IT MIGHT GET LOUD
Three guitar legends make music—and meaning—together.
Should You Watch It?
If you enjoy music documentaries, It Might Get Loud is worth your time. It brings Jimmy Page, The Edge and Jack White together to discuss guitar playing, songwriting and the artists who shaped them. The film is well made and very enjoyable because it lets each musician tell his own story.
The content concerns are limited. Jimmy Page mutters one obscenity, and the documentary features extensive rock music, including artists whose work may raise different questions for different families. The source review also notes that The Edge is a professing Christian, while Jimmy Page is associated with “Stairway to Heaven” fame.
If your family is comfortable with that musical setting, this is a strong choice for teenagers and adults. For music-loving teens and adults, take the trip with discernment.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESThis documentary brings together three influential guitarists and songwriters: Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin, The Edge of U2 and Jack White of the White Stripes.
They talk about playing guitar, the sources of their musical inspiration and how they developed their styles. Each musician also leads viewers into part of his own artistic world before the three gather to play together.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means this is a highly enjoyable, well-made documentary. Its greatest strength is its access to three influential musicians as they explain their work, inspirations and musical discoveries in their own words.
Director Davis Guggenheim intercuts their different attitudes about music. Sometimes they agree; sometimes they contradict one another about what goes into playing guitar. The film’s highlight is the three musicians sitting in a circle and playing a well-known song from each of their repertoires.
The Worldview
The documentary has a light humanist worldview. It focuses on the artistic side of three guitarists and songwriters, emphasizing their personal journeys, musical influences and the discovery of individual style.
Worldview is not often discussed directly. The men mainly talk about other artists who influenced them and about how they learned to make music. The film’s attention remains on human creativity, work and artistic expression rather than on a distinctly Christian understanding of those things.
The movie does include a biblical reference to the ground being cursed and to man working by the sweat of his brow. That theme can point beyond artistic achievement to the reality that meaningful work is both a gift and a burden in a fallen world: “By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread” (Genesis 3:19).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Light humanist worldview examining the artistic side of three guitarists/songwriters, a biblical reference to the ground being cursed and man must work by sweat of his brow; one obscenity and no profanities; no violence; no sexual scenes; no nudity; no alcohol; smoking by one main interviewee; and, nothing else objectionable.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
The three musicians describe the artists and experiences that shaped their own styles. Who has influenced the way you use your gifts, and how can you choose those influences wisely?
Proverbs 13:20 · 1 Corinthians 15:33The film presents music-making as work requiring practice and effort. What does Scripture teach about doing ordinary work faithfully?
Genesis 3:19 · Colossians 3:23How should Christians think about art and music created by people whose beliefs or lifestyles may differ from their own?
Philippians 4:8 · 1 Thessalonians 5:21What boundaries should your family set around music, and how can those decisions reflect both wisdom and grace?
Romans 14:19 · 1 Corinthians 10:31The Final Word
It Might Get Loud is a thoughtful, highly enjoyable music documentary with very little objectionable content. One obscenity and extensive rock music make personal discernment important, but teens and adults who are comfortable with the subject should find much to appreciate. WORTH THE TRIP — TEENS AND ADULTS.
