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Curb Your Enthusiasm

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 16, age appropriate for kids over 18; suggested age 16.

  • Is it any good?

    5.0
  • Common Sense says

    Laugh until it hurts with Seinfeld creator.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 16–18

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    The main character is essentially good natured but very flawed. He's regularly petty, selfish, rude, pushy, dishonest, and inadvertantly bigoted. Other main characters are also flawed, with sex addiction, alcoholism, incredibly foul mouths, etc.
  • Violence:

    Rare physical violence, always in the name of humor.
  • Sex:

    Regular, frank discussion of sex, including masturbation, prostitution, sexual positions, etc. Occasional sexually suggestive scenes.
  • Language:

    Tons o' cursing -- every word in the book -- always for comic effect.
  • Consumerism:

    The main character proudly drives a very recognizable Prius. All characters are very wealthy and spend money easily.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Plenty of social drinking. One character is a recovering alcoholic.

What Parents Need to Know

This review of Curb Your Enthusiasm was written by Sierra Filucci

Parents need to know that this funny cable sitcom is for mature teens and adults only. It includes jokes and themes based on race, disability, religion, etc. that mature folks will understand as ironic, but which the younger set may misinterpret. One character has a porn addiction and talks about it regularly, including discussing masturbation. One season's story arc is based on the idea that the main character can have sex with someone other than his wife as an anniversary present. Though discussed plenty, sex is never shown, other than the occasional comedic grope. Since this is a pay cable series, profanity isn't censored and occurs with enthusiastic regularity. Characters occasionally use drugs, though this isn't a common element.

Families Can Talk About

Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
  • Families can talk about Larry David's inappropriate comments. Do you think the character is prejudiced against certain types of people? What about the real-life Larry? How accurate a reflection of his life do you think the show is? What makes Larry's comments funny? What is the purpose of this kind of humor? Why does his wife put up with him? Also, for Seinfeld fans: Can you spot similarities between Larry and his Seinfeld characters? Do you remember Seinfeld episodes that dealt with similar issues to those you see here?
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More on Curb Your Enthusiasm

What’s the Story?

CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM is a largely improvised cable sitcom based on the life of Larry David, the co-creator and executive producer of Seinfeld. David plays a version of himself -- a rich semi-retired comedy writer who likes to golf with his loyal friend and agent, Jeff Greene (Jeff Garlin), and go out to dinner with his patient wife, Cheryl (Cheryl Hines). Extending the Seinfeld concept of a "show about nothing," Curb follows Larry during his normal outings -- visits with friends, evenings out with Cheryl, errands around town.

Is It Any Good?

What makes the show so entertaining and hilarious is Larry's tendency to be socially inappropriate (much like Seinfeld's George Costanza) and get obsessed with tiny details, like Jerry Seinfeld's TV character. Larry's social stumbles aren't your usual gaffes, but rather painful, cringe-inducing idiocy -- like when he jokes with an African-American dermatologist about getting into medical school thanks to affirmative action. When Larry is later forced to ask the dermatologist for a favor, he finds himself in a room full of African Americans who compel him to repeat his tasteless joke and be branded a racist.

While Seinfeld occasionally ventured into adults-only territory, Curb Your Enthusiasm never visits anyplace else. Jeff's wife Susie (Susie Essman) regularly curses up a storm -- not just an expletive here and there, but a steady stream of crude (but funny) vitriol. And in addition to Jeff's penchant for golf, he's a porn addict with a history of infidelity. Nothing is off limits in David's comedic world: He takes on religion, disability, even the death of his own mother.

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Our Members Say

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    I rate this title iffy for age 14 and give it 5.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Negative message
    • Negative role models

    Funny

    This show is probably one of the funniest tv shows ever to have aired. Larry David's character is so real and unbelievably crude that you will nearly die laughing at his misfortunes and little tiffs with fellow celebrities every now and then.

  2. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 5.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate language
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    Great for Teens, not for younger

  3. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    I rate this title off for age 16 and give it 3.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language

    Definitely 17+.

    No one under 17.

  4. Parent Reviewer
    I rate this title on for age 16 and give it 5.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate language

  5. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in New Jersey
    I rate this title iffy for age 15 and give it 3.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use

    I watched it with my kids and there was more bad words then any show I've ever seen these words were not only four-letter words, there were words that may not said on the street. I guess adults like the harsh language

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