The Problem Solverz
By Emily Ashby,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Bizarre characters, mediocre plots doom lackluster cartoon.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.
Where to Watch
Community Reviews
Based on 13 parent reviews
Report this review
A drug trip to the moon
Report this review
What's the Story?
THE PROBLEM SOLVERZ is an animated series about a trio of characters who take it upon themselves to tackle the troubles that befall their hometown of Farboro. The problem-solving team consists of Roba (voiced by Ben Jones), a neurotic cyborg prone to overreaction; his human twin brother, Horace (Kyle Kaplan); and Horace's pet, Alfe (Jones again), a self-absorbed man/dog/anteater with a weakness for pizza. Whether it's a time-warping roller coaster or a video game that turns pixelates its players, The Problem Solverz are this town's first defense against the bothersome and the bizarre.
Is It Any Good?
This misguided cartoon barely takes off before its pointless plot and bumbling characters drag it back down into obscurity. The stories are half-baked, leading nowhere fast and driving away potential fans even faster. Its visually unappealing animation style follows suit, attempting to mask the show in enough flashy trappings that you'll forget its mediocrity. For a team tasked with solving problems, this trio is more accomplished at creating bigger, messier chaos than it is at actually fixing anything, often as a result of Roba's neuroses and Alfe's belly-aching and binging, which is his coping mechanism for his chronic (and audible) boredom.
Ultimately the trouble with The Problem Solverz is its ambiguous intended audience. It's not edgy or smart enough to entertain adults, and its chaotic content isn't a good choice for kids. When it comes to picking TV programming for your family, you have a lot of choices. Entertainment doesn't always have to be about learning lessons and analyzing characterizations, but it sure feels a lot better when you leave a show with something worthwhile. And if that's your goal, then The Problem Solverz isn't the answer for you.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what, if anything, is the point of this show. Does it attempt to teach its audience something? Are the characters' interactions indicative of real relationships? If the show's creator had to synopsize the show's intentions in one sentence, what do you think he would say?
Have you ever been surprised by mature content in a show or movie you watched? Did the content match the rating assigned to the program? What more might be done to give parents an indication of the subject matter prior to watching a show?
How does this series rank among some of your favorites? What qualities do you look for in a show you're loyal to? Do you always learn something from the programs you watch? Is that important to you?
TV Details
- Premiere date: March 30, 2013
- Cast: Ben Jones, John DiMaggio, Kyle Kaplan
- Network: Cartoon Network
- Genre: Kids' Animation
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Adventures
- TV rating: TV-PG
- Last updated: April 10, 2023
Did we miss something on diversity?
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.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate