The Good Liar

Parents need to know that The Good Liar is a fraud/scam drama based on Nicholas Searle's novel about a con man and his target. Widow Betty (Helen Mirren) meets a gentleman (Ian McKellan) through an online dating site. Viewers quickly realize that he has insincere intentions: When not charming her, he's taking a meeting at a strip club (topless dancers wear only G-strings) or being physically violent with an adversary. Overall, the violence feels more extreme than the movie calls for, with some brutal altercations and grotesque deaths. Betty is quite sharp and displays admirable self-control, including setting sexual boundaries despite efforts to persuade her otherwise. But the movie also includes assault and rape. And very few scenes don't involve drinking (wine, champagne, scotch, etc.) -- something is always on the table or in the hand of an elegant adult. Profanity isn't frequent, but it is harsh ("bitch," "f--k," "s--t," and more).