Common Sense Media Review
By Stephanie Morgan
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Too much dark sarcasm, consumerism in unpleasant series.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Boss Baby: Back in the Crib
What's the Story?
In THE BOSS BABY: BACK IN THE CRIB, Theodore Templeton (voiced by JP Karliak), the original Boss Baby, is all grown up, and a leading tycoon who's framed for his colleagues' embezzlement. To escape from the FBI, Teddy takes a swig of the Super Secret Baby Formula and turns back into a baby. He seeks refuge in his brother Tim's house, greeted by his two nieces, Tabitha and Tina, and their mom, Carol. He also rejoins Baby Corp. to get a supply of the milk mix to keep up with his baby ruse. Tina and Teddy end up working together as co-bosses at the same company. Tabitha ends up joining the "uncuddlables" to stop the Baby Corp.'s five-percenter program. Tina and Teddy join hands against Tabitha and the uncuddlables to stop them from sabotaging Baby Corp.'s money-making schemes.
Is It Any Good?
Parents tuning in expecting innocent laughs and positive themes will be sorely disappointed in the first 90% of this new series. Sadly, too much of The Boss Baby: Back in the Crib, the latest installment of the Boss Baby franchise, is dedicated to humor and escapades centered on a message of consumerism that its satire doesn't mask. While Teddy and Tina ultimately come to realize that all babies are loveable, it takes them 11 of the season's 12 episodes to acknowledge the flaws in Baby Corp.'s policies of valuing only those babies they deem to be in the top 5% of cuteness. Additionally, they spend the majority of that time fighting with Tina's sister over the policies, insisting that the rest of the babies are "losers" and teens "the uncuddlables." Thus, the previous themes of family solidarity in the Boss Baby franchise are noticeably absent.
There are some real moments of humor, and fast-paced, spy-level escapades paired with adorable animation are entertaining and fun. But even these are interspersed with a ridiculous number of jokes emphasizing fame, product placements, and advertising. The mocking nature of which will go right over the heads of most of the show's child viewers. Unfortunately, this show's central satire, and therefore its lessons, will fail to resonate with its young viewers.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the problems with Baby Corp.'s elitist policies. Why do they upset Tabitha? What's wrong with focusing only on the "five-percenters"? How would that make the other 95% of babies feel? Why isn't it OK to link how loveable someone is with how cute they are?
There are a lot of fake advertisements in this show. What do you think the creators are trying to point out about making choices based on making money? Is this a good way to make decisions? Does it lead to the new head of Baby Corp. making good choices?
Ted and Tina do a lot of name-calling during the show for laughs. Talk about the power of our words, and how they can build up or tear down others.
TV Details
- Premiere date : May 19, 2022
- Cast : Krizia Bajos , Mara Junot
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Kids' Animation
- TV rating :
- Last updated : June 23, 2023
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