Not Suitable For Children (2012) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The film is set in contemporary suburban Australia, primarily in a private home used for weekly house parties. Additional locations include a cheap motel where the insemination plan unfolds and a hospital where Jonah's tumor operation takes place. The settings emphasize a modern nightlife-driven lifestyle with intimate, high-stakes moments occurring in close quarters.

• australia
• suburban
• house parties
• setting
• motel
• hospital

The movie is set in the contemporary era, reflecting current medical options like sperm banking and modern dating norms. The narrative unfolds over a few weeks, balancing an energetic social life with serious personal choices about fertility and relationships.

• contemporary
• modern
• time period
• weeks

Jonah is a carefree, party-loving young man played by Ryan Kwanten whose world turns upside down when he's diagnosed with testicular cancer and learns he may not be able to father children. He grapples with fear, denial, and a stubborn desire to maintain his party lifestyle while confronting his mortality and desire for parenthood.

• jonah
• testicular cancer
• fertility
• main character

Stevie, played by Sarah Snook, is a pragmatic and resourceful friend who gradually shapes a plan to preserve Jonah's chance at parenthood while advancing their business ambitions. She grows from a supportive friend into someone who tests the boundaries of their relationship by writing a formal contract to navigate their unusual arrangement, adding complexity with her evolving feelings for Jonah.

• stevie
• sarah snook
• friend
• support
• relationship

Jonah's core friend group includes Gus, a loyal but sometimes oblivious friend who helps run the party business, and Stevie. Gus provides steady support for both Jonah and Stevie while remaining largely unaware of how their evolving relationship impacts the trio. His practical optimism anchors the group as they navigate risky decisions.

• gus
• ryan corr
• friends
• support
• party business

Becky Kincaid, played by Kathryn Beck, is a woman who knows Jonah well but refuses to view their connection as casual or fleeting. She represents boundaries and restraint that clashes with the impulsive plans around fertility and relationships. Becky's stance creates tension within the group and challenges the protagonists' assumptions about commitment.

• becky
• boundaries
• relationship
• commitment

Ava, played by Bojana Novaković, is Jonah's ex-girlfriend who appears initially reluctant to be contacted again but ultimately becomes a potential option to carry his child. Her pragmatic approach contrasts with the emotional pull of the other relationships, highlighting the film's theme of choosing a path forward amid difficult circumstances.

• ava
• ex-girlfriend
• pragmatic
• child
• fertility

The story probes how love and commitment intersect with practical obligations. Jonah's illness forces him to consider fatherhood and family planning beyond casual connections. The evolving bond between Jonah and Stevie tests loyalty, boundaries, and what it means to act responsibly toward others.

• love
• commitment
• responsibility
• family
• fatherhood

Fertility becomes a central concern as medical options and biological reality collide with desire and romance. The sperm bank reveal and subsequent attempts to find a donor force characters to confront fate, chance, and the long-term implications of their reproductive choices. The narrative treats fertility as both a medical challenge and an emotional hinge.

• fertility
• mortality
• cancer
• sperm bank
• reproduction
• medical

Friend groups stand at the core of the plot, driving both the party business and personal decisions. Gus and Stevie navigate how far they'll go to support Jonah while protecting their own interests. The film examines how friendships adapt when life-altering news arises, testing the limits of loyalty.

• friendship
• loyalty
• support
• friend group
• decisions

Dr. McKenzie is the medical authority who informs Jonah of his cancer and its fertility implications. His explanations drive the ethical and practical decisions the characters confront, including the possibility of sperm banking or alternatives for fatherhood, setting the story's central conflict in motion.

• doctor
• medical authority
• cancer diagnosis
• fertility options