Man Up!

Review

Common Sense Media says

Unoriginal comedy about being manly has some heart.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

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Kids say

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this lighthearted comedy contains some strong language ("bitch," "ass"), some sexual references, and mildly sexist remarks. Drinking is visible. Occasionally adults get into comedic physical fights.

  • Positive messages0
    The series underscores the different ways that men are trying to define themselves in today's society. To that effect, the series relies on some stereotypes and mild sexism for laughs.
  • Positive role models0
    The men are good friends humorously struggling with gender expectations and norms. Both Kenny and Will make sexist comments.
  • Violence2
    The guys like playing violent adult video games, and some of the content is shown onscreen; Will's 13-year old son is allowed to play them too. Occasionally comedic physical fights break out between grown men.
  • Sex2
    Contains comments about vaginas, hookers, panty waists, and other suggestive references.
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What's the story?

MAN UP! is a comedy featuring three thirty-something guys trying to figure out how to hold on to their manhood. Will (Mather Zickel) lives a happy, domesticated life with his wife Theresa (Teri Polo) and his two kids, Nathan (Jake Johnson) and Lucy (Charlotte Labadie), but sometimes wonders if he is a 'real man'. His brother-in-law, Kenny (Dan Fogler), is struggling to cope with his ex-wife Brenda (Amanda Detmer) and her seemingly perfect boyfriend Grant (Henry Simmons). Meanwhile, their  single and sensitive friend Craig (Christopher Moynihan) finds himself pining over lost loves and other issues while strumming his guitar. Together they realize that being a man in today's complicated world isn't easy, especially when they can't figure out what that really means.

Is it any good?

 

The series offers some funny moments as the men support each other in their attempt to live up to a confusing idea of how their gender should behave. But the plot lines, which mostly revolve around the guys trying to solve a problem in goofy sort of way, don't feel very original. The conversations between them are often silly and mildly sexist, too.

The characters aren't very introspective about themselves or the world around them, but they are surprisingly easy to relate to. As a result, while the overall show lacks depth, it definitely has a little heart. If you are looking for some lighthearted sitcom entertainment, this one may fit the bill.

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What families can talk about

Families can talk about the role of men and women are defined in our society. Do you think these definitions are based on fact, or on stereotypes? How does the media contribute to the way gender roles are maintained and/or change over time?

This review was written by Melissa Camacho
Adult
October 31, 2011
AGE
12
 
ok
well i am a christian man and i love last man standing so last week after that show i thought i would give this show a try as well and it was actualy quite good and rather funny but it is more for older kids though
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This review was written by Melissa Camacho
TV rating:TV-14
Network:ABC
Cast:Christopher Moynihan, Dan Fogler, Mather Zickel
Genre:Comedy
This review was written by Melissa Camacho
 

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.
Our child development rating guidelines

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