Malcolm in the Middle - TV-PG
TV Rating: TV-PG
Network: Fox Cast: Frankie Muniz, Jane Kaczmarek, Bryan Cranston
Genre: Comedy
Available on: 
DVDDownload
Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that this comedy series pushes the envelope on irreverence, and the humor can be crude or risqué. At the same time, Malcolm is an intelligent main character, facing many of the challenges of growing up and fitting in that your own kids may face. The show puts family dysfunction and sibling rivalry in the spotlight.
Families can talk about the unusual ways in which Malcolm's family expresses their love for each other. Does that hold true in your family? Are Lois' reactions and disciplinary tactics realistic? How does exaggeration make something funny?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Betsy Wallace
Tired of sweet TV families making yours look like a train wreck? Try MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE. Did your kids outgrow Full House a long time ago? Again, Malcolm may be your show.
Malcolm's TV family is just about coming apart at the seams, yet somehow it hangs together. These kids -- and their parents -- routinely embarrass each other, misbehave, play foolhardy pranks, and cause mayhem and destruction. Yet for some viewers, the subject matter may provide a welcome alternative to the predictable plots and simplistic conclusions served up by many traditional family sitcoms.
The cynical, funny title character, Malcolm (Frankie Muniz), has a genius IQ and has been placed in his school's gifted program despite the fact that he would rather be just a normal kid. Trust him: Hanging around with the mentally advanced but socially challenged crowd at school was not his first choice. Episodes sometimes revolve around school situations, but more often focus on Malcolm's devilish brothers Reese (Justin Berfield), Dewey (Erik Per Sullivan), and Francis (Christopher Masterson); his goofy dad Hal (Bryan Cranston); and his controlling mother, Lois (Jane Kaczmarek).
Some episodes are clever and endearing -- showing how kids deal with the perceived injustices of growing up, like when Lois insists on accompanying Malcolm to a college preview visit and sleeping in the co-ed dorm with him. Others highlight how the family pulls together in hilarious ways; for example, staging an all-out war to rid their house of bats and destroying the house in the process. The show often brings to light how, at times, parents' rules are no match for children's curiosity.
Malcolm in the Middle may be one of the loudest shows on TV, one reason parents may have difficulty determining if their kids should watch or not. Since situations concerning Malcolm's parents can involve adult humor, the show is perhaps best viewed by parents and mature teens.
Malcolm fans may also enjoy other innovative family sitcoms like The Bernie Mac Show and Everybody Hates Chris.
Rate It!
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Sexual ContentOccasional sex-related subject matter. Implied nudity now and then. The parents have a fairly lustful relationship. |
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ViolenceLots of goofy roughhousing, sometimes resulting in injury. The brothers sometimes fight with each other and throw punches. |
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LanguageSome expletives and crude language ("damn," "ass," etc.). |
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Social BehaviorA diverse show: Malcolm's best friend is black and wheelchair-bound, and older brother Francis married an American Indian woman. Behaviorally, the comedy involves outrageous trouble caused by the boys or their father. Their mother tries to promote good behavior, but often through yelling and manipulating. |
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