TICKET TO PARADISE
An affable romantic comedy about family, marriage, and living for today.
Should You Watch It?
TICKET TO PARADISE is a funny, easygoing comedy with genuine affection underneath its bickering. George Clooney and Julia Roberts bring strong celebrity charisma to divorced parents who still love their daughter, while the family story honors parent-child bonds and the virtues of marriage.
The movie’s light Romantic worldview encourages living for the moment rather than delayed gratification. That idea is paired with foul language, brief drunkenness, light innuendo, and implied references to Bali’s Hindu culture. The concerns call for discernment, especially with younger children, but they do not erase the film’s warmth.
If your family includes middle schoolers or older viewers who can handle those elements, this is a pleasant choice for a shared movie night.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESDavid and Georgia are a divorced couple whose barbs begin flying whenever they meet. Their daughter, Lily, has just finished law school and is preparing to start her career.
While vacationing in Bali with her best friend, Lily falls in love with Gede, a young man who runs his family’s seaweed farm. When Lily announces that she plans to marry him and live in Bali, David and Georgia travel there and scheme to stop the wedding.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means a good, enjoyable film with clear strengths and some limitations. TICKET TO PARADISE is funny and affable, with touching family moments that give the comedy emotional weight.
Clooney and Roberts make the most of their inherent charisma as the parents. Kaitlyn Dever fits perfectly with them as Lily. The movie’s strongest qualities are its family warmth, its affection for marriage, and its easygoing comic appeal.
The Worldview
The film presents a light Romantic worldview that promotes enjoying life in the moment instead of delayed gratification. That outlook is not the whole picture, however. Marriage is ultimately extolled, positive parent-child relationships receive meaningful attention, and the movie includes a positive reference to God.
The story’s setting also carries religious elements that require discernment. Bali is a Hindu-majority nation, and the film includes implied references to that culture, including a frightful Hindu deity or demon image and a wedding ceremony that appears to be led by a Hindu priest.
The movie’s longing to seize the moment can be weighed against Scripture’s reminder that human life is brief: “you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes” (James 4:14). Enjoying life is not the same as living without wisdom; our moments are gifts to steward before God.
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements
Light Romantic worldview promotes enjoying life in the moment instead of delayed gratification, with some positive moral elements such as marriage ultimately is extolled, as are positive parent-child relationships, and there’s a positive reference to God, but a statue/image of a frightful Hindu deity or demon is shown in one scene, and wedding ceremony appears to be led by a Hindu priest (his words aren’t translated), and there’s mention of a “curse” (Bali, the location of the movie, is a Hindu majority nation but movie doesn’t specifically mention Hinduism or supernatural Hindu characters)
Foul Language
Five obscenities (including one “f” word), one Jesus profanity and 10 light profanities
Violence
Light comic violence such as a couple bumps heads
Sex
Some innuendo such as a drunk divorced couple end up the next morning in the same bed but nothing is said to have happened, woman’s younger French lover says in the morning he slept on the floor of hotel room, plus some kissing
Nudity
Upper male nudity
Alcohol Use
Alcohol use and drunkenness
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse
No smoking or drugs;
Miscellaneous Immorality
Mother hides marriage rings (with father’s consent) to stop or delay daughter’s rush wedding, but their plan fails and daughter lies when she tells parents that they’ll be sitting far apart at her graduation ceremony from law school.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
David and Georgia’s conflict does not erase their love for Lily. How can love remain present when relationships are strained?
1 Corinthians 13:4–7 · Colossians 3:12–14Lily wants to change the direction of her life suddenly. How can you balance enjoying the present with seeking wise counsel?
Proverbs 15:22 · James 1:5The film presents marriage as something worth honoring. What makes a marriage worthy of commitment and care?
Genesis 2:24 · Ephesians 5:25The movie includes a positive reference to God. How should gratitude for life shape the way we use our time?
Psalm 90:12 · Ephesians 5:15–16The Final Word
TICKET TO PARADISE is a warm, funny comedy with touching family moments and a positive view of marriage. Its living-for-the-moment message and content call for discernment, but teenagers and adults can enjoy its charm. Our answer is WORTH THE TRIP — AGES 13 AND UP.
