to treat 'the other woman.'

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