TV Review: Dirty Sexy Money
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What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that, as the title suggests, this
adult-targeted drama involves all sorts of dirty deeds. Affairs
abound; one character, a senator, is sleeping with a
transsexual, and there are scenes of them lying in bed together
(no nudity), along with saucy dialogue (like a play on the word
"come," for example). The adult children of a wealthy family
exhibit lots of iffy behavior -- for instance, one is a coke
addict who likes to gamble (and also smokes and drinks
constantly). That said, the main character is honest and has
the best intentions, though he's tugged in dodgy directions by
the family he works for.
Families can talk about balancing your ideals with reality. If someone offered you $10 million for charity in exchange for doing work you didn't agree with, would you take the job? What would be a deal breaker for you in that situation? Why do people do work they don't love? Is making sacrifices for money a necessary evil? Families can also discuss how wealthy people are depicted in TV shows and movies. How realistic do you think these portrayals are? What might get exaggerated for drama's sake?
Common Sense Media Review
DIRTY SEXY MONEY's title says it all. This glitzy drama is
all about a ridiculously wealthy family, their misdeeds, and
the honest lawyer who's lured into representing them -- getting
dirty, sexy, and a good deal of money in the process.
Nick George ( Six Feet Under 's Peter Krause) reluctantly follows in his late father's footsteps as the Darling family's lawyer. The ultra-rich Manhattanites are a little like the Hiltons, with a few more children to keep track of. Patriarch "Tripp" Darling ( Donald Sutherland) manages his brood with a mix of love and disdain, accompanied by his wife, Leticia (Jill Clayburgh). Their five grown children range from politico Patrick ( William Baldwin), who's having an affair with a transsexual, to spoiled-but-sweet aspiring actress Juliet ( Samaire Armstrong), whose greatest put-down is "you're poor!"
With some captivating actors and a juicy, scandal-ridden plot, Dirty Sexy Money is a sort of modern-day Dynasty that's shed its hokey soap opera skin. Besides tracking the Darlings' assorted depravities, the show ponders greater questions about self, identity, and family -- especially how these concepts intersect with money, power, and privilege. Plus, there's a mystery to latch onto: Who killed Nick's father?
Since it has so many adult themes and situations -- including a transgressing reverend and his illegitimate child, the senator and his "girlfriend," multiple affairs, and a cocaine-addicted playboy -- Dirty Sexy Money is best for mature audiences.
Fans might also enjoy the misfit family in the movie The Royal Tenenbaums or the complex plot of a legal thriller like Damages .
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
