ALL ABOUT STEVE
An offbeat, big-hearted comedy best reserved for discerning adults.
Should You Watch It?
Sandra Bullock gives Mary Horowitz a kind heart, a relentless stream of crossword trivia, and an unforgettable comic presence. Her pursuit of Steve becomes a string of misunderstandings, mishaps, practical jokes, and exaggerated humor, while the film also takes aim at sensationalism in the news media.
The movie's strongest material is its inspiring, uplifting finale and its positive references to God, the Bible, and Jesus Christ. But the sexual encounter between Mary and Steve, crude material, and significant foul language damage the film's suitability for families.
If you enjoy unrealistic screwball comedy, you may love it. If you prefer realism, you may not. The practical answer: WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESMary Horowitz creates crossword puzzles for a local paper and lives with her parents while her apartment is being fumigated. After a blind date with Steve, a cable-news cameraman, Mary decides that losing her job over a crossword puzzle about him is a sign that she should follow him to Arizona.
Steve sees Mary as a stalker, while news reporter Hartman Hughes enjoys provoking his cameraman. Mary's pursuit leads to mishaps, misunderstandings, and an unexpected chance to show courage.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means this is a highly entertaining comedy, even though its exaggerated style will not suit everyone.
Sandra Bullock creates another fun, indelible character in Mary, a talkative and ditzy crossword creator with a kind heart. Thomas Haden Church is hilarious as the pompous newsman, while Bradley Cooper is good as the smart but caring cameraman. Ken Jeong, DJ Qualls, and Katy Mixon also provide able support.
The film's comic attack on media sensationalism is insightful and, despite the exaggerations, on target. The interrupted sexual encounter hurts the viewer's sympathy for Mary, but the rest of the movie builds considerable sympathy for her and leads to an inspiring, heartwarming finale.
The Worldview
The film presents a strong Christian, biblical, and moral worldview through positive references to God, the Bible, Bible passages, Jesus Christ, and the Virgin Mary. Mary describes herself as Jewish Catholic. The movie also values kindness, courage, generosity, and the possibility that an unusual person can become a real heroine.
That message is complicated by its romantic idea that misfits should accept their quirks while resisting society's definition of normal. Its treatment of sex includes an antinomian, or lawless, attitude in at least one scene. The film also includes light homosexual references and a brief discussion of receiving “a sign from the universe.” These elements sit uneasily beside its Christian references.
The movie additionally rebukes and pokes fun at lying, media manipulation, and news sensationalism. Its controversy involving a baby born with a third leg eventually carries a pro-life subtext, though the tone remains comic and offbeat.
Mary's kind heart and growing courage point toward the biblical call to love others well: “Love is patient and kind” (1 Corinthians 13:4).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Strong Christian, biblical, moral worldview with positive references to God, the Bible, Bible passages, Jesus Christ, and the Virgin Mary, including heroine refers to herself as Jewish Catholic, but spoiled somewhat by a Romantic message about misfits accepting their quirks and differences while stop trying to be what society defines as normal and by an antinomian or lawless attitude toward sex in at least one scene, plus a couple light homosexual references include woman wonders negatively if a blind date’s parents are worried about his possible homosexual orientation (she turns out to be wrong and after she meets him says to herself, “He’s so NOT gay!”) and woman says Galveston, Texas is believed to be one of America’s most “gay-friendly” cities; about 21 obscenities, four strong profanities, four light profanities, one or two obscene gestures, and a few light vulgarities; some comic violence such as woman accidentally falls into a sinkhole, people think a show horse has been shot but it only heard a vehicle backfiring, and big tornado lifts up a car as it destroys some things, plus deaf children accidentally fall into sinkhole that leads to an unknown mine; light sexual content includes couple furiously starts to disrobe and touch in cab of SUV/truck but their liaison is interrupted, passionate kissing, some lightly crude innuendoes or comments, minor character tells a lightly crude story about a deformity, and a couple minor references to homosexuality but not salacious or politically correct; one shot of upper male nudity and woman in bra; no alcohol; no smoking; and, lying, media manipulation rebuked and poked fun at, mean practical jokes, brief talk about getting “a sign from the universe,” news media goes crazy over controversy about a baby being born with a third leg but story eventually turns out to have a pro-life subtext despite comical/offbeat tone.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Mary is different from the people around her, but she also has a kind heart. How can you accept your own differences while still growing in wisdom and love?
Romans 12:3–8 · 1 Corinthians 13:4The film pokes fun at media sensationalism and manipulation. What responsibilities do people have when telling a story about someone else?
Ephesians 4:25 · Proverbs 12:22Mary believes that getting fired is “a sign from the universe.” How can we distinguish God's guidance from our own wishes or assumptions?
James 1:5 · Proverbs 3:5–6The movie includes positive references to God, the Bible, and Jesus Christ alongside confused ideas about sex and morality. How should Christians receive truth while exercising discernment?
1 Thessalonians 5:21–22 · Philippians 4:8The Final Word
Sandra Bullock's Mary is hilarious, unusual, and genuinely endearing, and the film lands an inspiring message about courage, kindness, and media responsibility. Its sexual material and abundant profanity make it unsuitable for families and young teens. For discerning adults who enjoy offbeat comedy, WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY. For others, choose.
