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Parents' Guide to

Menudo: Forever Young

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Iconic Latin boy band story is nostalgic but disturbing.

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Menudo: Forever Young English poster

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What's the Story?

MENUDO: FOREVER YOUNG (aka Menudo: siempre jóvenes) is a four-part series about the iconic Puerto Rican singing group that created the standard for contemporary boy bands around the world. In 1977 music producer Edgardo Díaz created Menudo (meaning "small change" in Spanish), which consisted of five teen boys, all of whom would be replaced by younger male talent when they hit puberty. It reveals how the group, which originally consisted of two sets of siblings, went from performing at local patron saint festivals around the Caribbean island to becoming the biggest Latin teen pop sensation in Latin America and the United States during the 1980s. It also discusses some of the events that led to their waning popularity in the 1990s and their eventual disbandment in 2002. Throughout it all, conversations with former band members, scholars, journalists, along with archived footage, highlights what life was like for the 30 young men who cycled through the band, revealing a world of exploitation, abuse, fandom, and brotherhood.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

The nostalgic but troubling bilingual docuseries reveals the behind-the-scenes world of one of the biggest Latin boy bands in history. It discusses how band producer Edgardo Díaz's formula for Menudo's success raked in billions of dollars for him while overworking and underpaying its members. It also addresses how Díaz, in an effort to keep parents from interfering in the process, required the guardianship of the boys (whose ages ranged from 11 to16) be signed over to him while they were with the group, leaving them unsupervised and vulnerable. Not surprisingly, a lot of the series addresses their exposure to drugs, sexual situations, and other decidedly adult activities that resulted from this arrangement. Even more disturbing are the stories about the physical, verbal, and sexual violence band members suffered at the hands of Díaz and others, and their reluctance to report it due to fears of rejection and homophobia.

But Menudo: Forever Young also gives former band members the opportunity to share what they loved about being part of the group, including the camaraderie and the love of their fans. Menudo devotees from way back when will also appreciate the media excerpts featuring their favorite band members (including now-superstar Ricky Martin) and learning more about what they are doing today. But even if you weren't (and still aren't) a fan, the series offers a still-timely history about how the teen pop boy band formula got started, and why much of it is still in use today.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Menudo's musical legacy. What made them different from other teen pop stars in Latin America and the United States? How did the group open doors for other Latin performers? What contributions did the group make to non-Spanish-speaking singers?

  • Menudo: Forever Young points to the fact that Menudo's job was to maintain a "clean" image to appeal to tween and teen girls, despite the fact that many of its members lived a different kind of life behind-the-scenes. How are fans supposed to feel when their favorite celebrities aren't who they expect them to be in real life, or engage in bad behavior when they are not performing?

  • If you or someone you know may be a victim of abuse call 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org for assistance in both Spanish and English.

TV Details

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