Television Review: Fanboy and Chum Chum
What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that there’s little depth to this
over-the-top show about two friends who fancy themselves
superheroes, but their thrill-seeking adventures will appeal to
young tweens with vivid imaginations of their own. Exaggerated,
comic-style violence (mostly explosions, dramatic falls, and
collisions) is a common result of the ridiculous scenarios the
guys get themselves into, but none of it leads to lasting
injury. Fanboy and Chum Chum are hardly strong role models for
kids, as they spend most of their time -- even in school --
goofing off, and Chum Chum eagerly does Fanboy’s bidding
without question. But for kids who can suspend their sense of
reality, it’s a fun extension of the preteen set's wild
imaginations.
FANBOY AND CHUM CHUM follows the over-the-top adventures of best friends -- and self-described superheroes -- Fanboy (voiced by David Hornsby) and his trusty sidekick, Chum Chum (Nika Futterman). Although their green-and-purple supersuits belie any real powers, this comic book-loving, thrill-seeking duo sees each day as an opportunity to experience life to the maximum, whether that means swapping noses for school picture day or trying to teach the class pig the finer points of martial arts. When they’re not hanging out at the local comics shop or cooking up their latest off-the-wall scheme, the guys can often be found at the Frosty Mart, chugging Frosty Freezies to induce the world’s worst brain freeze.
If you're looking for deep content and lasting lessons, then this show isn’t for you -- or for your kids. Precious little of it can be applied to reality, especially when it comes to Fanboy and Chum Chum’s experiences at school, where they enjoy nearly free rein to goof off and hardly put effort into their work. Even the nature of their friendship may be troubling to some parents, since Fanboy’s control over his pal’s actions sometimes verges on bullying.
But there's no doubt that it's entertaining. So if your young tweens can check their sense of reality at the door, this silly show offers a fun depiction of the wild imagination that they probably share with the main characters. For younger kids, though, the blurry line between fiction and realistic lifestyles may be a little confusing.
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