Parents' Guide to

Ultra City Smiths

By Martin Brown, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Stop-motion musical noir has sexual humor, some violence.

TV AMC Comedy 2021
Ultra City Smiths Poster Image

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What's the Story?

Rookie detective David Mills' (Jimmi Simpson, Westworld) first case in Ultra City is a murder in which all the suspects have the same last name, the Ultra City Smiths. Progressive mayoral candidate Carpenter K. Smith (Kurtwood Smith) has promised to cleanse the city of its history of crime and corruption. But when he's found dead in Central Park, suspicion falls on people in every corner of Ultra City. Powered by his strong sense of justice, Mills will stop at nothing (except for a few musical interludes) to find the killer.

Is It Any Good?

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

Good murder mysteries often stun the audience by pulling together seemingly unrelated threads into an elegant, surprising solution -- this series nobly attempts to do this throughout the entire journey. The plot contains many different strands, each exposing a unique side of the seedy Ultra City, while the tone of the stop-motion series draws on everything from noir to satire to musical comedy. Movie references pop up throughout -- the main character is lifted straight out of David Fincher's Se7en and even named after Brad Pitt's character, and street gangs straight out of 1979's cult classic The Warriors roam the sidewalks and alleyways. The cast is similarly bonkers, featuring a recognizable cross-section of sitcom supporting characters alongside luminaries like Kristen Bell and John C. Reilly (and narrated by Tom Waits!). Ultra City Smiths may or may not ultimately be able to pull all the disparate stylistic threads together, but its willingness to throw anything and everything against the wall and see what sticks makes for a fun watch that's full of suprises.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Ultra City. What are some of the characteristics of the city? What are the different plot lines that the show follows? How do they fit together? How do the different characters reflect different aspects of Ultra City?

  • What is the central mystery in Ultra City Smiths? How do the various characters end up involved in the mystery? Are there clues? Does this feel like a murder that can be solved by viewers? Or is the plot simply a platform for the comedy?

  • Can you spot some of the references to other movies or pop culture in Ultra City Smiths? What are some of them? Why do you think the show includes these references? Do they add to the plot or the meaning of the show?

TV Details

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