Common Sense Media Review
Witty animated show about young filmmaker is best for teens.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Home Movies
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 7 parent reviews
Based on 15 kid reviews
Kids say it's a mix of humor that blends dark, adult, and child-friendly jokes, making it appealing mainly to older children and teens, while younger viewers might not appreciate its content. The show is appreciated for its witty dialogue and unique animation style, but some parents warn about mild language and suggest that children under ten may find it boring due to the nuanced humor.
- humorous mix
- appeals to teens
- witty dialogue
- mild content warnings
- unique animation
- children might get bored
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Brendon (voiced by HOME MOVIES creator/writer Brendon Small) is a budding filmmaker at age 8. Along with his best friends Jason (H. Jon Benjamin) and Melissa (Melissa Bardin Galsky), he's constantly planning his next shoot, talking about dialogue, or filming a scene. This clever animated series shows the lengths that a persistent young artist is willing to go to pursue his craft, even if it sometimes means ignoring homework or bending a few rules to gain access to just the right location for a key sequence.
Is It Any Good?
While Home Movies (which originally aired from 1999-2004) is about three young kids, the show's jokes and situations are clearly aimed at an older audience. When the series isn't focused on Brendon's films, it also touches on family relationships. Brendon lives with his single mom and adopted sister and sometimes interacts with his dad and stepmother. Jason and Melissa also seem to have vaguely dysfunctional relationships with their parents (although, really, who doesn't?).
In this series, the kids have to deal with many of the same issues as real-world kids -- including divorce, under-employed parents, and watching their single parents negotiate the dating world. Brendon's entertaining films offer the trio an entertaining and creative escape and sometimes seem like a metaphor for needing to escape.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about divorce. What do you think about the way Brendon's single mom is portrayed? What about his dad and step-mother? Does this seem like an accurate look at divorce? If your parents are divorced, or if you have friends whose parents are divorced, does this show get it right?
What do you think about Brendon's devotion to making movies? Is he showing an early interest in the craft, or is he a bit too focused on his hobby?
TV Details
- Premiere date : April 26, 1999
- Cast : Brendon Small , H. Jon Benjamin , Melissa Bardin Galsky
- Network : Cartoon Network
- Genre : Comedy
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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