Outcome Parent Guide

After five years away from Hollywood, Reef Hawk (Keanu Reeves) is back in the spotlight. One of cinema's most beloved stars, Reef has helmed three iconic film franchises and will be playing the leading man in another massive film. But there’s a shadow over his return…

Reef has carefully hidden the reason for his absence: he was a heroin addict. Although he’s been sober for five years, Reef doesn’t want the public to be aware of his past. When Ira (Jonah Hill), his lawyer, learns that a damaging video is being touted for sale to the highest bidder, Reef fears the worst.

After conferring with Ira and his ride-or-die childhood friends, Kyle (Cameron Diaz) and Xander (Matt Bomer), Reef has a plan. He’s going to review his life, visit anyone who might hate him, apologize for his mistakes, and try to figure out if they could be the source of the mysterious video. Sounds simple, but this little journey into his past may be more than Reef bargained for.

I believe in second chances and appreciate a good redemption story. I find Reef’s path to reassessment, humility, and self-knowledge satisfying, and often filled with real feeling. What I actively dislike is the negative content that clutters up that path. The film contains almost one f-bomb per minute and a smattering of other profanities, as well as sexual innuendo and an extended conversation about male sexual release. Throw in an online encounter with a female sex worker and this isn’t family-friendly viewing. 

As an aside, I should point out that we don’t have a content category for “gross” but if we did, Ira would fill it. He insists that people converse with him in the bathroom as he sits on the toilet; he’s loud, aggressive, patronizing, and insulting, Just watching Ira is a cringe-fest. I realize he’s a parody of a particular type of Hollywood fixer, but that doesn’t make him any easier to take.

I’m not sure who the target audience is for this film. Fans of Keanu Reeves might enjoy watching his sincere performance. Other viewers might enjoy watching the story skewer Hollywood’s excesses and performative hypocrisy. And almost everyone will agree with the film’s damning indictment of social media and our digitally saturated world. However, I think most audiences will find the film tedious, pretentious, and often irritating. I’d give it a miss and watch something else instead. 

About author

Kirsten Hawkes

Kirsten Hawkes has a BA in Political Science and English and has worked in international development and medical education and marketing. Kirsten enjoys reading, watching movies, and debating politics with her husband and sometimes unwilling children.