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Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that this refreshing series' script (which offers genuinely funny moments) doesn't rely on shocking or inappropriate plot devices to keep viewers interested, nor does the violence associated with the rap world infect the Miller home. The Millers are somehow like a modern-day Partridge Family (without the cheesy hair and duds) who play music together because they love the music and because they love each other.

Families can talk about the fact that the dad is constantly touring. At the outset of the series, the kids are left with babysitters or neighbors; later, a stepmother takes care of them. How might his absence affect their lives? Also, does Romeo's desire to be cool keep him from doing some things that his nerdier foster brother might do?

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Common Sense Review

Reviewed By: Joly Herman

ROMEO! is based on the real-life young rap star Lil' Romeo (who has outgrown his Lil' title) and his father, Master P, also a rapper and successful producer and record label owner. The fictional family is named Miller, and Romeo has an older sister, a little brother, and a foster brother. Romeo is the star here and will attract many tweens who admire his music and his moves.

Viewers might initially expect a show about a rap artist and his family to be full of problematic "gangsta" themes like drugs, violence, sex, and the like. But Romeo! toes the line as a show that integrates family values with the showbiz world. Real-life issues of aspiration and sacrifice do pop up, but the environment in which the Miller family exists is much safer and more protected than expected. This is largely thanks to the father figure, played by Master P (Romeo's real father and executive producer of the series).

In other words, there's heart invested in this series -- which, at its core, is about a father's desire to maintain balance in his career and his home life. On the surface, we see Romeo aspire to fill his own potential as a musician and as a decent guy. Though he has a more rebellious inner life than his foster brother Louis (as evidenced by Lizzie McGuire-style animation clips), he's a good kid. Just look at his eyes -- they shine with a kindness that his father has bequeathed to him.

Plot-wise, the series will appeal to tweens who spend time trying to figure out they're becoming. Working hard to embody your natural potential is a theme here. Romeo's talent is something that he works on, rehearsing at night in the mirror (a tender moment, when seen through the eyes of an adult viewer), and it pays off. Romeo! is a pleasant surprise.

Kids who enjoy this show may like the '90s version with Will Smith: The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. They may also enjoy Cheyenne, a reality show about another talented young musician.

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