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IRA & ABBY

What You Need To Know:

IRA & ABBY, a romantic comedy, follows the story of 33-year-old Ira Black, a Jewish graduate student in New York City. Paralyzed by indecision, Ira can’t commit to his nine-year relationship with his girlfriend, can’t start his dissertation, and can’t even order lunch. Ira’s psychoanalyst of 12 years suddenly tells Ira that he no longer wants to see him. Ira decides to join a neighborhood fitness center. There, he meets the beautiful salesperson, Abby. For Abby, it’s love at first sight. She sweeps up Ira in her passion, and they get married. Everything is great for a while. Then, Ira learns that Abby has been married and divorced twice before, and Abby’s father and Ira’s mother have an adulterous affair. Thus begins an emotional roller coaster, ending in a crazy group therapy session.

IRA & ABBY is often hilarious. The movie is well written, directed and acted. The filmmakers take some pointed shots at psychology, a subject always ripe for many great jokes. The worldview is pretty secular throughout, however. Thus, the words “holy matrimony” never pass anyone’s lips, and the movie’s message at the end is very anti-marriage.

Content:

(H, AbAbAb, B, LLL, S, N, A, MM) Light humanist worldview with very strong message against marriage and no mention of the sacred religious aspects of marriage, but a couple positive references to God such as someone says, “Thank you, God”; about 23 obscenities (including many “f” words), three strong profanities and 20 light profanities; no violence; sounds of pre-marital sex, some passionate kissing and taking off clothes, older adulterous couple lies in bed after implied sex; brief upper male nudity; alcohol; no discernable smoking; and, lying, jealousy, divorce, and bittersweet comments about marriage and infidelity.

More Detail:

IRA & ABBY is an often hilarious take on romance and marriage among the middle classes in Manhattan. It has a very secular worldview, however, so, in the end, it overtly rejects the traditional view of the institution of marriage as something that should last forever.

The story follows 33-year-old Ira Black, a Jewish graduate student in New York City. Ira is so paralyzed by indecision that he can’t commit to his nine-year relationship with his longtime girlfriend, can’t start his dissertation, and can’t even order lunch. His bored psychoanalyst of 12 years suddenly tells Ira that he no longer wants to see him. His final word of advice: just start making decisions, any decision.

Suddenly invigorated, Ira decides to join a neighborhood fitness center. There, he meets the beautiful salesperson, Abby. For Abby, it’s love at first sight. Her loquacious friendliness sweeps up Ira in a moment of passion, and they decide to get married. Ira’s bickering parents are not happy about this sudden decision, especially Ira’s mother, but Abby’s free-spirited, loving parents couldn’t be happier.

Everything is absolutely great for a while. Then, Ira learns that Abby has been married and divorced twice before, and Abby’s father and Ira’s mother begin an adulterous affair. Thus begins an emotional roller coaster and many sessions with many analysts, ending in a crazy group therapy session.

IRA & ABBY is well written, well acted, and very funny. The filmmakers take some pointed shots at psychology, a subject that’s always ripe for many great jokes. That said, the worldview is pretty secular throughout. Thus, the words “holy matrimony” never pass anyone’s lips, and the movie’s anti-marriage message at the end opines that, until society drastically changes the institution of marriage, it’s best for many couples just to live together and make a loose set of their own open-ended promises. Of course, this is exactly what the Neo-Marxist, anti-Christian liberal bigots want society to do. In confronting these immoralists, it is well to remember the old adage that Marxists, socialists and liberals are just fascists with a smiling face.

Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.


Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.