Parents' Guide to

Black Sheep

By Jeffrey M. Anderson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Dated but sweet 1990s comedy has language, slapstick.

Movie PG-13 1996 86 minutes
Black Sheep Movie Poster: Mike dangles in the air, tangled in a banner, while Steve, at a podium below, looks annoyed

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What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

It received scathing reviews upon release, and it's certainly no masterpiece, but this broad slapstick comedy has a few good laughs and a sweetness that, in retrospect, makes it somewhat endearing. Directed by Penelope Spheeris (Wayne's World), Black Sheep was accused of being big, dumb, and loud, with Farley and Spade trying -- and failing -- to fill the big shoes left behind by previous Saturday Night Live stars. (Famous film critic Gene Siskel confessed that he walked out of the movie.) And it's true that many of Black Sheep's jokes haven't aged well, and the movie's political satire is pretty naive by today's standards.

But Farley rocked SNL, he had a gift for slapstick, and he and Spade had natural comic chemistry together. Their scenes at the remote shack work especially well thanks to a merciless Mother Nature raining misfortune down upon them. Not to mention that Mike is clearly not a jerk or an idiot. He's shown working with kids at the rec center, and he's genuinely excited for his brother, selflessly wanting to help out. It's almost impossible not to find him lovable. Perhaps this is all in retrospect, thanks to time passing and the illuminating documentary I Am Chris Farley. Once you know a little more about the late star, it's possible to look at Black Sheep from a different angle. Farley's death in 1997 prevented him from making any more movies and finding ways to grow and improve, but maybe what he left behind is enough to make a few people happy.

Movie Details

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