 | 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. |
The Venture Bros.
- Cartoon Network
- Genre: Comedy
Common Sense Media says
A reminder of how good cartoons can be for adults.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this violent, sexualized cartoon is in no way intended for children. It's a parody of a cartoon style that was popular in the late '60s/early '70s (particularly Jonny Quest), and as such will probably hold little interest for younger kids. The humor is usually either tongue-in-cheek or overtly absurdist, with clever dialogue and over-the-top situations. For grown-ups into smart writing, biting social commentary, and sharp animation, it's one of the funniest cartoons out there. Just wait until the kids are asleep.
What's the story?
In parody cartoon THE VENTURE BROS., which is part of Cartoon Network's Adult Swim line-up, the titular brothers, Hank and Dean Venture (voiced by Christopher McCulloch and Michael Sinterniklaas, respectively), are a pair of bumbling, naive teenagers whose father, Dr. Venture (James Urbaniak), is a world-renowned super-scientist. Actually, he's the son of a world-renowned super-scientist, constantly cowering in his late father's shadow and trying to live up to the Venture name -- the more he fails, the more he retreats into a fog of prescription painkillers and booze. Brock Samson (Patrick Warburton) is a shadowy figure, a former government agent gone seriously homicidal, who has sworn to protect the boys at all costs. The Ventures' primary nemesis is The Monarch (McCulloch again), a megalomaniac intent on taking over the world while wearing a butterfly costume, who is assisted by Dr. Girlfriend (Doc Hammer), who has the body of a supermodel and the voice of a Bronx wrestler.
Is it any good?
For a certain segment of the population, there's simply no funnier cartoon on television than The Venture Bros. The jokes are fast and furious, the tone is very mature, and the animation recalls a bygone era when people actually cared about the look of cartoons. That said, with its edgy content and mature tone, this isn't one for the kids.
Early episodes were self-contained genre parodies, since the cartoon was initially seen as a short-lived effort. But as the series progressed and it started to look like there was long-term potential, some continuity began to creep in. Plot lines developed that required attention and, strangely, a sense of caring.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about why networks air cartoon series that aren't intended for kids. Why do people automatically tend to associate animation with children? Is that assumption as strong now as it used to be? What are the differences between cartoons made for kids and those aimed at adults?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
johnny quest on acid
Got to love it. I only put the rating so high because younger kids might just drift off,violence and near sex seance is not for any one under 10 (my kids are pretty mature thought). it all builds up kind of like a soap opera on the cartoon front. Its a mix of Johnny Quest meets Failure, meets the best intentions of mice and men. It got good plot action and character development but if you can't keep up and kind out of the question.
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AGE
The language is explicit in many ways, you name it,they say it
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AGE
Incredible Show
The Venture Bros. is a fantastically funny cartoon, but for a fairly narrow slice of the American Viewing Public. Here's the checklist:
Did you like Jonny Quest?
Are you reasonably attuned to pop culture?
Are you intelligent?
If you answered yes to at least 2 of these questions, this show is for you. But if you watch in order (advised), be a little patient and pay attention. There is a lot of backstory to fill in and the characters actually develop through a long story arc. If you don't like it after episode #5, you probably got number 3 wrong on the old checklist...
GO TEAM VENTURE!
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AGE
A must for animation freaks
Though graphic, this show is intelligent and witty. A must for anyone who is into animated action/ comedy!!
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AGE
The smartness of the show sort of tones down the overall content.
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AGE
A reminder of how good cartoons can be for teens, too
In its second season, "The Venture Bros." shows no sign of weakening or slowing down. Amidst "Family Guy" and "South Park", this show is a welcome change of pace and humor (although the aforementioned shows are still funny). The content is described well by CSM, though the language isn't as much of a problem as in other shows (like in "South Park" when they said "sh*t" 169 times [the show counted]). I will admit that the show is an acquired taste, and not all people will find its humor appealing. Here is a little idea of what to expect from the show (at least from the actual Venture brothers):
(while talking to someone in a jail cell) Hank: "You _______"
Dean: "Hank! We never say bad words like that! Do you know how many baby angels you just killed?"
Like I said acquired taste; although the doc, his bodyguard, and his evil twin/clone guy provide different humor, so you might want to watch the show anyways.
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AGE
:-P
Very very very pointless & hard to follow.
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| TV rating: | TV-MA |
| Network: | Cartoon Network |
| Cast: | Christopher McCulloch, James Urbaniak, Michael Sinterniklaas |
| Genre: | Comedy |
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