Can a 12 year old watch my girl?

Table of Contents

Quick Answer

My Girl is rated PG, which means parental guidance is suggested. There are a few scenes involving mild language, thematic elements, and brief sensuality that make My Girl unsuitable for very young viewers. However, most 12 year olds should be able to handle the content, especially with guidance from parents. Ultimately, it depends on the individual child’s level of maturity.

What is the movie My Girl about?

My Girl is a 1991 coming-of-age drama film directed by Howard Zieff. It stars Anna Chlumsky as Vada Sultenfuss, a young girl growing up in the early 1970s, and Macaulay Culkin as her friend Thomas J. Sennett. The movie focuses on Vada’s experiences one summer as she deals with friendships, crushes, loss, and maturity.

Some of the main themes and plot points include:

Vada navigates friendships with Thomas J. and her female friend Judy. She also has a crush on her teacher, Mr. Bixler.
Vada’s father is an awkward widower who runs a funeral home where Vada sometimes stays.

Vada believes she is responsible for her mother’s death and carries a lot of guilt.
Over the course of the summer, Vada faces maturity through experiences of grief, young love, and new understandings of life and death.
At the end, Vada loses her best friend Thomas J. in a tragic bee sting accident but begins to cope with her emotions.

Overall, My Girl is an emotional, funny, and heartwarming look at the pains and joys of growing up.

What is the MPAA rating for My Girl?

My Girl has a rating of PG from the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA).

The MPAA ratings system provides guidelines for parents regarding a film’s content and suitability for certain age groups. Here is a brief overview of what the PG rating signifies:

PG stands for “Parental Guidance Suggested.”
Films rated PG may contain some material that parents find unsuitable for younger children.
Movies may include some profanity, violence, brief nudity, and other potentially offensive content.

However, the elements are not deemed intense or frequent enough to warrant a stricter PG-13 or R rating.
Parents are encouraged to check the specifics of any film with a PG rating.

So in summary, PG means the movie is appropriate for children over the age of 8-10 with guidance and supervision from their parents. The objectionable content is mild compared to PG-13 or R movies.

Why is My Girl rated PG?

My Girl has a PG rating specifically because it contains:

A small amount of language – There is some name-calling and one use of the word “damn.”
Brief sensuality – There is a scene where Vada walks in on her teacher shirtless and feels sexually awkward.

Thematic elements – The film’s themes around death, grief, and serious illness are heavyweight for a very young viewer.
A tragic death scene – Vada’s friend Thomas J. dies after being attacked by bees.

The MPAA determined these elements warrant parental guidance for young viewers but are mild enough not to justify a stricter rating. The movie does not contain graphic violence, nudity, language, or sexuality. Overall My Girl deals with mature themes in a gentle, family-friendly manner.

Is My Girl appropriate for 12 year olds?

Whether My Girl is suitable for 12 year old viewers depends on the individual child and their level of maturity. Several factors determine if a 12 year old can handle the film’s PG-rated content:

Maturity level – Does the child demonstrate the emotional maturity to handle more grown-up themes?
Personality – Is the child anxious, sensitive, or easily frightened by sad or scary content?

Parental guidance – Can the parents provide context and discuss any difficult scenes with the child?
Interests – Does the child enjoy drama films about coming-of-age and relationships?

Many 12 year olds have the maturity and capacity to watch My Girl, especially with parental input. The film’s portrayal of death and grief is sad but not graphic or disturbing. However, parents know their child best. A sensitive preteen may find parts of My Girl too upsetting.

With guidance and conversation, most 12 year olds should be able to watch and appreciate My Girl. But it depends on evaluating if the child is ready for a PG movie exploring complex emotional issues.

What scenes might be inappropriate for a 12 year old viewer?

While My Girl generally has family-friendly content for preteens, parents should be aware of the following scenes that contain mature themes or situations:

Mild sensuality

Vada sees her teacher Mr. Bixler shirtless and feels awkward about her crush on him. There is some innuendo but nothing explicit shown.

Mild language

There is occasional name-calling like “weirdo.” Vada’s father also says “damn” once.

Death & grief

Vada believes she caused her mother’s death. She feels ongoing grief and guilt. Her friend Thomas J. also dies tragically. The scenes are sad but not gory.

Bee attack

Thomas J. is shown screaming as swarms of bees attack and ultimately kill him. This scene could frighten sensitive viewers.

While many 12 year olds can handle these scenes in context, parents should consider if their child is emotionally prepared. Use caution and guidance with sensitive preteens.

Discussion questions for a 12 year old after viewing My Girl

Here are some suggested discussion questions that parents can use to speak with a 12 year old child after they view My Girl:

What did you think of the movie? What was your favorite part?

Did any parts of the movie make you sad or upset? Did you find any parts scary?
What do you think were some of the main lessons Vada learned over the course of the summer?
Have you ever experienced a big loss like Vada did with Thomas J.? What is your advice for dealing with grief?

How did Vada and Thomas J’s friendship change over time? What makes a good friend?
Vada had a crush on her teacher Mr. Bixler. Have you ever had a crush on someone older? What did you do?
Do you feel like you relate to Vada’s character in any way? How?

What are some things Vada experienced that you think you’ll also experience as you grow up?
How do you think this summer changed Vada? What lessons did she learn?

Having open conversations helps parents explain challenging concepts, alleviate any concerns, and bond with their child. Discussion provides guidance on mature themes in My Girl.

Alternate movie choices for a 12 year old

If parents feel My Girl contains themes too mature for their 12 year old, some alternatives in the same genre include:

Movie	MPAA Rating	Summary
Annie	PG	Family musical about an orphan girl seeking her parents.
The Parent Trap	PG	Comedy about twins scheming to reunite their divorced parents.
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids	PG	Adventure comedy about siblings accidentally shrunk to a tiny size.
Home Alone	PG	Hit comedy about a child accidentally left home alone while his family travels.

These popular films explore family, friendship, and growing up in a more lighthearted way. The content and themes are suitable for most tweens but parents should still check ratings and details.

Conclusion

My Girl tackles themes of grief, death, and maturation in a thoughtful way. For many 12 year olds, the film provides an introduction to coming-of-age topics they will soon face. However, parents should consider if their child can handle sad scenes and mature issues. With guidance and open discussion, most 12 year olds are able to watch My Girl successfully. But those who are particularly sensitive or anxious may prefer to wait. Parents can make the best decision for their individual child’s readiness and maturity level.