TV Review: Johnny Bravo
What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that although the show's humor is aimed
at teens and even adults, it's entertaining for elementary-age
kids, too (just don't expect them to learn much). Much of the
humor centers around Johnny's offensive, clueless pick-up lines
and his complete refusal to learn anything from how people
react to his behavior, but he's rarely unkind, and those lame
pick-up lines lead to increasingly funny responses. Kids will
enjoy the pratfall humor and Johnny's steadfast narcissism in
the face of failure.
Families can talk about Johnny's behavior. Kids: Do you think Johnny is supposed to be a good example/role model? If not, how can you tell? Why don't the girls that Johnny talks to want to go out with him? Families can also discuss the type of guy/character that Johnny is meant to be a parody of -- i.e., the guy who always gets the girl and probably knows it. You see guys like this everywhere on TV, but do they really exist? Why is it such a popular character type?
Common Sense Media Review
JOHNNY BRAVO parodies the antics of possibly the world's
most narcissistic, clueless self-imagined babe-magnet ever.
Johnny (voiced by
Jeff
Bennett) has the "brain of a gnat," and everything goes
wrong for him, from becoming the victim of two clowns in a
"who's funnier" contest to his ill-advised attempts at
lion-taming.
Johnny Bravo is one of the Cartoon Network's original series, and -- like Dexter's Laboratory and The Powerpuff Girls -- it's really meant for teenage and young adult viewing. That said, school-aged kids will still find it funny. The pratfalls and cartoon gags are unusual and clever, the animation is well done, and Johnny's determined pursuit of what he calls "babes" gets laughs even from kids who don't get it because the results are pretty much inevitably disastrous. (And mildly empowering for girls, although the "babes" tend toward the nameless and generic).
Probably because no matter how convinced he is of his own greatness, Johnny remains kind and generally good-hearted, he's appealing to viewers of all ages. Kids will also enjoy the show's frequent inclusion of appearances by characters from Scooby Doo and other classic cartoons.
Kids who like to laugh at the big, strong, and clueless will also enjoy The Tick . Or, for a more adventurous Johnny, try Jonny Quest.
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