CANDY JAR
Cute teenage rivalry comedy with strong content — adults only.
Should You Watch It?
CANDY JAR is a breezy, engaging comedy with appealing characters and a satisfying focus on reconciliation. Lona and Bennett begin as lifelong rivals, but working together forces them to recognize how selfishly they have lived and how much they share.
The movie’s main weakness is its guiding vision. It presents control over your own destiny and fulfillment of personal dreams as the best path toward happiness, while neglecting the dreams God has for us. Strong profanity and other obscenities also make this a poor choice for children and young teens.
If you are an adult who can weigh those concerns, CANDY JAR is worth seeing for its humor, warmth, and positive moments.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESLona and Bennett are high school debate champions who have been rivals their entire lives. Both are isolated from their peers and intensely focused on getting into their respective Ivy League schools.
Their mothers were also high school rivals, and each teenager shares a close relationship with a single mother. When Lona and Bennett must force themselves to cooperate to win a debate championship, they discover they have more in common than they thought.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means CANDY JAR is a good but imperfect movie. It is predictable in places, yet a couple of surprise moments keep it engaging. The flawed characters feel familiar, and the cast is described as perfectly chosen.
Chad Klitzman’s script is funny and touching. The cinematography provides an excellent canvas for the soundtrack. Overall, this is a cute, easygoing comedy with enough warmth to make its predictable elements work.
The Worldview
CANDY JAR celebrates growing up, ambitious dreams, finding yourself, and reconciliation. Its positive moral elements rebuke selfishness and slander while promoting reconciliation.
But the movie is dominated by a strong romantic worldview supporting personal dreams. It also includes humanist elements, presenting people as those who control their own destiny rather than living under God and His Word, the Bible. Lona and Bennett spend their high school years studying and isolating themselves to pursue Ivy League admission. The movie ultimately treats fulfilling earthly dreams as the best path toward happiness, without mentioning the hope Christ offers.
The movie’s central longing is to become one’s best self and find happiness. Scripture points to a better priority: “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements
Strong Romantic worldview supporting personal dreams dominates, with some moral, redemptive elements where selfishness and slander are rebuked, and reconciliation is promoted, but the movie also has some humanist elements where humans control their destiny rather than God and His Word, the Bible
Foul Language
Eight obscenities (including one “f” word), two strong profanities (two using Christ’s name and two GDs), two light OMG profanities, one obscene gesture, and three scatological references
Violence
None
Sex
No sex scenes but at least one sexual innuendo, there are small hints at kissing and relationships being important to the high school experience, and one kiss is shared between the two main characters but is very mild and tasteful
Nudity
No actual nudity, but one scene includes an innuendo that hints at a dress being taken off in a sexual context
Alcohol Use
None
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse
No smoking but a brief reference to getting “high”;
Miscellaneous Immorality
Strong miscellaneous immorality such as strong themes of greed, moral relativism, blackmail, gossip, slander, bad role models, and dysfunctional family portrayals, some of which is partially rebuked.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Lona and Bennett pursue personal dreams so intensely that they isolate themselves. How can you pursue excellence without making achievement your source of identity?
Matthew 6:33 · Proverbs 16:9The rivals eventually recognize how selfish they have been. What does genuine reconciliation require from each person?
Ephesians 4:32 · Colossians 3:13The movie includes gossip, slander, and blackmail. How should Christians use their words when conflict is involved?
Ephesians 4:29 · James 3:5–10The film emphasizes controlling your own destiny. What does Scripture teach about human plans and God’s direction?
Proverbs 16:9 · James 4:13–15The Final Word
CANDY JAR is cute, funny, and warm, with genuine moments of reconciliation. Its strong language and human-centered vision make it unsuitable for children and young teens. For discerning adults, it is WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY. For a family-friendly alternative, see.
