Television Review: Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil
What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that this pointless cartoon totally
misses the mark for kids. Kick lives in a fantasy world where
responsibility and respect for authority take a backseat to
danger and adventure, and his risky actions never result in any
physical harm or discipline, as they would in real life. His
older brother bullies him with name-calling and teasing, and
Kick treats his best friend with similar disrespect. Potty
humor abounds (not too surprising, considering that the show's
title is
Kick Buttowski...), and while there’s no
traditionally iffy language, Kick uses some obvious
pseudo-curse words on a regular basis (“oh,
biscuits,” for instance).
Clarence “Kick” Buttowski (voiced by Charlie Schlatter) aspires to greatness, though not as a ball player or a dancer or any of the professions that usually entice youngsters. Instead Kick has his sights set on the noble career of daredevil -- and even at his young age, he’s dedicated to mastering the craft. Famous for turning every obstacle into an opportunity, Kick and his friend Gunther (Matt L. Jones) traverse their hometown in search of potential training grounds, tackling each new challenge with equal parts guts and gusto.
Superficial at best, KICK BUTTOWSKI: SUBURBAN DAREDEVIL is barely more than a hollow shell of action and adventure that offers little substantial content to support its structure. The show is so unrealistic that kids probably won't even relate to Kick’s unlimited free time, absence of responsible authority figures, and superhuman ability to withstand extreme blunt-force trauma.
What’s more, they’re bound to pick up on the varying degrees of bullying the show presents as comedy, and the prevalent potty humor does little to offset any of this negative behavior. Sure, kids don’t necessarily seek out character or plot development in the cartoons they watch, but with so many choices for out there for them, there’s good reason to pass this one by.
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
Member Comments On...
Television Review: Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil
3 |
Having been a teacher, mother, and social worker, I'm a fan of Kick Buttowski! He embodies America's, can-do, never-say-never spirit, which we could all use a little more of... Children feel anxious when they hear about rising gas prices, layoffs, budget cuts, foreclosures, and natural disasters. Kick Buttowski is someone any child can relate to. He refuses to let his stature convince him he is powerless. When he thought he had accidentally scratched his dad's new car, he took responsibility. Though the car barely ran, just knowing how much the car meant to his dad made Kick not want to disappoint him. He fixed it, and even got it back home, though too young to drive! Sometimes just imagining yourself as having a fairy godmother can help you believe that one day you, too, will become "a real boy," as Pinocchio became. Children learn to never underestimate what they can do if they keep trying, because... "It's not the bike, it's the rider!"
Join Us