My Gym Partner's a Monkey (Cartoon Network)

common sense media says

Cartoon for tweens is silly but means well.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this show, while occasionally a little bit crude, is basically harmless. Jake the monkey seems to be very proud of his own butt and even makes photocopies of it (some may find this funny, while others may find it offensive). Also, the animals in Adam's class gang up on him and pelt him with gym balls, which momentarily gives him a fat lip and black eye.

Positive messages: The main character, Adam, struggles to do the right thing – such as protect an endangered panda – even if it means his animal classmates will gang up on him. Also, when Adam devises a strategy for his football team to win against formidable opponents, he shows how even the smallest animal (an armadillo) can be a valuable asset to the team.
Violence & scariness: The main character gets pelted with dodgeballs. As with most cartoon violence, the effects are short-lived; the character being clobbered gets a fat lip and black eye for a moment, but appears fine a few seconds later.
Sexy stuff: No sexual content, but the monkey character does have a fascination with his own butt.
Language: Not applicable.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.

More on My Gym Partner's a Monkey

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about how Adam makes the best of challenging situations because he uses his smarts and knows right from wrong. What kinds of things does he do to set a good example? Another topic of discussion could be Jake's behavior and how he causes trouble by goofing off. What sorts of things does Jake do that are irresponsible? Does he redeem himself in the end by doing something good?

What's the story?

What's the story?
This lively cartoon follows 12-year-old Adam Lyon as he adjusts to his new school. Thanks to a clerical error (his last name was spelled "Lion"), Adam gets transferred to Charles Darwin Middle School, where all the students and staff are zoo animals. Schoolwork alone is challenging enough, but now Adam has to worry about fitting in with several other species -- and not becoming lunch for some of the larger ones! Luckily, he befriends a spider monkey named Jake who helps him navigate the vine-laden halls -- for better or worse.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

It's difficult to tell what age group the show's producers were aiming at -- the animation style and slapstick by themselves would seem to appeal mainly to grade-schoolers, while the jokes and life lessons are definitely aimed at the tween set. The sly humor may even give some adults the occasional laugh-out-loud moment.

Overall, MY GYM PARTNER'S A MONKEY is commendable for its effort to include a subtle message in each episode (such as sticking up for your friends, learning responsibility, winning a game through teamwork). Younger viewers (ages 8-10) will probably find Jake's sometimes-annoying goofiness amusing, and will definitely find the story lines entertaining.

TV themes & details

TV Details
TV Rating: TV-Y7
Network: Cartoon Network
Cast: Cree Summer, Nika Futterman, Tom Kenny
Genre: Kids' Animation
Where to watch: Cartoon Network

This review was written by Larisa Wiseman
 
 

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What parents & educators say

8

Most useful reviews by all members

zhp7654
teen, 15 years old
 
Sex, violence, not a safe school for kids
It has too much adult humour and there are many reasons. In many episodes, the giraffe and some other classmates make out with each other, and in two episodes, it has nudity. It also has violence, and consumerism. In one episode, they go to a restaurant. Adam has to pay a bill, and the show also has excessive name-calling. This show is not for kids.

chase51
parent of 10 year old
 
BAD SHOW.
HATE IT. After watching this show, I want to throw up. I don't understand how kids can laugh after seeing a monkey's butt. The show is stupid. Nuff' said.

hunter98
kid, 13 years old
 
um plain stupid
i see this sometimes but some episodes are plain stupid the main monkey is obsessed with his bottom its just plain stupid dont see it

Cminasin
parent
 
Not for people under 20!
Teribl

ParamoreFan09
teen, 15 years old
 
Ew.
This is one of the stupidest things i have EVER seen. The butt stuff is stupid and gross. Don't waste your time. Is this show even still on? I'm sure it was short lived...

Sanjay407
kid, 13 years old
 
I love it. I watch it in New York.

Sgt-Samson
teen, 16 years old
 
A messy show with a lot of weird things
This show is a mess but with a lot of redundancies, stupid things, retarded dialogue, repitative jokes, and more flaws ahead, I would say that this show could've been worse.

cheacky3
teen, 15 years old
 
Funny and Weird Show. I watched this a year and two ago.
This show isn't that bad. Well exept I have one question to ask you. What is the diffrents between 8+ and 7+. Please give me an answer back.

 
Failed to live up to Cartoon Network's prime
Camp Lazlo was probably Cartoon Network's last funny Show in populartiy of 2007 before CN schtick got old and dry. After having watched as many episodes of this poorly animated series, I feel sorry for the guy who made this. I think he's trying to recapture some of the old spark and falling flat. The show is based on parodies of other shows, movies,& video games most of the pariodies not funny, funny stuff having been done on Reelz Channel (TV about Movies) without relying on boob jokes, ass jokes, poop jokes and puke jokes. Nika Futterman and Tom Kenny add their voices to this travesty, as does Jess Harnell himself, reproducing the dual roles of Bear Student and Neardy Crockidle. Isn't worth watching, please skip it.

allietron
kid, 13 years old
 
Not a good show
The show has its funny parts but overall is just dumb. They make fun of butts a lot, and it's weird!

 
Gross even by my standards.
I think a lot of the humor on this show is in bad taste, but I wouldn't mind that if I felt like kids just loved it. They don't.

Swit Swat
kid, 12 years old
 
This was a really bad show. The only reason I would watch it again is if I was really bored. I wish they would cancel the show soon. Don't watch this show! I rate this show iffy for 7-8 year olds. Oh, and the monkey always likes to make jokes about his butt. How dumb is that?

 
This Show Is Awful, Don't Bother Watching It
This show is poorly animated and poorly written. All the humor in this show is potty humor. There is nothing funny about. The concept of the show is stupid. How could a human possibly end up in a school for animals? Why didn't they get him out of there as soon as they noticed their mistake? Why is there even a school for animals if they all live in the zoo? The show has a poor plot and is completely pointless. Jake SpiderMonkey has a disgusting obsession with his butt. All the animals gang up on Adam and harm him on a daily basis. This show is just awful It's not for kids because it has no educational value and it has no entertainment value.Just don't bother with it.

RainforestGal
teen, 15 years old
 
I WISH my gym partner was a monkey!
I think it shows too much butt, other wise I think its cute! I like the idea of having a school for animals. I wish it was on more. I LOVED it.

winner
teen, 13 years old
 
funny stuff
My Gym Partner's a Monkey is really funny. I like the monkey because he is cute. I like all the animals in the show, because I love animals.

ug5151
kid, 13 years old
 
HORRIBLE.
If this was the last show on TV, I would throw out my useless Television (If I had no video games). A monkey showing his butt? What's next? A Rhino pulling his tail? There is no way i'm watching this. My overall score: 0/10

 
this show is just good
this show i fine but its a annoying the monkey is gay becuase the monkey wanna have sex with his butt

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