Are We Done Yet? (2007)
Synopsis:
Newlyweds Nick and Suzanne Persons decide to leave city life behind and move to the suburbs, hoping to create a better environment for their two children, Lindsey and Kevin. Their vision of an idyllic family home quickly turns chaotic when they hire Chuck Mitchell Jr., a contractor whose unconventional and bizarre business methods transform their dream renovation into a nightmare. As the family attempts to settle into their new house, they must navigate one disaster after another while dealing with their eccentric builder's unpredictable approach to home improvement. This family comedy follows the Persons family as they discover that creating the perfect home requires patience, perseverance, and a sense of humor when everything that can go wrong does go wrong.
Where To Watch: Are We Done Yet?
Parental Feedback
Are We Done Yet? delivers a lighthearted, family-friendly comedy experience built around home renovation chaos and suburban family adjustments. Parents can expect slapstick humor, mild physical comedy, and situational gags that keep the tone breezy and accessible for younger viewers. The pacing moves quickly through various mishaps and misunderstandings, maintaining an upbeat atmosphere throughout without delving into heavy emotional territory or intense dramatic moments.
Why Kids Should Watch Are We Done Yet?
This family comedy offers several elements that can entertain and engage younger audiences while providing gentle lessons about adaptation and perseverance.
The physical comedy and slapstick humor are designed to appeal directly to children, with visual gags and mishaps that don't require sophisticated understanding to enjoy. The pratfalls and home renovation disasters provide consistent laughs that kids can easily follow and appreciate.
The story centers on family unity and working through challenges together, showing parents and children navigating new circumstances as a team. This reinforces the importance of family bonds and sticking together when facing obstacles.
The PG rating ensures content remains appropriate for most age groups, with humor that stays clean and situations that avoid mature themes. Parents can feel comfortable knowing the material is specifically tailored for family viewing.
The relatively short runtime of 92 minutes makes it manageable for younger viewers with shorter attention spans, preventing restlessness during viewing. The brisk pacing helps maintain engagement without demanding extended focus.
Why Kids Shouldn't Watch Are We Done Yet?
Despite its family-friendly intentions, there are some considerations parents should weigh before viewing.
The critical reception, with a 7% Rotten Tomatoes rating and 4.3/10 on IMDb, suggests the humor may fall flat or feel repetitive for some viewers. Children accustomed to more sophisticated or creative storytelling might find the comedy predictable or uninspired.
The reliance on slapstick and physical mishaps could normalize careless behavior or unsafe home situations, potentially giving younger children ideas about imitating dangerous stunts. Parents may need to discuss the difference between movie comedy and real-life safety.
The formulaic nature of the comedy might not hold the attention of older children or more discerning young viewers who prefer stories with deeper character development or more original premises. The predictable structure could lead to disengagement partway through.
Verdict: Parent Approved
Are We Done Yet? earns parent approval as a safe, clean family comedy suitable for younger children, though parents should set expectations for simple, slapstick-driven entertainment rather than critically acclaimed storytelling.
What Parents Should Know About Are We Done Yet?
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Does this Movie model positive behavior that my child can understand and repeat? | The story emphasizes family togetherness and perseverance through difficulties, though the slapstick mishaps are not behaviors to imitate. |
| Does this Movie include emotional moments my child might find confusing or intense? | The tone remains consistently light and comedic without significant emotional depth or intense dramatic scenes that would confuse young viewers. |
| Does this Movie show consequences for unkind or unsafe behavior? | The physical comedy often shows consequences through humorous mishaps, though these are played for laughs rather than serious lessons. |
| Does this Movie reinforce helpful social skills like sharing, apologizing, or teamwork? | The family works together to overcome renovation challenges, demonstrating basic teamwork and cooperation in facing shared obstacles. |
| Will my child come away with any clear moral or message? | Children will understand themes about family adaptation, working through challenges together, and finding humor in difficult situations. |
The Overall Sentiment From Parental Feedback
Parental feedback generally acknowledges this as acceptable family entertainment that fulfills its basic purpose of providing clean, inoffensive comedy for younger children. Many parents appreciate the PG rating and absence of inappropriate content, making it a safe choice for family movie nights with elementary-aged children. However, parents also note that the humor is quite simple and the overall quality doesn't match more critically successful family films. The consensus suggests it works best for less discerning young viewers who enjoy physical comedy, while older children and adults may find it forgettable. Most parents view it as harmless filler entertainment rather than a must-see family experience.
Official Are We Done Yet? Trailer
Why Kids Love Are We Done Yet?
Kids love watching Nick's dream house turn into a total disaster zone as contractor Chuck Mitchell unleashes one catastrophe after another. Walls collapse, pipes explode, and every repair attempt creates even bigger messes that send the family scrambling. The slapstick chaos feels like a live-action cartoon where nothing goes right and everything crashes spectacularly.
Chuck's bizarre approach to construction means tools fly everywhere, materials get mixed up, and simple fixes become elaborate disasters. Kids giggle at the awkward situations when Nick tries to stay calm while his suburban dream crumbles around him. The physical comedy keeps escalating as more things break, leak, and fall apart in increasingly ridiculous ways.
Lindsey and Kevin add to the mayhem as they navigate their new chaotic home, dodging construction disasters and dealing with the unpredictable contractor. The pranks and mishaps pile up when the family tries to live normally while their house literally falls apart. Every scene delivers fresh slapstick as Nick crashes into obstacles and struggles with home improvement gone hilariously wrong.
The cartoon-style chaos never stops as the Persons family faces one absurd challenge after another in their supposedly perfect suburban house. Kids enjoy watching the grown-ups lose control while trying to fix problems that only get funnier and more out of hand.