The Muse (1999)

Screen It! is not attempting to rate the movie as good or bad but to give parents the tools to decide whether it's appropriate for their kids.

This movie has been screened for objectional content in 15 areas. Click for a detailed look.

OUR WORD TO PARENTS: The following is a brief summary of the content found in this PG-13 rated comedy. A brief glimpse of Sharon Stone's bare breasts and the top of her bare butt earn the film its rating, while a few brief, sexually related comments also occur. Profanity consists of several uses of the "s" word, along with other milder profanities and a few phrases. Some drinking occurs, as do a few bad attitudes. Beyond that, however, the remaining categories have little or nothing in the way of major objectionable content. Nonetheless, should you still be concerned about the film's appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home, we suggest that you take a closer look at what's been listed.

QUICK TAKE:: Comedy: A screenwriter who's been told he's lost his edge hires a muse hoping she'll be able to help put his career back on track.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?: Not unless they're fans of Brooks and his movies or someone else in the cast.

WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13: For brief nudity.

CAST AS ROLE MODELS:: ALBERT BROOKS plays a neurotic writer who eventually agrees to allow a muse to help him jumpstart his career. Along the way he cusses a bit and becomes jealous of and doesn't encourage his wife's success.
SHARON STONE plays an eccentric woman who states she's a muse and thus the daughter of Zeus. As such, she lives a pampered life and orders around those she's agreed to help.
ANDIE MACDOWELL plays Steven's wife who decides to pursue her goal of becoming a cookie manufacturer and does become successful at it.
JEFF BRIDGES plays Steven's old friend and fellow writer who informs Steven of the muse.; SHARON STONE plays an eccentric woman who states she's a muse and thus the daughter of Zeus. As such, she lives a pampered life and orders around those she's agreed to help.
ANDIE MACDOWELL plays Steven's wife who decides to pursue her goal of becoming a cookie manufacturer and does become successful at it.
JEFF BRIDGES plays Steven's old friend and fellow writer who informs Steven of the muse.; ANDIE MACDOWELL plays Steven's wife who decides to pursue her goal of becoming a cookie manufacturer and does become successful at it.
JEFF BRIDGES plays Steven's old friend and fellow writer who informs Steven of the muse.; JEFF BRIDGES plays Steven's old friend and fellow writer who informs Steven of the muse.

ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE: Mild: Some people have wine at an awards dinner where Steven mentions if not for his family, he'd be down in some seedy bar, but then jokes that's where he'll be after the dinner anyway.
People have wine with lunch.
We see Steven and Laura drinking martinis.

Steven jokes that if he didn't have a family, he'd be out buying heroin.
We see what looks like brandy in Sarah's suite and later we see her having wine.
People have wine and drinks with lunch when Sarah mentions that her father, Zeus, was an alcoholic and Laura mentions that hers was the same (and that her parents are still together, thus enabling them to drink together).
Later, a comment is made that all of the gods drink.
People have drinks at a reception, including Steven who has champagne.
Steven and Laura have wine with dinner.

BLOOD/GORE: None: None.

DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE: Moderate: Some may see Sarah's pampered/spoiled behavior, her belief in polytheism and her stint as portraying a muse as having some of both.
Josh is somewhat demeaning to Steven about his work and overall talent.
Steven initially jumps to the conclusion that Jack is having an affair with Sarah, as does a friend of Laura's about Steven and Sarah (and his wife initially thinks the same -- compounded by the fact that he doesn't tell her right away what's going on).
Steven initially doesn't encourage or support Laura's decision to follow her dream of making and selling cookies.
Steven learns that someone stole his screenplay idea and gave it to another studio.

We learn that a producer had been stealing props from others and keeping them in his office.

FRIGHTENING SCENES: None: None.

GUNS/WEAPONS: *Minor: Dejected over a turn of events, Steven jokingly says that he'll be the one out back with a gun in his mouth (this doesn't happen).

IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR: Minor: Phrases: "Holy sh*t," "Take a piss" and "Piss off."

JUMP SCENES: None: None.

MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE): None: None.

MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE): Minor: We hear just the beginning of the song "Super Freak" by Rick James that has the lyrics, "She's a very kinky girl...The kind you won't bring home to mother..."

PROFANITY: Mild: At least 3 "s" words, 7 damns, 3 hells and 9 uses of "Oh my God," 5 of "Oh God," 3 of "Swear to God," 2 each of "G-damn," "For God's sakes" and "God" and 1 use of "Jesus" as exclamations.

SEX/NUDITY: Moderate: Steven jokes that he feels like a eunuch at an orgy, and adds that although the eunuch at least gets to watch, he's not even invited to the (movie) set.

Steven's daughter comments that his award looks like a penis (it doesn't). He then wants to know where she heard that word (the Howard Stern radio show) and then says that nobody can say it outside of a clinical discussion. His other daughter then wants to know what's wrong with "penis."
Sarah shows some cleavage as does a later miscellaneous woman.
Laura eventually announces that she knows Steven isn't having sex with Sarah. When he asks why, Laura states that she knows he couldn't get aroused by someone who made him do so many errands.
When Steven learns that Laura has invited Sarah to sleep in their bed (with just her, but not in a sexual context), he asks "You're not attracted to her, are you? You don't want to sleep with her, do you?" She then states that she won't dignify those questions with an answer.
We briefly see Sarah undress and get into bed (and while doing so we briefly see her bare breasts as well as the top of her bare butt).

SMOKING: None: None.

TENSE FAMILY SCENES: Mild: Steven and Laura have some mild arguments about Sarah, with Laura initially thinking he's having an affair. After hearing her mom on the phone talking about this, one of their daughters asks if they're getting divorced (but what sounds serious turns comical as the girl starts asking what she can have if they do break up).

TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT: Minor: What really inspires people to be creative.
The mythology of muses.
Polytheistic beliefs.

VIOLENCE: Minor: A tiny bit of slapstick material occurs in the form of a hotel staffer running into Steven and accidently knocking him to the floor.