Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that this superhero cartoon includes occasional fart jokes -- one of Captain Flamingo's "weapons" is a Whoopee cushion -- and frequent underwear jokes (boys' briefs are often in the background and are occasionally featured). There's also some fairly mild cartoon violence -- the captain uses a water pistol-like gun to shoot space slime -- and pratfalls. The captain fights more than he negotiates.
Families can talk about the role that television plays in the life of the show's characters. How does it affect them and their behavior? Families can also discuss how this show is inspired by others. For example, if kids have seen the old 1960s Batman series, ask them what it has in common with this show. Finally, ask kids how they can tell what the captain is seeing in his imagination and what's "real."
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Anne Louise Bannon
Young Milo Powell (voiced by Tabitha St. Germain) may look like your average boy, but as soon as one of the other kids in his area hollers "Uh-oh, Flamingo!" Milo transforms into the dashing Captain Flamingo, ready to rush to the child's assistance. Whether it's finding a lost item, deterring a bully, or dealing with squirrels taking over a tree house, Captain Flamingo uses his backpack of joke-shop novelties to fight off the bad guy -- real or imagined. Fortunately, he has his best friend, Lizbeth Amanda Zaragoza (Melanie Tonello), to lead him to the best solution for the day's dilemma, since the captain himself is pretty clueless.
CAPTAIN FLAMINGO has its moments, but it's only mildly funny at best. Part of the problem is that it seems to be aiming its (debatable) wit at adults, rather than the 7-year-olds who will most likely be watching. For example, kids will get that Tabitha (one of the neighborhood kids), a chronically over-scheduled overachiever, is wigging out is because she's lost her PDA and can't figure out what she's supposed to be doing every minute of the day ... but it's the grown ups who will get why that's funny. Or rather, why it should be funny, since Tabitha (and the rest of the show's humor) is about as subtle as a sledgehammer -- and about as interesting.
The big disadvantage is that the captain is far too willing to see a greater monster than actually exists and is constantly jumping to the wrong conclusions. While he does sometimes come up with his own solutions and often talks about using logic to solve a given problem, it's almost always Lizbeth who gives him the suggestion that saves the day. It's nice to see a smart female character in a cartoon like this, but Lizbeth also has an all-too-obvious crush on Milo, who doesn't come close to getting it.
Better irreverent cartoon choices include The Tick and Yin Yang Yo!
Rate It!
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ViolenceThe captain uses a water pistol-like gun to shoot space slime. There are also a number of pratfalls, such as when the captain falls out of a tree. |
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LanguageIn the theme song, there's a line that makes it sound like the next word might be "ass," but it turns out to be "ask." |
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Social BehaviorThe captain sometimes talks about negotiating, but he usually resorts to fighting the bad guys. Some potty humor (fart jokes, etc.). The captain's best friend, Lizbeth, is a smart, resourceful girl who usually ends up solving the captain's problems. |
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