Parents' Guide to Jessie

Disney poster girl Ryan delivers an exuberant performance as Jessie, a fresh-faced New York transplant who sees the world through perpetually rose-colored glasses. She's a likable heroine who tries to find the best in people, always speaks her mind, and isn't daunted by challenging circumstances, and she finds an unexpected niche as a role model to four kids badly in need of a unifying force in their lives. Predictably, Disney plays up the humorous aspects of life in such a bustling household (sibling rivalry, an unusual pet, and a grumpy butler, for example), at the same time making sure that the show's feel-good messages about family and relationships don't go unnoticed.

But Disney stumbled a bit in rounding out this promising series with impenetrable themes, particularly when it comes to respecting the cultural diversity within the cast. Central to this downfall is the character of Ravi, who keeps close ties with his Indian culture through dress and language but is often the subject of jokes because of it. Parents may also cringe over how Jessie, Emma, and to some degree Zuri perpetuate unreal image standards, as well as sexual undertones to some conversations and quips between Luke and his beautiful nanny.