My Family - TV-14

Delightful British dysfunction for teens and up.

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Common Sense rates it
4
Seen the show?
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details
  • TV Rating: TV-14
  • Network: BBC America
  • Cast: Robert Lindsay, Zoe Wanamaker, Daniela Denby-Ashe
  • Genre: Comedy
  • >Available On: DVD

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that strong language (though the worst of it is bleeped), obvious sexual innuendo, and partial nudity mean that this funny British sitcom about a lovingly dysfunctional family isn't for tweens and might be iffy for younger teens. That said, the show's hilarious take on the uncertainties of life with kids who are approaching independence is sure to give many empty-nesters (or those who sometimes wish they were empty-nesters ...) a lot of laughs.

Families can talk about their own home life. How does your family compare to the Harpers? Teens, do you wish your parents were more or less like Ben and Susan? Are their parenting styles effective? How so? Do the characters seem believable? Why or why not? In general, how are TV families different from real-life ones? Do you think a more realistic family sitcom would be funny?

Message

Social Behavior:

Ben and Susan obviously share an open, supportive relationship that continues to withstand the trials of family life. To the best of their abilities, they guide and support their kids, who can speak freely with them. One main, unmarried character got pregnant.

Consumerism:

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Adults drink wine and beer in social settings.

Violence

Sex

Innuendoes abound, including comments like "he showed me how to tenderize my loins." Partial nudity is also common -- one scene shows full views (from behind) of two naked men; in another, a naked man and woman sit on a couch with pillows and dishes obscuring the pertinent areas.

Language

Multiple instances of "hell." "F--k" is used inconsistently, but it's always bleeped.

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Emily Ashby

In the lighthearted British sitcom MY FAMILY, from U.S. writer Fred Barron (whose credits include Seinfeld and Caroline in the City), two parents traverse the highs and lows of life as their three kids enter adulthood and attempt to head out on their own. Ben Harper (Robert Lindsay) is an opinionated, outspoken man with a penchant for flying off the handle when he's irked -- but luckily he's met his match in his wisecracking wife, Susan (Zöe Wanamaker), who has a glib comeback for each of Ben's constant gripes and manages to smooth over even the roughest roads that their kids drag them down. Youngest son Michael (Gabriel Thomson) keeps trying to find himself by sampling everything from photography to born-again Christianity, but he usually only succeeds in trying his dad's patience. Middle child/shopaholic Janey (Daniela Denby-Ashe) went off to university in the third season, only to end up getting booted when she got pregnant; in more recent episodes, she spends most of her time with her young son at her parents' house. Only oldest child Nick (Kris Marshall) actually lives fully on his own ... though even that took some doing (he lived at home in the early seasons). Though Ben and Susan view their increasingly empty nest with varying levels of appreciation (he loves the newfound peace, but her arms are wide open whenever her babies come back home), they strive to strike a balance between being supportive of their kids and actually supporting them.

Is it any good?

4

While My Family doesn't really have any tips or pearls of wisdom for parents who can sympathize with the characters' woes, if you're in the mood for a show that really does put the "fun" in "dysfunction," it won't disappoint. Just be sure to turn it off around younger viewers, since strong language is often audible (despite bleeping), and nudity (mostly rear views) is a possibility.

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Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 1 reviews.

5


Posted on 08/20/07 by awfuldude32 (Formerly gamecubefreak32/evildude32) Kid contributor, age 13

My Family is funnier than The Office!

I'm NOT joking. My Family is a lighthearted Britcom about, well, a dysfunctional family: a strange father, an eccentric mother, an idiot boy, a smart-aleck girl, and a smart-as-hell teen boy. As can be expected in a family comedy, there's a lot of innuendo between everyone. I put Violence as iffy because of revenge plots and slapstick, if you were wondering. There is also an abundant use of the words hell and D**n, and a stronger curse (f*ck) is always bleeped. Overall, My Family is okay for teens who like British humor.

Adult Reviews

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There are no adult reviews.

Kids Reviews

There are 1 reviews.

5


Posted on 08/20/07 by awfuldude32 (Formerly gamecubefreak32/evildude32) Kid contributor, age 13

My Family is funnier than The Office!

I'm NOT joking. My Family is a lighthearted Britcom about, well, a dysfunctional family: a strange father, an eccentric mother, an idiot boy, a smart-aleck girl, and a smart-as-hell teen boy. As can be expected in a family comedy, there's a lot of innuendo between everyone. I put Violence as iffy because of revenge plots and slapstick, if you were wondering. There is also an abundant use of the words hell and D**n, and a stronger curse (f*ck) is always bleeped. Overall, My Family is okay for teens who like British humor.
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