Comments of Parents and Others Who've Seen the Movie

Movie Reviews

Heh, Josie, PG 13 -- say it isn't so!! What's up with that?!?

Some parents, who we applaud for their concern for their children and for their diligence in supervising what their children are exposed to, have written us to ask about the PG-13 rating that our Josie and the Pussycats movie has been given. As a result of the rating, they wonder whether the movie is appropriate for their younger children.

We were, frankly, a little surprised ourselves that the film got a PG-13 rating. We thought it would end up being rated PG. In fact, we worked very hard to keep "elements" out of the film that would make it inappropriate for the younger members of our loyal comic audience. (Rest assured we made a lot of "cuts".)

We would have liked to have appealed the rating - but you know what, we don't control that issue. The studio does (and, honestly, there is a belief in Hollywood that to attract an older audience, you cannot be rated PG - a belief we do not share, but we were "outvoted"). But that's "behind the scenes" stuff, and I am sure you are saying to yourself right now - "Michael, that's neither here nor there, what I want to know right now is whether to let my child see the movie."

Well, we think you should, for the reasons we've explained below.

We've set forth below the explanation provided by the ratings folks regarding what makes one movie a PG movie and another a PG-13 movie. You can read complete details of how the ratings system works at www.filmratings.com.

The reason that the ratings folks gave as to why our Josie and the Pussycats movie should be rated PG-13 was the "language and mild sensuality."

We think they are wrong. We believe our movie falls squarely within the PG classification. Let me explain.

First, let me point out that the ratings folks acknowledge that there is absolutely NO sex, nudity, or drug use in the Josie and the Pussycats movie. Frankly, the most provocative thing that happens is a kiss that is exchanged by ….

: "Wait, Michael -- we don't want to give away the story!"

Oops, you are right Josie, sorry -- but I think everyone gets the idea - pretty mild stuff.

As for "language" ….

: "Did we offend the ratings people because we made a "talkie?"

No, Melody, there is no rule against making a PG "talkie" (LOL) - you can have words in your movie and still be rated PG.

This isn't a spinoff of the Rachel Welch "BC" movie - there IS language in it, but the "language" is absolutely NOT inappropriate for children under 13.

The absolutely worst use of language that I can recall (and I've seen the movie a number of times) is a double entendre use of the word "pussy" (we tried hard to keep even this out - but we felt younger kids simply wouldn't even realize, or be offended by, the "joke"). I honestly do not recall anything inappropriate for young kids. After they have screened the movie themselves and deemed it appropriate for younger audiences, members of the production crew are bringing children as young as 6 .

As one of our executives said to me: "If I let my kids watch Dawson Creek, I'll let them watch this - they are pretty much the same."

As for "mild sensuality" - well, you've surely seen by now the outfits that the girls wear (if you haven't, surf around our site a little, we've got pictures of them plastered all over our website). Their clothes are right out of the preteen/teen clothing catalogs that come into all of our homes almost every week. And nobody (to my knowledge) thinks those catalogs are inappropriate for children under 13.

So we have ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA what the ratings folks meant when they said there is "mild sensuality" in the film.

Admittedly, when your film stars three very pretty young ladies and has a great supporting cast as well, it's sure to be perceived as being a "hot" film. But that doesn't make it sensual (mildly or otherwise). There is more sensuality in many Saturday morning television shows than there is in our movie. Remember again there is only one kiss (fully clothed, standing up, in front of an audience a la "Never Been Kissed") in the entire…

: MICHAEL!!

Okay Val - I'll stop revealing the story.

In the end, what is right for each child must be decided on a case-by-case basis by that child's parents.

We think the movie is appropriate for your children, since it is consistent with our 60 year history of providing wholesome family entertainment.

For anyone who is still unsure though, maybe we can provide some "help." We are asking parents who see the film to e-mail us with their comments. Check back here in coming days and we will share those comments with you.

Please send your e-mail to:
Michael Silberkleit, Chairman, Archie Comic Publications

REPRODUCED FROM THE FILMRATINGS.COM SITE

PG signifies that the film rated may contain some material parents might not like to expose to their young children - material that will clearly need to be examined or inquired about before children are allowed to attend the film. Explicit sex scenes and scenes of drug use are absent; nudity, if present, is seen only briefly, horror and violence do not exceed moderate levels.

PG - 13Parents Strongly Cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. This signifies that the film rated may be inappropriate for pre-teens. Parents should be especially careful about letting their younger children attend. Rough or persistent violence is absent; sexually-oriented nudity is generally absent; some scenes of drug use may be seen; one use of the harsher sexually derived words may be heard.