Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Movie-inspired sitcom has strong marriage, family roles.
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Mr. Mom
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In MR. MOM, when a dream job lands in the lap of stay-at-home mom Megan (Andrea Anders) just as her husband, Greg (Hayes MacArthur), considers a life change, the couple decide to swap breadwinning and childcare responsibilities. Hopeful that his less structured schedule will allow him to launch a business from home, Greg discovers there's a lot that's unexpected about being a full-time parent to two young kids, and that starting his own company isn't without its foibles as well. Meanwhile, Megan is eager to be back in the workforce but feels the strain of being the newcomer in an office of millennials with newfangled methods. As they settle into their new normal, Megan and Greg must work hard to balance their new roles with the needs of their marriage and their family.
Is It Any Good?
This altogether pleasant series presents parallel fish-out-of-water stories in Greg's and Megan's individual struggles to redefine themselves and find contentment after a major life change. Many of the scenarios will ring true for adults in the audience -- from office politics to sneaking "adult" time away from the kids in unusual and often unspectacular ways -- and the show's willingness to confront them with both humor and authenticity makes for an appealing watch. Mr. Mom doesn't break a lot of new ground with its family-centered comic content, but what it does offer is strong storytelling and a heartfelt glimpse of the beautiful, imperfect experience that is life.
Cast in its modern setting, what isn't notable about Mr. Mom is precisely what made a mark in the original film -- namely, the novelty of the stay-at-home dad role. While the idea of the woman going to work and the man tending to the kids was a bit of an anomaly in the '80s, it's much more mainstream now, and so the premise that was so comical on its face in the movie loses some of that surprise value in the context of today's gender relations. Rather than being a detriment to the story, though, this reframing adds to the show's celebration of its own kind of "normal" home structure and the resilient nature of marriage and family life.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Mr. Mom presents family life and how realistic (or not) it is. How does the show's 12-minute format deal with complicated issues? How does Megan and Greg's family life compare to your own or to that of others you know?
What examples of compromise and unselfishness do you see in the story? Why are these qualities important in a supportive relationship? What other character strengths, like communication and respect, stand out?
How has the definition of a "normal" family structure changed over time? What unique challenges exist for "nontraditional" families like Greg and Megan's? In what ways is society adapting to embrace them?
TV Details
- Premiere date : September 12, 2019
- Cast : Andrea Anders , Hayes MacArthur , Catherine Last
- Network : Online
- Genre : Comedy
- Character Strengths : Communication
- TV rating :
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : March 13, 2020
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