When Nature Calls With Helen Mirren
By Melissa Camacho,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Animal sketch comedy is suggestive, has stereotypes.
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When Nature Calls With Helen Mirren
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Based on 2 parent reviews
Zero education, unless you want your children to learn to use foul language.
Mildly funny, viewer beware.
What's the Story?
Based on a British series, WHEN NATURE CALLS WITH HELEN MIRREN is a reality series that explores the commonalities shared by humans and wild animals with a humorous twist. Each episode, which is narrated by actor Helen Mirren, features prerecorded wildlife footage that's meant to revolve around a specific life lesson. As viewers watch the animals interact with their surroundings, they hear some imaginary, creative, and often off-beat banter between them that sounds surprisingly like a human reality show.
Is It Any Good?
The lighthearted series is a nature-themed show that anthropomorphizes animals (i.e., gives them human traits) by giving them human voices and humorous lines. Each scene, which ranges from a monkey trying to make home repairs on his own (much to the chagrin of his wife and kids), to a group of Japanese squirrels starring in their own Real Housewives series, is presented as a self-contained comedy skit featuring animals sounding like human caricatures. Helen Mirren's narration is sometimes infused with dry side commentary, but it is so elegantly presented that it juxtaposes with the odd, silly, or suggestive conversations taking place. It's not the wittiest of shows, and it won't teach you a lot about nature, but if you're looking for something that's mildly amusing, When Nature Calls With Helen Mirren will fit the bill.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the popularity of animal TV shows. What is it about watching animals behave that is so entertaining to humans?
When Nature Calls With Helen Mirren anthropomorphizes animals to create humor, but many, more serious wildlife documentaries also use this storytelling device. Is it to help viewers understand animals better? Or is to offer a more interesting narrative?
TV Details
- Premiere date: June 24, 2021
- Cast: Helen Mirren
- Network: ABC
- Genre: Reality TV
- Topics: Wild Animals
- TV rating: TV-14
- Last updated: July 23, 2021
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