Netflix's The Prom Has Some Cheeky Humour, But It's Mostly a Family-Friendly Treat

While it's usually the kids who have something to learn in the movies, here, it's the cynical adults who have a lot to learn from Emma, the movie's brave and level-headed protagonist. The washed-out Broadway stars take her lead and grow into kinder human beings who stand up for what's right. By the end of the movie, Emma also creates a prom where LGBTQ+ kids can feel safe and included.

With maybe the exception of the principal (Keegan Michael-Key), the adults in The Prom are pretty flawed, using rude, cynical humour as an exterior shell. In fact, they're downright opportunistic at the beginning, using Emma's story to get good press. But nobody's too stubborn to grow — Dee Dee (Meryl Streep), for example, learns to put others' interests above her own. In addition to meaningful character growth, the movie's story is all about love and acceptance.

While the film celebrates the LGBTQ+ community, it allows Emma to be her own character. Emma stands up for what's right, but, as she sings, she doesn't want to be a symbol or trailblazer — she just wants to dance with her girlfriend. Speaking of her girlfriend, the moment that Alyssa (Ariana DeBose) comes out to her mother (Kerry Washington) is truly triumphant.

The Prom includes gems such as apesh*t, b*tch, and hell, but there's no excessive cussing in the movie.

The adults, such as Angie, lean on alcohol, half-jokingly, to forget about their daily anguishes. There's also a moment where Angie and Trent share prescription pills, but instances like this are relatively far and few between.

We learn pretty early on that Emma's parents rejected her when she came out and that she now lives with her grandmother. In the spirit of Glee, there's also some schoolyard bullying against Emma — some girls, for example, leave teddy bears in a suggestive position in her locker. The movie gets even heavier when the whole school creates a separate prom, forcing Emma to go to an empty school gym all by herself. Not only do her classmates bully her, but it's also her community that rejects her. Along with Emma's story, we see how her new Broadway godparents (especially Dee Dee and Barry) grapple with their regrets and insecurities as well.

The runtime is two hours and 12 minutes, but because the film is funny and full of catchy, zazzy, showstopping numbers, it actually goes by quickly. Plus, since The Prom is on Netflix, there are plenty of opportunities to pause and rewind!