Is “Inception” Appropriate for Kids? Mostly, But It Might Go Over Their Heads

There’s a lot to like about Inception, the newest blockbusting thriller from director Christopher Nolan of The Dark Knight fame. It broadly succeeds as an action movie and a psychological drama, packed tight with suspense, special effects, and terrific performances, all of which is packaged in a thought-provoking if not entirely consistent plot.

The story itself should pose few obstacles to adult’s enjoyment of the film, that is unless they bring children along, mostly because youngsters will be asking questions throughout the movie like: “What’s going on?” and “Is this a dream now? Still?”

The good news is usually the answer is yes… probably. The idea behind Inception is a fairly simple one. In the corporation-dominated world of the film, technology allows people’s minds to be invaded through their dreams. There’s an app for it. Actually it’s a machine you hook them up to, but that’s not super important. What does matter is that Leonardo DiCaprio’s character Cobb has been leading crack teams—made up of architects, thieves, and chemists—into people’s minds at the behest of business rivals, in order to steal corporate secrets.

Now he’s been hired to do something more dangerous: plant an idea, a process known as inception (get it?). It’s not as easy as it sounds. You have to do it in a dream, within a dream, within a dream—and sometimes delve even further. Therein lies much of the movie’s potential for confusion, and also plenty of its suspense and thrills, much of which will be lost on younger audiences, who will struggle to wrap their mind around the wider narrative.

Violence: What won’t be lost is some of the violence. Cobb’s dead wife, played by Marion Cotillard, constantly tries to thwart his dream missions, often in creepy ways that involve stabbings, or worse, the threat of stabbing. There’s a hunk of fairly standard action—one of the dream sequences is positively Bond-esque—and one character perpetually bleeds through his shirt after getting shot, but that’s about as gory as it gets, even during the film’s two depictions of suicide (one in a dream, one real). Ultimately it’s the intensity of Cotillard’s performance, not the action, which could cause nightmares.

Language: Outside the violence, there’s not much that extends beyond the bounds of PG-13. If there is strong language, it’s disguised by explosions or car chases and never makes it on to your ears.

Sexuality: In fact, if it weren’t for the moments of blow ‘em up action, the movie could be described as downright classy. A few kisses are as scandalous as things get and the film’s stars stay fully and very smartly dressed.

Is Inception a great movie? That depends on whether you thought The Dark Knight was 2008’s best film. I did not, but I do believe Inception, like Nolan’s last project, is a very good movie, just not for kids. A mature 11 or 12 year old could probably handle and appreciate it, but it’s geared teens and adults who are ready to explore ideas about what truly makes a dream a dream.

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