Parents' Guide to

It's Bruno

By Joyce Slaton, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Lots of language, absurdity, and charm in man-and-dog show.

TV Netflix Comedy 2019
It's Bruno Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

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age 15+

Based on 4 parent reviews

Khaleesi63
Khaleesi63 Adult
June 12, 2019
age 16+

It left me wanting to see more

This was a cute, funny, silly, crazy story line. Yes, it’s about a guy totally in love with his dog but there’s way more to it. I think the best part was the twist at the end when we realize that Bruno is not really his dog. The biker that says “we found him” was calm but that added to the suspense of what should happen next. I really hope there’s a season 2 plus. Season 2 should start where the bikers left off.

This title has:

Great messages
vaal
vaal Adult
May 30, 2019
age 13+

So funny!!!

This is the cutest and most comical short show on netflix. So heartwarming because of all the dogs, but cracks me up. I WANT MORE EPISODES!!!

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
See all 4 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In a small corner of Bushwick, Brooklyn, IT'S BRUNO's Malcolm (Solvan Naim) just wants to enjoy life with his best friend, his dog, Bruno. But encroaching hipsters who don't pick up their dog's poop, cranky bodega owners, and vengeful dog walkers all have it in for him. No wonder he prefers his pet to most people.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (4 ):
Kids say (4 ):

Winningly imbued with a sense of place -- a modest Brooklyn neighborhood -- and staffed with opinionated eccentrics, this quirky series is simply a delight to watch. Anyone who's ever had a dog can tell you: They bring you, often unwillingly, into contact with people. Everyone reacts to Bruno: the grandmother who just wants to say hi to the cute puppy (and winds up rebuffed by a fiercely protective Malcolm), the fellow dog owner who demonstrates that his dog is more obedient, the irate guy on the stoop who insists the dog's real name is Charlie: "I named him! After me! His daddy!"

Meanwhile, Malcolm's life is charmingly small -- he doesn't do much other than walking around his neighborhood, hanging out with his dog -- and delightfully absurd: A showdown between Malcolm and a local rival with a better-trained dog is scored to a jangling spaghetti Western-esque theme and staged like a gunfight. Another oddball pleasure: The episodes of It's Bruno vary in length from about 11 to 16 minutes, so they're just as long as they need to be. There's no wheel-spinning, just one ludicrous and appealing dog-related vignette after another. You don't have to love dogs to love this fun series.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about who It's Bruno might appeal to. Is it a large mass audience? Or more of a niche one? How have streaming providers like Netflix changed what types of shows are made, and for who?

  • Where was It's Bruno made? How can you tell? Do you ever see a show that is set in one city but looks like it wasn't filmed there? How does this show make it clear where it is filmed and set? What types of visuals do shows and movies use to communicate they're set in cities like Los Angeles, New York, or Chicago? What about rural locations?

  • Have you ever seen another movie or TV show about a person whose best friend was an animal? Was the animal a dog, or was it a different animal? What is it about dogs that makes them particularly apt foils for comedies?

TV Details

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Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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