Parents' Guide to

I.Q.

Movie PG 1994 100 minutes
I.Q. Poster Image

Common Sense Media Review

Betsy Bozdech By Betsy Bozdech , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 10+

Breezy, quirky romcom is predictable but sweet.

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What's the Story?

In 1950s Princeton, New Jersey, science-loving mechanic Ed Walters (Tim Robbins) falls in love at first sight with beautiful, brainy, sometimes bemused Catherine Boyd (Meg Ryan). He's star-struck when he finds out that Catherine is the niece of Albert Einstein (Walter Matthau), who takes an immediate shine to Ed and decides that the impulsive car expert would be a far better match for his niece than her current fiance, stuffy British psychologist James (Stephen Fry). With the help of his entourage of fellow big thinkers -- Kurt Gödel (Lou Jacobi), Boris Podolsky (Gene Saks), and Nathan Liebknecht (Joseph Maher) -- Einstein conspires to make Catherine think that Ed is a brilliant physicist who's worthy of her affection. But when their deception spirals out of control, will Ed lose his chance to win her heart?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
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Kids say (1 ):

First things first -- this winning romantic comedy doesn't make any claims on historical accuracy. Einstein never had a niece named Catherine Boyd, and his fellow scientist friends were actually significantly younger than they're portrayed here. But so long as you're in the market for fun over facts, this cute, breezy romcom is quite entertaining. Einstein and his buddies are, frankly, adorable as mischievous meddlers who take as much joy in matchmaking as they do in debating whether time actually exists. And, as their ringleader, Matthau is the perfect mix of cuddliness and knowing humor; he makes it plausible that one of history's greatest minds might actually have called out "wahoo" during a motorcycle ride.

The quartet of elderly friends really is the best part of the movie. Ryan and Robbins are winning enough as Ed and Catherine, but neither role feels like a stretch for the stars; even back in 1994, when I.Q. was released, audiences had seen Ryan do her "quirky pixie" thing several times before, and Robbins has never been a stranger to loopy, dreamy characters. Still, their road to romance is sweet, charming, and -- although predictable -- always upbeat.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about whether the ends ever justify the means. Is it OK that Ed and Einstein deceive Catherine (and, by extension, the rest of the country) to make Ed more attractive to her? Is something that wouldn't be OK in real life acceptable in a movie? Why, or why not?

  • How accurately do you think I.Q. depicts Einstein's life and relationships? How could you find out more about this part of his life?

  • Can you choose whom you love? Parents, talk to your kids about your own values regarding love and relationships.

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