 | 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. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
MoCap, LLC
Common Sense Media says
Over-the-top mock-docu comedy isn't all that funny; no kids.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this mockumentary series about a struggling company that provides content for video games isn't intended for kids. Expect simulated torture scenes, plenty of sexual references, lots of swearing (including "s--t"), some partial male nudity, and a young woman who often shows up in a bikini for no obvious reason. There are also a lot of over-the-top set pieces, most of which feature a scruffy,
overweight guy squeezed into an unappealing skintight blue suit.
What's the story?
MOCAP, LLC, the show, is about the trials and tribulations of Mocap, LLC, the company, a struggling business that creates motion capture footage for video games -- including gunfights, torture sequences, lap dancing, wrestling matches, and much more. Jeff (Jonathan Gabrus) is the crash-test dummy here, a scruffy, heavyset man who doesn't look appealing squeezed into the tight blue outfit that filming the scenes requires and who's clearly suffering as the designated victim. Frank (Chris DeLuca) is the boss who's so determined to keep the company afloat that he's willing to take even the most dangerous and demeaning jobs, Claire (Kara Klenk) is the office manager and voice of reason -- though her common-sense objections to taking on some especially unpleasant jobs are overruled every time -- and Kendall (Lauren Turek) is the attractive intern; it's not quite clear what her job is, but it seems to involve spending a lot of time in a bikini.
Is it any good?
MoCap, LLC uses the increasingly popular mockumentary format, providing a "behind-the-scenes" look at a struggling company. When it's done well (a la The Office), this approch offers characters the chance to directly explain their aspirations and motivations during key dramatic moments. When done poorly, as it is here, it serves more as a crutch that the writers use to string together a bunch of loosely connected scenes that don't really fit together into a narrative.
The basic premise -- that the company is so desperate they'll take on any gig -- gives the creators license to throw in almost anything. Let's torture the guy in the blue suit! What about an Apocalypse Now spoof! Hey, can we paint the intern green? These scenes play more like skits from Saturday Night Live (and not during one of the show's better seasons) than a coherent story.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the mockumentary format. Do you think it's as effective here as it is on shows like The Office? Do you think the show could also work as a more conventional sitcom? What shows or movies make the best use of the mockumentary model (This Is Spinal Tap, for example), and why? Families can also discuss the show's style of humor. Is it edgy or offensive? Who decides where the line falls?
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| TV rating: | TV-MA |
| Network: | Spike |
| Cast: | Chris DeLuca, Jonathan Gabrus, Kara Klenk |
| Genre: | Comedy |
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