A Fun Twist on Genie Films

While most children and adults are familiar with Disney’s Aladdin, there have been plenty of movies with Genies throughout the years. However, Peacock’s Genie is a unique twist on Genie! In this Genie Christian Movie Review, I give you the information you need before viewing this movie with your children.

Fun Fact: Genie is a remake of the British film, Bernard and the Genie released on November 23, 1991, as a British made-for-television fantasy-comedy film. It stars Alan Cumming as Bernard Bottle and Rowan Atkinson. This film is based on stories from The Book of One Thousand and One Nights.

Genie Christian Movie Review

Studio Synopsis:

With his life unraveling around him, Bernard dusts off a jewelry box and unintentionally releases genie Flora, who might just be able to help him.

My Synopsis:

Bernard works for an auction house. He is supposed to leave to meet his wife, Julie, and daughter, Eve, to celebrate his daughter’s eighth birthday. But when his boss, Mr. Flaxman, comes in with a client right as he is walking out the door, he stays and work and misses his daughter’s birthday. 

That is the final straw for his wife. She leaves with their daughter to celebrate the Christmas holidays with her mom without Bernard. While alone, Bernard wipes off an antique jewelry box and Flora the Genie appears. Can this be the help Bernard needs to save his marriage.

Genie Christian Movie Review – What Parents Want to Know

Language:

Bernard’s daughter says, “Mom says you’re a selfish bastard.” Another time in the movie, she says uses the same words. 

God’s name is taken in vain. “Oh my g-d,” and “g-d,”are used.

H-ll, sleaze ball, jerks, and screwed are used. Additionally, Bernard calls his boss, “slimy, nasty, seedy, supercilious, gloating, ghastly, greedy rip-off merchant.”

A song is played, “Booty, Booty, everywhere.” While the entire song is not played, enough is played that your child may want to listen to the whole thing.

Violence:

When Flora appears, it is dramatic scene. Bernard thinks Flora is trying to kill him. She tells Bernard how she got in the box, and it involved an angry sorcerer. 

Flora asks Bernard if he wants her to kill his boss. Additionally, she implies that she will kill another man for her by holding a knife to her throat. 

A comment is made about cats, and Flora’s response is “I love cats. Cats are delicious.”

Bernard’s apartment catches on fire. Furthermore, he is arrested, fingerprinted, and put in jail for theft.

Spiritual Content:

Flora says they are like ghosts, dragons, or unicorns.

Furthermore, the entire movie is based on Flora magically granting wishes. She has a flying carpet.

Bernard also wishes his grandmother could see him, and obviously, she is dead. When she appears, he wishes her away.

Flora says, “This is heaven” when having pizza for the first time.

When listening to music, Flora says, “My whole soul is soaring.”

Jesus is referred to Goody Two Shoes, and a reference is made to him “conjuring up fish.” Additionally, Jesus is called “Mary’s kid” and the “Son of God.” She says J.C. for Jesus Christ.

A Nativity set is shown. Also, there is a menorah on a desk.

Furthermore, Flora asks, “WWTCD?” This is a play on WWJD, but her meaning is What Would Tom Cruise Do? She also says Bibble when referring to the Bible.

Time travel, parallel universes, and dimensional portals are briefly discussed. Flora says she was born on the 2nd day of the Feast of Angus the Fierce. (I believe this is Irish mythology).

Adult Content:

Flora tells Bernard to use the words “I wish” with the caution that you would reserve for “please castrate me.”

Bernard and Eve separate right before Christmas. There is talk throughout the movie about “trial separation,” and how this works going forward.

“Tell me what you want. Golden girls, extra girls, gold and girls.” Flora mentions five wives. She also talks about a mating dance.

Also, Flora walks in on Bernard in the bathroom. She also flings a thong in a department store. 

Eve and her daughter have a “movie date” with her childhood friend who is a man. 

A detective asks Flora what kind of prescription drugs she is on. He is implying that she is crazy when she says she is a genie. There is alcohol drinking throughout the movie. Additionally, there is mention of “not telling mom that you were smoking.”

Other Content:

Be aware that Flora does things that are not acceptable or healthy. For example, Flora eats hand sanitizer. She also washes her hair in the toilet.

Wishes:

One person wishes that his wife couldn’t talk. When he wishes that she could talk again, she wishes that her husband would “go to hell.” 

Use this segment to teach about the power of our words. Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” If we could see in real-time what our spoken words bring about, would we still speak so carelessly?

In an attempt to “spruce up the house,” Bernard asks for the Mona Lisa instead of a jersey on his wall. Unbeknownst to him, the actual Mona Lisa appears on his wall, and the jersey appears in the Louvre Museum. What could possibly go wrong with that?

Positive Content:

When Bernard tells Flora about Christmas, he says it has gotten really commercial. It was “originally meant to celebrate the birth of  this guy, Jesus Christ.” Flora says she knew him and asks what he did to get so famous. “He turned out to be the Son of God.” 

Bernard asks what Jesus was like. Flora describes Jesus as “financially under-ambitious.”

The real effects of getting what you wish for are shown. Bernard wishes for a painting of the Mona Lisa in his home and his sports jersey trades places with the painting of the real Mona Lisa from the Louvre. 

While Bernard has his priorities messed up (and that is easy to do when you are trying to provide for your family), he isn’t a bad guy. When faced with a Genie, he is kind and benevolent in his wishes. While his wife wants to separate for feeling neglected and because Bernard is not, in essence, perfect. I list this under positive content, because we need to be teaching our children about setting priorities and also how people, including our spouses, will let us down. We need to stop holding people in their sins, but instead, forgive and recognize that we are not perfect people either.

In addition, Bernard only wishes things for other people. He is really a generous and caring person.

Peacock’s Genie Christian Review – My Viewing Recommendations

Melissa McCarthy is a fun version of a mythical genie. While this film is cute and entertaining, it does have some content that is not suitable for young kids. 

It is a fun Christmas film, but watching the original gives you more understanding into the formation of the genie character. 

About the Movie:

Rating: PG

Release Date: November 22, 2023

Runtime: 1 hour, 32 minutes

Genre: Comedy-Drama

Studio: Working Title, Universal Pictures

Director: Sam Boyd

Written by: Richard Curtis

Produced by: Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Riva Marker, Richard Curtis.

Distributed by: Peacock

The Cast of Genie:

Flora (the Genie) played by Melissa McCarthy

Bernard Bottle played by Paapa Essiedu

Julie Bottle played by Denée Benton

Lenny played by Marc Maron

Eve Bottle played by Jordyn McIntosh

Flaxman played by Alan Cumming

Johnny played by Tate Ellington

Grandma Patty played by LaChanze

Bernard’s Mother played by Ellen Cleghorne

Bernard’s Father as Oberon K.A. Adjepong

Diana played by Ego Nwodim

Marvin played by John Reynolds

Pete played by Natasha Hatendi

Henry Hackford played by Emanuel’s Secci

Detective Perez played by Luis Guzmán

Fireman played by Savino LaQuale

Fireman played by Aaron Berg

Sorcerer played by Ralph Brown

Where can I watch Genie?

Genie is a Peacock Original movie. Therefore, Genie can be viewed on Peacock.