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Heathcliff and Marmaduke

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 3, age appropriate for kids over 5; suggested age 5.

  • Is it any good?

    2.0

  • Common Sense says

    Slapstick animal toons are fine, if not inspiring.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 5 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    In the Marmaduke cartoons, the mayhem invariably results not from bad intentions but from the dog's size and clumsiness. Though Heathcliff responds to neighborhood bullies with violence, he never starts it and insists he would prefer to be friends. Some dated gender roles -- the heroes are always the male characters.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence & scariness:

    Very mild cartoon violence. No weapons -- cats and dogs fight within a spinning cloud of dust, striking one another, etc.

  • Sexy stuff:

    Not an issue.

  • Language:

    Not an issue.

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Heathcliff and Marmaduke

Parents need to know that these '80s cartoons, while mild in many ways, aren't nearly as politically correct as those made today. All the heroes are male, and female characters (and sometimes even minorities) tend to appear in stereotypical guises and minor roles. There is some slapstick cartoon violence as well -- which is sometimes used to resolve conflicts.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about why TV producers would want to make cartoons based on characters in newspaper comic strips. Do you think that would make kids more likely to watch them? Why or why not? Can you think of any characters from other media that have become cartoons today?
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