No Smoking in PG-Rated Films: A Valid Argument or Just Blowing Smoke?
California anti-smoking advocates are fuming over the number of times characters in the newly released film, Rango, lit a cigarette. The film, which grossed $38 million in its opening weekend (March 4th), includes at least 60 instances of smoking, according to anti-smoking group, Breathe California. With all of the effort that has been put into keeping kids away from tobacco, health advocates are concerned that the film, with its primarily youth audience, poses a major setback by promoting smoking as an acceptable norm. Proponents of the film see no harm. Would you take your child to see a movie if you knew the characters in it were smokers? Do you think smoking in films causes young viewers to want to try cigarettes?
Highlighted Clip for Tuesday, March 7, 2011:
"PG-rated 'Rango' has anti-smoking advocates fuming"
The film, which opened Friday and topped the weekend box office with a gross of $38 million, includes at least 60 instances of characters smoking, said Kori Titus, CEO of the Sacramento-based non-profit Breathe California.
