Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that although the show's humor is aimed at teens and even adults, it's entertaining for elementary-age kids, too (just don't expect them to learn much). Much of the humor centers around Johnny's offensive, clueless pick-up lines and his complete refusal to learn anything from how people react to his behavior, but he's rarely unkind, and those lame pick-up lines lead to increasingly funny responses. Kids will enjoy the pratfall humor and Johnny's steadfast narcissism in the face of failure.
Families can talk about Johnny's behavior. Kids: Do you think Johnny is supposed to be a good example/role model? If not, how can you tell? Why don't the girls that Johnny talks to want to go out with him? Families can also discuss the type of guy/character that Johnny is meant to be a parody of -- i.e., the guy who always gets the girl and probably knows it. You see guys like this everywhere on TV, but do they really exist? Why is it such a popular character type?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: KJ Dell'Antonia
JOHNNY BRAVO parodies the antics of possibly the world's most narcissistic, clueless self-imagined babe-magnet ever. Johnny (voiced by Jeff Bennett) has the "brain of a gnat," and everything goes wrong for him, from becoming the victim of two clowns in a "who's funnier" contest to his ill-advised attempts at lion-taming.
Johnny Bravo is one of the Cartoon Network's original series, and -- like Dexter's Laboratory and The Powerpuff Girls -- it's really meant for teenage and young adult viewing. That said, school-aged kids will still find it funny. The pratfalls and cartoon gags are unusual and clever, the animation is well done, and Johnny's determined pursuit of what he calls "babes" gets laughs even from kids who don't get it because the results are pretty much inevitably disastrous. (And mildly empowering for girls, although the "babes" tend toward the nameless and generic).
Probably because no matter how convinced he is of his own greatness, Johnny remains kind and generally good-hearted, he's appealing to viewers of all ages. Kids will also enjoy the show's frequent inclusion of appearances by characters from Scooby Doo and other classic cartoons.
Kids who like to laugh at the big, strong, and clueless will also enjoy The Tick. Or, for a more adventurous Johnny, try Jonny Quest.
Rate It!
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Sexual ContentIt's all about innuendo -- Johnny's mission is to get the babes, but why he wants them is never mentioned. The "babes" are often shapely and bikini-clad. |
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ViolenceCartoon violence that's clearly meant to be parody/funny. Johnny is eaten by a lion, attacked by a clown with a machine gun that shoots pies, etc. Oh, and he decks Santa Claus. |
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Social BehaviorJohnny's ridiculous pick-up lines never get him the girl. In fact, the girl often turns on him, pours a drink down his pants, chainsaws a tree so that it falls on his head, etc. -- satisfying, but not necessarily behavior to strive for. |
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