The Kissing Booth 2 – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

The Kissing Booth 2

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2020

38%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A bloated, boring teen rom-com sequel that's too mature for tweens and too predictable for anyone with taste.

29%

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The Kissing Booth 2

movie

PG-13, 2020

38%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A bloated, boring teen rom-com sequel that's too mature for tweens and too predictable for anyone with taste.

29%

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Screenwise Verdict

Let's be honest: The Kissing Booth 2 is not good. It takes every tired teen rom-com cliché, stretches them across 130 interminable minutes, and calls it a sequel. Critics hated it (29% on Rotten Tomatoes), audiences were lukewarm at best (38%), and Letterboxd users gave it a dismal 1.5 out of 5.

Beyond being boring, it's also problematic for younger viewers. The sexual content is frequent (implied sex, heavy makeouts, constant innuendo), teen drinking is portrayed as fun and consequence-free, and the relationship dynamics are a masterclass in what not to do—jealousy, possessiveness, and emotional cheating are all romanticized.

If your 14-15 year old is begging to watch it, fine—but plan to have some real conversations afterward about what healthy relationships actually look like. For everyone else? Skip it. There are so many better ways to spend two hours.

Age Fit

This is strictly for ages 14 and up due to sexual content, drinking, and relationship themes. Even then, it's a tough sell—critics and audiences agree it's a slog. If your teen loved the first one, they might tolerate this, but don't expect quality family viewing.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

This sequel leans heavily into unhealthy relationship dynamics—jealousy, love triangles, and possessive behavior are romanticized rather than examined. Elle's constant anxiety about Noah cheating, combined with her own emotional cheating with Marco, models relationship insecurity. The film glamorizes teen drinking (fake IDs, getting drunk at bars) without meaningful consequences. While there's friendship loyalty between Elle and Lee, the overall emotional tone prioritizes romantic drama over genuine character growth or healthy communication.

Imaginative

This is paint-by-numbers teen rom-com territory with zero originality. Every beat is predictable: long-distance boyfriend, hot new guy, jealousy, dance competition, will-they-won't-they. The film doesn't invite any creative thinking or exploration—it's pure consumption of tired tropes. The 130-minute runtime stretches thin material even thinner. Nothing here sparks curiosity or invites viewers to think differently about relationships, identity, or growth.

Safe

Rated TV-14 with consistent warnings across sources for sexual content (implied sex, heavy making out, sexual references throughout), alcohol use (teens drinking at bars, using fake IDs), and mild profanity. No violence or gore, but the sexual content and substance use are frequent enough that younger teens would encounter mature themes. The content isn't shocking or traumatic, but it's definitely not safe for kids under 13 to stumble upon. For the target 14+ audience, it's within expected boundaries but pushes them consistently.

Enriching

There's minimal enrichment here. The film could theoretically spark conversations about long-distance relationships, consent, and healthy boundaries—but it doesn't model those things well. College application stress is touched on but not meaningfully explored. The dance competition subplot is filler. The resolution reinforces the idea that romantic relationships should be the center of a teen's universe rather than personal growth or future planning. Entertainment value is low too—critics and audiences panned it (29% RT critics, 38% audience, 1.5/5 Letterboxd), and at 130 minutes it's a slog.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Could spark conversations about long-distance relationships and the challenges of senior year transitions
Depicts friendship loyalty between Elle and Lee, even when tested by romantic drama
May resonate with 14-15 year olds navigating first serious relationships (though not as a how-to guide)
Shows consequences of poor communication in relationships, even if unintentionally

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What to Watch For

Frequent sexual content—implied sex, heavy making out, and constant sexual references throughout
Teen drinking is glamorized: characters use fake IDs, drink at bars, get drunk with minimal consequences
Unhealthy relationship dynamics modeled as romantic: jealousy, possessiveness, emotional cheating
At 130 minutes, it's genuinely hard to sit through—even the target audience found it dull
Language includes some profanity, though not pervasive

Conversation Starters

"Elle seems really anxious about Noah cheating. What makes a long-distance relationship work—or not work?"
"Do you think it's okay that Elle got so close to Marco while she was with Noah? Where's the line?"
"The movie shows teens drinking with fake IDs like it's no big deal. What do you think about that?"
"Elle's whole life seems to revolve around which boy she's with. Is that realistic for senior year? What else should she be thinking about?"

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