Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Hyper star's antics dominate mediocre alien comedy.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 11 parent reviews
Based on 31 kid reviews
Kids say this TV show is widely criticized for its gross-out humor, unoriginality, and the annoying character at its center, with many viewers expressing disgust and frustration. While a few found it weirdly funny, the overwhelming consensus is that it is one of the worst offerings from Nickelodeon, demonstrating a lack of creativity and failing to engage its audience.
- gross humor
- disliked character
- lack of originality
- overall disappointment
- negative consensus
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
MARVIN MARVIN is the story of a teenage alien (Lucas Cruikshank) from a distant planet, whose parents send him to Earth to protect him from alien invaders. He's adopted by human parents Bob (Pat Finn) and Liz Forman (Mim Drew) and attempts to learn how to pass as a normal teenager from their kids, Teri (Victory Van Tuyl) and Henry (Jacob Bertrand). But that's no easy task for this larger-than-life alien, and learning curve mishaps often test the patience of his foster family and threaten exposure of his true identity.
Is It Any Good?
It's evident that Nickelodeon is pinning this show's hopes on the kid appeal of its recognizable star with plot points that open the door for him to demonstrate his knack for physical comedy. Marvin's hardwired to dance like a maniac whenever he hears Earth music, so you can bet you're going to see that multiple times in an episode. Because he's still learning the basics of humanoid behavior, he's going to make mistakes, like returning the favor when the family dog sniffs his butt. Suppressing his super powers isn't always easy, so there are openings for chaos there. This fish-out-of-water set-up means endless possibilities for wacky, obnoxious, and even crude behavior, all of which is designed to get laughs from your kids.
What the show most lacks, though, is originality. Not only does it recycle Cruikshank's unusual comedy style, it also taps Superman for its alien-evacuee storyline and even adds a few touches of E.T. with some of Marvin's powers. To the show's credit, it does attempt to lace the dialogue with buzz phrases like "It's OK to be different" and "Be who you are," but it's a good bet your kids won't even notice those in light of the hyperactive comedy to which most of the content is devoted.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Marvin compares to Fred Figglehorn. What similarities exist between Cruikshank's two characters? What makes them different? Do you think this show's creators intended to draw on Fred's fame for this show? What benefit might there be to doing so?
Kids: In what situations have you felt like an outsider? Is it difficult to adapt to a new place? What can you do if you see another person feeling left out?
How do the Formans compare to your family? Do you think an outsider would have an easy time fitting in at your house? What behaviors might they find funny or odd?
TV Details
- Premiere date : November 24, 2012
- Cast : Lucas Cruikshank , Mim Drew , Pat Finn
- Network : Nickelodeon
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : School ( High School )
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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