How much do you know about the first test tube baby and the development of it? Netflix shares some of the story in its recent drama Joy.
The historical movie is set between 1968 and 1978. It gives a fictionalized look at the development of the test tube baby. IVF has opened the doors for millions of women to have babies that they wouldn’t have been able to have naturally.
Now you’ll want to know if this is a movie to watch with the kids around. Maybe you’ve put off watching it because you haven’t had any kid-free time, and you just want to finally check it out! This could work for the teens in the house.
Joy is a PG-13 movie and here’s why
The Netflix movie is officially rated PG-13. This means that it’s aimed at those 13 and above, but children under 13 could watch it. There’s nothing too inappropriate, but it just may not be of interest to younger children. Just think of the topic. This probably isn’t something your children and tweens will want to watch. It’s only as they turn 16 and over that they may see an interest in it.
Sex & nudity: There are a few scenes where women’s buttocks are on show. This is nothing gratuitous, and more just a way of showing the medical procedures that the women would need to go through.
Violence & gore: While the movie is focused on a medical invention, no gore is shown on the screen. This is despite the movie including childbirth in the 1970s. Yes, childbirth is gory, but the movie remains careful about everything that is on show. The focus is on the miracle of the invention and no the dangers of childbirth.
Language: Some mild profanity is used throughout. We have characters from the 1960s and 1970s working on medical inventions. The worst of the words that I heard was the S-word, but it was minimal.
Alcohol & drugs: Funnily enough, this is the factor that is the heaviest throughout the movie! It seems so mild now, especially when I tell you that the worst of it is characters smoking. We have to remember the time period that this movie is set in. Smoking was common, and many people still thought it was good for the health! There was even a time women were told to smoke during pregnancy!
There is also some mild drinking involved. A lot of characters use alcohol as a way to take the edge off a stressful day.
Overall verdict: Who is Joy appropriate for?
When it comes to the factors that make up an age rating, there is nothing that would put children and teenagers off. Joy is suitable for those who are 13 and over, and it works for younger children. The question is whether your children want to watch it.
This is a movie aimed at adults. It’s a topic that a lot of children won’t find interesting until they start to learn about IVF and the science behind it. So, while you can put it on with the kids around, you’ll probably find they disappear to play on their own games or watch on their phones!
Joy is now available to stream on Netflix.