The Assignment
By Jeffrey M. Anderson,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Violent thriller irresponsibly tackles transgender themes.
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The Assignment
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What's the Story?
In THE ASSIGNMENT, a prickly, Shakespeare-and-Poe-quoting surgeon, Dr. Rachel Kay (Sigourney Weaver), lives in a psychiatric hospital and is interviewed by Dr. Ralph Galen (Tony Shalhoub). She tells her story in flashback. Her brother, in trouble with gangsters, becomes the target of an assassin named Frank Kitchen (Michelle Rodriguez). Dr. Kay subsequently kidnaps Frank and performs non-consensual gender reassignment surgery on him as revenge. And so Kitchen awakens in a female body, and, after searching for a way to reverse the procedure (and failing), decides to get his revenge on everyone connected to Dr. Kay -- all the way up to dangerous, well-protected gangster "Honest John" (Anthony LaPaglia).
Is It Any Good?
This thriller starts out with a ludicrous and irresponsibly handled idea. Even directed in a pulpy, creative way by Walter Hill (who worked with Weaver on Alien as producer and is best-known for directing action classics like The Warriors and 48 Hrs.), The Assignment struggles to escape its misguided premise. Certainly the film is inauthentic, casting cisgender female actor Rodriguez to play both pre- and post-surgery versions of a male character. And though The Assignment tries to praise trans people for their courage, its portrayal of gender reassignment surgery as a punishment plays into damaging narratives. When real-life discrimination against trans people is a huge problem in society, it makes it difficult to concentrate on the movie's redeeming features.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about The Assignment's violence. Does it feel gratuitous or necessary? What impact does the pulpy nature of the filmmaking have? Does associating it with comic book violence change how you view it?
The film centers on a character who has non-consensual gender reassignment surgery as a punishment. What message do you think this sends about surgery for transgender people? Why is it important to be conscious and careful about portrayals like this on-screen?
How does the movie portray drinking and drug use? Does it make substance use seem enjoyable? Glamorous? Or does it seem sad/desperate? Are there consequences?
Movie Details
- In theaters: April 7, 2017
- On DVD or streaming: June 6, 2017
- Cast: Michelle Rodriguez , Sigourney Weaver , Tony Shalhoub
- Director: Walter Hill
- Inclusion Information: Female actors, Latino actors, Middle Eastern/North African actors
- Studio: Saban Films
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- Run time: 95 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: graphic nudity, violence, sexuality, language and drug use
- Last updated: November 6, 2023
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