• Is it age appropriate?

  About our ratings

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  Not age appropriate for kids under 10, age appropriate for kids over 12; suggested age 12.

• Is it any good?

  3.0

• Common Sense says

  Accidental detective has lucky knack for the job.

Why We Rated This for Ages 12 and Up

The good stuff

• Messages:

  Stereotypes are sometimes played for laughs, as in a scene showing an obese man running in slow motion with a large ham sandwich in his hand, or Andy and Simon claiming to be stymied by Wally's accent. Lew is often rude and/or confrontational, and he takes particular delight in taunting Simon. Not much diversity in the cast. But Andy is an earnest, well-intentioned hero who wants to help people.

What to watch out for

• Violence:

  Andy is sometimes in peril, though most of it is played for comedy. Bad guys carry guns, though shooting is minimal. Physical fights (punching, kicking, etc.) sometimes result in bruises or scrapes. Supporting characters have died in connection with Andy's cases, but it's never graphic or gruesome.
• Sex:

  Sex-related talk includes assessments of a person's sexual desirability and terms like "boobs," "wood," and "nipples." Andy and his wife sit in bed together in pajamas; some mild kissing.
• Language:

  Words like "ass," "hell," and "slutty" are infrequent (Andy prefers terms like "fudge" and "Mother Hubbard").
• Consumerism:

  Plenty of references to pop-culture figures, but no notable product placement.
• Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

  Some supporting characters smoke, despite repeated objections from Andy.

What Parents Need to Know

About Andy Barker, P.I.

Families Can Talk About