The movie's messages are timeless -- that money can make you temporarily happy, but in the end it's your family that is most important. If you have money and power, but no one to love -- no one who even cares enough about you to pick you up from prison -- then your priorities aren't in order. Gordon Gekko seems like a reformed man who can predict the economic crisis but isn't powerful enough to do anything about it. He's still a compelling character, because even as a "has been" he can still see the game for what it is.

Despite being a successful Wall Street money maker, Jake is quite loyal to his mentor and idealistic about the green company he champions throughout the film.

Winnie is a strong role model because she sticks to her values the entire story. She doesn't use her father's money, and she doesn't "sell out" when given the chance. A couple lives together and is shown kissing in bed he's shirtless, she wears a nightdress. The couple kisses and embraces several times but is never shown having sex. Several scantily clad women are shown in a couple of nightclub scenes. Language includes a couple of uses of "f--k," as well as "s--t," "ass," "bitch," "a--hole," "damn," "hell," "crap," "goddamn," "oh my God," and the like.

Brands include Apple, Ducati, Bulgari, and quick shots of various high-end luxury stores and items. Lots of drinking and cigar smoking among the Wall Street brokers and executives. References to a drug overdose. Parents need to know that this Wall Street drama is not R-rated like the original , probably so that star Shia LaBeouf 's considerable teen appeal can have maximum impact.

The themes, however, are still just as heavy: The language is strong including "f--k" , and there's plenty of consumerism, but the sexuality is tamer than in the first.

A Nightmare on Elm Street () - Trivia - IMDb

Ultimately the message is that although money makes the world go round, you need your family more than a seven-figure bank account.

In , Gordon Gekko Michael Douglas is an ex-con on the book-tour circuit talking about his lessons learned in prison and how much the global economy has changed or in some cases, hasn't. His estranged daughter, Winnie Carey Mulligan , is a liberal website editor who lives with her up-and-coming fiance, Wall Street trader Jake Moore Shia LaBeouf. After a rumor-driven financial crisis forces Jake's boss and mentor, Lou Zabel Frank Langella , to sell his company at a devastating loss, Lou throws himself in front of a subway train, leaving Jake without a father figure and hungry for revenge.

Jake seeks out Gordon for counsel, who "trades" information about who he thinks caused the firm's investment crisis -- and ultimately Lou's suicide -- for a chance to reunite with Winnie. Gordon tips off Jake that Bretton James Josh Brolin , a powerful hedge-fund manager, is at the bottom of the Zabel fiasco, so Jake tries to orchestrate a father-daughter reunion. Jake ends up working for Bretton, whom he distrusts, and Winnie continues to alienate Gordon, until the subprime mortgage bubble bursts, causing all sorts of climactic changes.

The bottom line is that this sequel was wholly unnecessary. The original Wall Street , and Douglas' character specifically, became a generational milestone, the sort of movie that people quote decades years later. In this sequel, director Oliver Stone creates a much less compelling and much more sentimental story about how the nature of greed has changed in a couple of decades.

All of the performances are good, but not remarkable. LaBeouf is believable as a smart and decent moneyman, and Mulligan dons an American accent beautifully to play a young woman who pretends she's past her family's tragedies and dysfunction. For a movie where Douglas receives top billing, he is once again in the film less than his younger co-star, this time LaBeouf although Charlie Sheen' s whistle-blower Bud Fox does make a short but amusing appearance.

Even though we're a consumerist culture, we're not obsessed with money in the same way we were in the '80s. This movie's messages are something every sitcom and romcom explore -- the balance between work and family; the fact that we should work to live, not live to work. We're now in the Eat, Pray, Love generation of finding meaning, finding ourselves, not finding the next big windfall.

The story should've been tightened up to less than two hours it feels overlong at minutes. The brightest spots are the narcissistic hedge-fund manager played by Brolin, whose character oozes with ego, and his boss, an eccentric Wall Street legend played by year-old Eli Wallach. This money-themed sequel is worth seeing, but it's not nearly as memorable a time investment as the original.

Families can talk about the movie's messages about greed and materialism. What does Gordon mean when he says "greed is legal" now? Why is Breton's number "more"? In the end, do Jake and Winnie care more about money or their family? What kinds of consumer products were featured in this movie? How does the movie's anti-consumer message merge with the product placements and celebration of wealth seen in the film?

How does Gordon change in this story? Is he still as greedy and manipulative by the end of the film as he is at the beginning? Common Sense Media, a nonprofit organization, earns a small affiliate fee from Amazon or iTunes when you use our links to make a purchase. Thank you for your support. The age displayed for each title is the minimum one for which it's developmentally appropriate. Get more information about our ratings. See all user reviews. A safe community is important to us. Please observe our guidelines.

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Movie Review Official Trailer. What parents need to know Positive messages.

Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps Movie Review

An elderly man jumps in front of a subway train to commit suicide. Parents Need to Know Parents need to know that this Wall Street drama is not R-rated like the original , probably so that star Shia LaBeouf 's considerable teen appeal can have maximum impact.

User reviews See all user reviews Is it any good? Families can talk about Movie details Theatrical release date: December 21, Cast: Carey Mulligan , Josh Brolin , Michael Douglas , Shia LaBeouf Director: Twentieth Century Fox Genre: This review of Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps was written by Sandie Angulo Chen. Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are conducted by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

About these links Common Sense Media, a nonprofit organization, earns a small affiliate fee from Amazon or iTunes when you use our links to make a purchase. About Our Ratings The age displayed for each title is the minimum one for which it's developmentally appropriate. Edgy, bawdy '80s comedy not meant for kids. Timeless cautionary tale of excess has other mature themes. For kids who love dramas.

See all recommended movie lists. Browse more movies Movies starring Michael Douglas Drama movies See all movies. Top advice and articles 5 Tips to Make Family Movie Night a Success TV and Movies That Celebrate Grit.

What parents and kids say See all user reviews Share your thoughts with other parents and kids Write a user review. Teen, 15 years old Written by TheSuperman April 8, Language includes a couple of uses of "f--k," as well as "s--t," "a-s," "bi-ch," "a--hole," "d--n," "h--l," "crap," "godd--n," "oh my God," and the like.

What other families should know Too much swearing. Helped me decide 6. Had useful details 9. Read my mind 9. Teen, 14 years old Written by earthgurl January 27, Boring for younger kids. Helped me decide 8. Had useful details 6. Read my mind 8.

Adult Written by joshua martinez January 19, Money Never Sleeps is a average drama movie about money and family and parents you need to know that Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps has some strong language used and a lot of drinking and cigar smoking this movie does have a positive message it's not about the money that makes you temporarily happy it's about family that comes first and the role models are one Gordon Gekko seems like a reformed man who can predict the economic crisis but isn't powerful enough to do anything about it and Jake is quite loyal to his mentor and idealistic about the green company he champions throughout the film.

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Each week we send a customized newsletter to our parent and teen subscribers. Get age-based movie reviews, app recommendations, and more for your kids. Carey Mulligan , Josh Brolin , Michael Douglas , Shia LaBeouf.