Parents Television Council Reviews

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This movie tells the story of Dan, the product of a broken home. Despite experiencing an alcoholic father, an abusive stepfather and teen experimentation with drugs, Dan grows into a responsible adult. But when Dan meets the woman of his dreams, he finds himself unable to commit to her – until he lets go of the anger about his past and turning towards forgiveness, in the form of a letter seeking reconciliation with his father. 

Sex in the film consists of a few kisses and a discussion between Dan and his girlfriend, during which she asks him how long it has been since he had sex. There is also a veiled reference to rape by one of Dan’s female teenage friends: she states that her stepfather makes her “pay the rent” by “coming in my bedroom sometimes.”  There is no profanity in the film. Characters exclaim “Oh, God” a few times. Insults consist of Dan’s stepfather calling him “wimp” and “punk,” and Dan calling him a “jerk” in reply. There is no violence shown in the film.  One girl in the movie talks about how her dad beats her, and there are scenes of verbal abuse.  Another scene shows a girl suddenly dying, apparently of a drug overdose.

The film does depict negative behavior by parents and teens. Parents are shown yelling at each other in multiple scenes.  Dan’s father is shown drinking in a bar and coming home drunk. Dan and his teenage friends race cars dangerously, drink and smoke marijuana. There are many other references to marijuana use, with a friend of Dan’s referring to “high-quality pot” and saying, “What’s more important than getting high?”

A Letter to Dad also contains many good messages: as a young adult, Dan turns away from his drug-using friends and takes on adult responsibility. It is revealed that both Dan and his girlfriend are still virgins, waiting until marriage to have sex. There are also many positive references to Christianity, with the adult Dan quoting the Bible frequently and crediting his mother’s prayers for the positive course his life has taken. Ultimately, Dan’s faith allows him to forgive his father and move forward with his life.

A realistic portrayal of how a person suffering from a sad childhood can nevertheless turn out well, A Letter to Dad is awarded the PTC Seal of Approval^TM. Because some material is not appropriate for young children, the Parents Television Council does not recommend this film for children under the age of 14.

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