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Not Suitable For Children (2012) movie poster

Plot Summary

Not Suitable For Children (2012) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language
2012 · 97 mins · English
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Directed by
Peter Templeman
Starring
Sarah Snook, Daniel Henshall, Zoe Carides, Ryan Kwanten, Ryan Corr, Laura Brent

A carefree playboy's life takes an unexpected turn when he discovers he only has one month left to father children. Faced with impending infertility, he embarks on a frantic mission to procreate, leading to a series of chaotic and humorous encounters as he tries to fulfill his newfound goal.

On this page (5)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 What happens: full plot
  3. 3 Plot questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Every angle
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Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in Not Suitable For Children: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of Not Suitable For Children (2012) explained, from the opening scene to the final frame: every key event, every twist and what it all adds up to. Read it as a quick recap before the sequel, to check a scene you missed, or to finally understand what really happened.

Jonah [Ryan Kwanten] is a carefree, party-loving young man whose night takes a sharp turn when a power outage at one of his gatherings reveals a lump in his testicle. The outage is briefly fixed by a neighbor, but the moment forces a more serious reality into view. At the party, he and Becky Kathryn Beck retreat to his room, and Becky discovers the lump. A visit to the doctor, Dr. McKenzie Lewis Fitz-Gerald, confirms that Jonah has testicular cancer. The doctor explains that the tumor can be removed, but the operation would likely end Jonah’s ability to father children. He also mentions a potential path: sperm banking in case he wants children later, which becomes a crucial thread in the story.

Back home, Jonah confronts the practical fallout with his two closest friends and party partners, Stevie Sarah Snook and Gus Ryan Corr. When Stevie arrives from work, Gus bluntly reveals the cancer, and Jonah wrestles with whether he should still host the upcoming party. He decides to proceed with the plan, not wanting to burden his friends or cancel their growing business of throwing weekly house parties.

A call from the sperm bank arrives, and Jonah must face a harsh reality: the bank informs him that he belongs to a small percentage of men whose sperm cannot be frozen due to biological complications. With this sobering news, Jonah asks about other options and is bluntly questioned, “Well, do you have a girlfriend?” The implication lands hard, and Jonah realizes he must find someone to carry his child. He starts with his ex-girlfriend Ava Bojana Novaković, who is disgusted by the idea of being contacted again. He then turns to Becky, the woman who knows him well but whom Gus has nicknamed “Stalker Becky”; she rejects the notion of a casual arrangement, insisting she never pictured them as a couple. Jonah keeps the cancer secret from the women he speaks to and asks the doctor for more time, ultimately moving the operation three weeks later.

Meanwhile, the party business becomes more than just a side gig. Gus, Stevie, and Jonah realize that hosting parties could become a steady job, a weekly source of income. Their first “paycheck” from a big event totals over $700, a small fortune that cements their resolve to keep the venture going. To solve the child problem, Jonah builds long lists of everyone he has ever dated or known, hoping someone will be willing to carry his child. One-by-one, the women decline. Adoption enters the conversation, but it requires a clean health record, something Jonah does not have due to the cancer. After several dead ends, Stevie proposes an "arrangement" with a woman, and she works to set up a meeting with a lesbian couple at her work—though that initial meeting ends without success. A second possibility at Stevie’s workplace also falls through when the potential partner is not open to a relationship.

The idea of an arrangement begins to take shape when Stevie, who starts to see potential in the arrangement for both of them, writes a contract and reveals a four-day window around Stevie’s ovulation. They book a room at a cheap motel for those days, and the plan unfolds with a mix of practical steps and awkward moments: they buy a syringe to facilitate insemination, but an accident destroys it. They improvise and carry on with natural intercourse, continuing their meetings at the motel while Gus stays oblivious to the evolving relationship between Jonah and Stevie.

On the fifth day, as Stevie is at work, she gets her period. They fight—Stevie confesses she’s having second thoughts about the arrangement, and she’s uncertain about continuing. Stevie is absent at the weekly party that night, leading Gus to call Ava again. Ava arrives, initially upset with Jonah for not telling her about the cancer, but she also offers to carry his child. They go upstairs to his room, have sex, and Jonah pulls out at the last moment—not because he doesn’t want a child, but because he realizes he is in love with Stevie. Jonah hopes to find Stevie to explain, but Stevie’s call pulls him back toward the ongoing fallout.

The party continues, but the tension between old friends and new plans lingers. The next morning, Jonah’s sister arrives to take him and Gus to the hospital for the operation. Stevie shows up to offer moral support, and in a pivotal moment she tells Jonah that she believes he would make a great father—suggesting they pursue sperm donation or adoption together. They share a kiss, and Jonah is wheeled into the operating room. The movie closes on a note of ambiguity and relief as Gus, clueless about what happened between Jonah and Stevie, quietly experiences a mix of confusion and awe. The final line is spoken off-screen by Gus, who mutters under his breath:

>What the f***.

Last updated: October 03, 2025 at 06:48

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Plot questions answered

Not Suitable For Children Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about Not Suitable For Children (2012): what happens in the confusing scenes, why the characters do what they do, the twists, hidden details and what the ending means. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Why can't Jonah freeze his sperm for later use?

Jonah learns from the sperm bank that he belongs to a small percentage of men whose sperm cannot be frozen due to biological complications. This complication forces him to pursue alternative options for fathering children before his cancer operation, which would likely render him infertile.

  • sperm bank
  • infertility
  • testicular cancer
  • biological complication
Q2

Why does Jonah decide to ask Stevie to carry his child?

After being rejected by his ex-girlfriend Ava and by Becky, Jonah runs out of options. Stevie, his close friend and business partner, volunteers to help after seeing his desperation. She proposes a formal arrangement with a contract, offering to be his surrogate during her ovulation window.

  • Stevie
  • arrangement
  • surrogate
  • ovulation
Q3

Why does Jonah pull out during sex with Ava instead of completing the act?

Jonah pulls out not because he doesn't want a child, but because he suddenly realizes he is in love with Stevie. This moment forces him to confront his true feelings, leading him to abandon the attempt with Ava and pursue a genuine relationship with Stevie instead.

  • Jonah
  • Ava
  • pull out
  • love confession
  • Stevie
Q4

What happens when Stevie gets her period during the arrangement window?

On the fifth day of the planned ovulation window, Stevie gets her period, indicating the arrangement has failed for that cycle. This triggers her to express second thoughts about continuing, leading to a conflict with Jonah about whether to proceed further.

  • Stevie
  • period
  • ovulation
  • arrangement failed
Q5

Why does Becky refuse to help Jonah with having a child?

Becky rejects Jonah's proposal for a casual arrangement because she insists they were never a couple, despite knowing him well. She is uncomfortable with the idea of being approached for this purpose and declines to participate.

  • Becky
  • rejection
  • casual arrangement
Q6

Why does Ava change her mind and offer to carry Jonah's child?

After initially being disgusted by Jonah's request, Ava learns about his cancer diagnosis and arrives at the party offering to help. Her change of heart suggests she still cares for him despite their breakup, though her offer comes at a complicated moment.

  • Ava
  • change of mind
  • cancer reveal
Q7

Why does Jonah ask the doctor to postpone his cancer operation?

Jonah requests a three-week postponement of his tumor removal surgery to give himself time to find a solution for fathering children before becoming infertile. This delay reflects his desperation to preserve his chance at having a biological child.

  • postpone surgery
  • tumor removal
  • fertility deadline
Q8

Why does Stevie show up at the hospital before Jonah's operation?

Stevie arrives at the hospital to support Jonah emotionally before his surgery. In a pivotal moment, she tells him she believes he would make a great father and suggests they could pursue sperm donation or adoption together, signaling their transition from friends to a couple.

  • Stevie
  • hospital
  • operation
  • father
  • adoption
Q9

What is the significance of the party business in the story?

The party business that Jonah, Stevie, and Gus run becomes an important subplot showing their transition from party hosts to entrepreneurs. Their first major event earns over $700, validating their idea and providing a hopeful outlook for their future beyond Jonah's health crisis.

  • party business
  • Gus
  • Stevie
  • entrepreneurship
Q10

Why is Ava upset that Jonah didn't tell her about his cancer?

When Ava arrives at the party, she is initially upset with Jonah for not disclosing his cancer diagnosis. This reveals that she genuinely cares about him despite their breakup, and her anger stems from feeling excluded from something serious affecting someone she still cares about.

  • Ava
  • cancer secret
  • emotional connection
Q11

Why does Stevie create a formal contract for the arrangement?

Stevie writes a detailed contract outlining the terms of their arrangement, including a four-day ovulation window. This formal approach reflects her practical nature and attempt to maintain emotional distance, though the document also signals her growing investment in the situation.

  • Stevie
  • contract
  • formal agreement
  • ovulation window
Q12

What happens to the syringe they bought for insemination?

Jonah and Stevie buy a syringe to facilitate artificial insemination at the motel, but an accident destroys it. This forces them to improvise and continue with natural intercourse instead, which ultimately leads to a more intimate situation between them.

  • syringe
  • insemination
  • motel
  • accident

Movie threads

More Movies Like Not Suitable For Children, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Not Suitable For Children tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Funny Movies About Life Crises Like Not Suitable For Children

Funny, frantic journeys sparked by a serious diagnosis or unexpected life deadline. If you enjoyed the humor and heart of Not Suitable For Children, explore these other movies that find comedy in serious situations. These films feature characters facing life-altering diagnoses or deadlines, leading to frantic, funny, and ultimately hopeful journeys of personal growth and re-evaluation.

  • anxious
  • chaotic
  • reflective
  • hopeful
  • awkward
  • melancholic
  • Tone: bittersweet, humorous, reflective
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: A sudden, serious personal crisis (like a medical diagnosis) disrupts a character's life, forcing them to abandon their normal routine for a chaotic, often comedic mission. Their actions are driven by a new urgency, blending humor with the underlying anxiety of their situation. The story unfolds as a character-driven quest, leading to personal growth and a resolution that acknowledges the loss while finding hope in new connections or perspectives.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped together because they share a unique narrative engine: a serious, high-stakes premise that fuels a comedic and often frantic character journey. They consistently balance laugh-out-loud moments with genuine emotional weight, creating a bittersweet tone that feels both entertaining and meaningful.

Movies About Creating a Family Like Not Suitable For Children

Frantic and humorous searches for connection that defy traditional family structures. Fans of Not Suitable For Children's storyline will enjoy these movies about characters on a mission to build a family. These films explore the humorous and heartfelt chaos of seeking parenthood or deep connection through unconventional means, often against a ticking clock, and celebrate the idea of found family.

  • hopeful
  • awkward
  • chaotic
  • heartfelt
  • romantic
  • funny
  • Tone: hopeful, awkward, heartfelt
  • Pacing: steady, quest-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative centers on a character's urgent and systematic quest to achieve a familial goal, such as having a child or forging a deep bond, often under unusual circumstances or time pressure. This quest structure drives the plot, creating a series of episodic, often humorous encounters. The emotional core lies in the protagonist's growing realization that what they are truly searching for might be different from what they initially set out to find.

Why they belong together: This thread connects movies that share a specific plot engine: a character-driven, urgent quest for family or profound connection. They are united by a blend of romantic or personal comedy with the thematic exploration of what constitutes a family, all wrapped in a pace that feels both frantic and purposeful.

Every angle

Not Suitable For Children (2012) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Not Suitable For Children in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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