Parents' Guide to

Chicago

By Nell Minow, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Oscar-winning satire all about the razzle-dazzle.

Movie PG-13 2002 113 minutes
Chicago Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 13+

Based on 19 parent reviews

xxxrodrigoxxx
xxxrodrigoxxx Adult
July 9, 2019
age 12+

Ever entertaining, and ever relevant

Chicago deserves its spot in the pantheon of modern film musicals. The Kander-and-Ebb score is catchy and iconic - there simply isn't a single dud in the entire picture. The choreography is top-notch, and the social satire is as prickly as it was when this great show first premiered on Broadway in 1975. I worked behind the scenes in my high school's production of Chicago. I was instantly impressed by how deep the show is. The lyrics are pitch-perfect, an incredibly sharp and humorous send-up of celebrity culture, sex, dishonesty, crime, justice (and the lack thereof) and prejudice, and the media's complicity with injustice, set against the glamorous, decadent backdrop of the Roaring 20s. The jazz and vaudeville inspired music is genius, nailing the "razzle dazzle" of Roxie and Velma's public performance of innocence, versus the reality. This is a better fit for mature kids who can understand irony and satire. Of course, none of the characters are anywhere near role models, but they're not supposed to be, and your kids should be able to understand that if you want to watch this movie with them. They should also be old enough to handle a LOT of sexuality and violence portrayed in an irreverent way. This brilliant film is more than just razzle-dazzle: it offers a lot of fodder for conversation.
haydenm5
haydenm5 Adult
March 13, 2019
age 14+

OH YES

I love Chicago. Really the only bad thing is the sex scene withing the first 6 minutes of the movie. There is a little bit of language but nothing worse than a marvel movie. There is smoking and booze but it is set in the 20's.
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What's the Story?

In CHICAGO, Roxie Hart (Renee Zellweger) is a former chorus girl turned unhappy wife who has gone from sleeping around ("they buy you dinner") to fooling around ("they don't"). She has an affair with a furniture salesman who promises to introduce her to a guy who works in a nightclub. She wants to be a star. But when the guy dumps her and tells her he never knew anyone at the nightclub, she shoots him. In jail, she meets a cadre of women who killed the men in their lives. They explain how it all happened in "He Had It Coming." Velma Kelly (Catherine Zeta Jones) is a headliner who shot her sister and boyfriend when she found them together. She is the jail's biggest star until lawyer Billy Flynn (Richard Gere) takes Roxie's case and sells her to the media as an innocent bride corrupted by jazz. The ultimate showbiz razzle-dazzle is the trial, complete with costumes, props, script, and 12 very important audience members -- the jury.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (19 ):
Kids say (59 ):

The razzle does indeed dazzle and the musical numbers are sensational. Zellweger is in fine form. If she is not quite up to the role, perhaps she doesn't have it in her to portray such a trashy, despicable character. Zeta Jones, with a Lulu haircut and legs made for sparkly tights, is mesmerizingly beautiful and alone has all the razzle-dazzle this movie needs. Gere clearly enjoys his return to his musical theater roots and handles the musical numbers well, especially his big tap dance. Queen Latifah as the prison warden has a lot of snap and verve and a fabulous voice. But none are a match for the real dancers in the chorus.

Director/choreographer Rob Marshall produces slinky dance numbers and sinuous camera work. The musical numbers are staged as nightclub performances and separate from the action to serve as counterpoint and commentary, illuminating the story and underscoring the theme of show over substance. Perhaps it is show instead of substance, or even show to make us forget that there is no substance. One reason it feels so empty at the core is that the story does not have a single likeable character, honest statement, unselfish motive, or generous gesture.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the rocky relationship between Velma and Roxy in Chicago. Why do they agree to work together in the end?

  • They can also discuss the movie's portrayal of the press as marionettes controlled by the slimy lawyer. Do you think the press are savvier today or not? How does this relate to recent discussions about "fake news" and media literacy?

  • Are there still people today that would do anything for fame and recognition? How does that play out with social media?

Movie Details

  • In theaters: December 27, 2002
  • On DVD or streaming: August 19, 2003
  • Cast: Catherine Zeta-Jones , Renee Zellweger , Richard Gere
  • Director: Rob Marshall
  • Inclusion Information: Gay directors, Female actors
  • Studio: Miramax
  • Genre: Musical
  • Run time: 113 minutes
  • MPAA rating: PG-13
  • MPAA explanation: sexual content and dialogue, violence and thematic elements
  • Last updated: January 26, 2024

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