Parents' Guide to Dream Machines

TV Syfy Reality TV 2012
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Common Sense Media Review

Melissa Camacho By Melissa Camacho , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 13+

Lots of swearing and rough-housing in car-building show.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 13+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 9+

Based on 1 parent review

What's the Story?

The reality series DREAM MACHINES features brothers Mark and Shanon Parker building concept vehicles for high-end clients. Inspired by science fiction, comic books, and various high-powered machines, the duo design crazy and outrageous cars, motorcycles, and other vehicles that most people can't even dream about. With the help of their fun and wild group of fabricators, welders, and mechanics, the two are able to go from a design idea to a finished product. Meanwhile, pleasing clients like 50 Cent, wrestler/actor John Cena, and and actor/film director Peter Berg, lead to some great business opportunities. But pushing the envelope when building these futuristic machines isn't easy, especially when the designs don't actually function in real life. But this team proves that with lots of imagination and hard work, they can dream big and build bigger.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say ( 1 ):
Kids say : Not yet rated

The series demonstrates the process by which ideas for concept cars go from being a simple drawn design to an actual finished product. It also shows how difficult (and expensive) the construction of these vehicles can be, and the challenges that arise when the expectations of designers or clients exceed the machine's functional capabilities.

Folks who like unique machines, fast cars, and learning more about what goes into this kind of work will definitely find this show worth watching and entertaining. Some of the antics of the staff also create some fun moments. But thanks to some sibling rivalry and salty language, it's a little rough for young viewers.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about concept cars. What exactly is a concept car? What are the specific steps that go into thinking about and designing a car on paper and/or on the computer, and then actually building one? Who actually buys and drives these cars? Do concept cars eventually go into mass production? Does this show inspire you to build something yourself?

  • Do you think this reality show is designed to educate people about the concept car making process? Or is it really a promotional vehicle for the kinds of concept cars that the Parker Brothers produce? What do the brothers stand to gain or lose by appearing on this show?

TV Details

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