Men make lascivious comments to Barbara about her body. Innuendo and references to impotence and certain sex acts. A few sex scenes (not graphic). A man is briefly shown sleeping in the nude, face down, and you see the very top of his buttocks above the blanket.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.
Barbara has a rough (but brief) moment early in the series, when an older man attempts to assault her in a restroom but is interrupted. A fight breaks out on the sitcom set, the men end up tussling and punching each other.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.
Themes of defying gender stereotypes, and the hard work that goes into being successful in show business. The show touches on subjects like women's liberation, classism, racism, and homophobia.
Positive Role Models
some
Barbara stands up for herself and pursues her dreams despite the pressure to settle down in her hometown and get married. Her father is loving and supportive.
Diverse Representations
a little
The main character defies gender stereotypes of the time. Her director is an Indian man who makes a point of speaking out against sexism and racism. Barbara's friend Diane is Black journalist who leaves her job at a fluffy woman's magazine to create a new publication focused on the sexual revolution. The writers talk about wanting to introduce a homosexual character in their show who won't be an insulting caricature.
Parents need to know that Funny Woman is a comedy-drama about an aspiring actress (played by Gemma Arterton) in 1960s London. It touches on subjects like racism, classism, sexism, and homophobia. There are a few sex scenes, but no nudity other than a very brief peek at the top of a man's buttocks while he's lying face down in bed, partially under a blanket. Characters drink, smoke, and drop acid. One is offered cocaine. Expletives include "f--k" and its variants, plus "c--k," "hell," "bitch," and some British slang here and there.
There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
FUNNY WOMAN stars Gemma Arterton as Barbara Parker, a working-class beauty queen from Blackpool who moves to London to take a crack at the male-dominated comedy scene. Underestimated from the jump by the uptight, sexist men in charge, she manages to score a role on a new TV sitcom and must then navigate the challenges of balancing fame, romance, and family.
Is It Any Good?
Our review:
Parents say:Not yet rated
Kids say:Not yet rated
This show's tone bounces back and forth from slapstick farce to social commentary, which doesn't allow it to reach its full potential on either front. On the plus side, Funny Woman's performances are mostly strong (Rupert Everett in distractingly terrible makeup being a disappointing exception), and the show has fun recreating the look of '60s London with its colorful décor and costuming. Funny Woman will inevitably draw comparisons to The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel -- the latter of which has much snappier writing -- but Arterton as the lead is pretty darn charming, so if you're a fan of hers it's worth a look.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the time period in which Funny Woman was set. What expectations were placed on women during this time? What challenges would someone like Barbara face when trying to succeed in show biz?
How does Barbara demonstrate perseverance in building her career? Why is this an important character strength?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
By Jenny Nixon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
