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Parents' Guide to

Relative Chaos

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Sibling rivalries resurface at family reunion.

TV Freeform Comedy 2006
Relative Chaos Poster Image

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What's the Story?

In RELATIVE CHAOS, a family reunion offers the competitive Gilbert family the opportunity to set aside age-old rivalries and just enjoy one another's company for a change. Up-and-coming attorney Dil (Christopher Gorham) arrives at his childhood home to find his parents (Terry Bradshaw and (Fiona Reid) in the throes of planning the 25th Gilbert Family Cup contest, an annual affair they invented years ago to build their kids' confidence through "healthy" competition. The event pits brother against sister (against brother) as Gil (Nicholas Brendon), Lil (Jenn Robertson), and Dil battle it out in events like hippity-hop croquet, Rubik's Cube deciphering, and identifying figures hidden in mosaic pictures. As the contest looms, Dil endures merciless ridicule from both his siblings and his parents for never having won the cup. Only Dil's girlfriend, Katherine (Charisma Carpenter ), believes that he can take the title, and she makes it her personal mission to motivate him to put the past behind him and win at all costs.

Is It Any Good?

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

Though the premise of Relative Chaos is a bit far-fetched (adults on hippity-hops?), it offers a tongue-in-cheek look at a lovably dysfunctional family whose problems might just be an extreme version of those shared by viewers. Bradshaw particularly shines as a flawed father whose priorities are so shaky that he cursed his kids with rhyming names, and he delights in their stunned reactions when a family trivia event brings to light many of the lies he told them when they were young.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about competition. What do people learn from engaging in competition? How can losing affect us? How does an opponent's poor sportsmanship hurt our own self-confidence? How should winners react to a victory? Families can also discuss sibling relations. Why is it sometimes difficult to get along with brothers and sisters? What can parents do to help their kids relate better?

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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