Bob Marley: One Love Parents Guide: Why is the musical biopic rated PG-13?
By Tiara Starks
The "King of Reggae" is coming to the big screen in Paramount Pictures' latest release, Bob Marley: One Love. The film stars Kingsley Ben-Adir (Barbie, Peaky Blinders) as international reggae singer and musician Bob Marley. The film is directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green, who co-wrote the screenplay with Terence Winter, Frank E. Flowers, and Zach Baylin. Marley's son Ziggy Marley serves as an executive producer.
Playing opposite Adir is Lashana Lynch (The Woman King, Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness) who portrays as Rita Marley, Bob's wife and mother of his children, with a supporting cast the includes James Norton (Little Women) as Chris Blackwell, the founder of Island Records. This highly-anticipated film releases on Feb. 14, just in time for Valentine's Day.
With that information at the forefront of your mind, you may be wondering if this musical biopic is appropriate to bring the whole family to go see in a theater? If you're one of those inquiriing minds, read on to find out why Bob Marley: One Love is rated PG-13?
Why is Bob Marley: One Love rated PG-13?
Within the timeline presented in the film, Marley, along with his wife and children, have to flee from his home country of Jamaica, which is wrought with violence and political outrage. He then goes to London but goes back to Jamaica to play during the 1978 One Love Peace Concert.
This movie is definitely not suitable for some children. There is some not-so-pleasant imagery that illustrates the rough times that Marley and his family had to endure, including violence and discrimination. However, those who are younger than the reccomended age to attend may learn more about world politics if they see the movie.
I definitely would suggest that parents give context to what is happening in the film before going to see it. The story of the life and times of Bob Marley isn't the happiest to imagine. Though Marley managed to help temporarily quell some emerging political incidents, violence is a major plot point in the film, which is why the film received a PG-13 rating. Even if you are comfortable with your children seeing the violence, be cautious.
Since the film takes place during mid-1970s, in addition to mild language being thrown around, the film also includes smoking throughout as well as marijuana usage.
Bob Marley: One Love is out in theaters on Wednesday, Feb. 14.