S.R. Dipaling Many--if not all--of the people responsible for the Comedy Central cult-ish hit series "Dr.Katz,Professional Therapist" came together again shortly after finishing that series to make this offering for Cartoon Network. Even though I may not be the best arbiter of what's good and not good on Adult Swim(a phenomenon I've been watching as far back as 1997)since I'm generally easy to please where they're concerned and even my least favorite stuff on it is still great curiosity watches compared to much of what is on TV late at night already,I will single this show out this time to show that,after watching a fair swath of episodes,I can say I truly like this show.The exploits of grade school film auteur Brendan Small(voiced by,get ready for this...Brendan Small)involve a mix of his schooling,his family life,which consists mainly of his give-and-take with this perpetually single/divorced mom Paula(voice of Janine DiTullio),his less-than-successful career as a soccer player for the wrong-headed mentor/coach McGuirk(voice of H.Jon Benjamin,who will always be Ben from "Dr.Katz")and,of course,the movies he makes with his schoolmates and friends Melissa(voice of Melissa Bardin-Glasky)and JAson(didn't catch who does his voice.Loren Borchard?). The neuroses and repartee may not reflect anything you or I recall from our grade school years,but that doesn't prevent this show from having a casual,real and very(sometimes painfully)funny touch.I haven't really kept up with the production of this show,so for all I know,this show may've ceased being made years ago,but the lack of direct timely references make this show pretty ubiquitous. Recurring characters voiced by Jonathan KAtz and Ron Lynch add to the low-energy,squiggle-inspired universe that is Tom Snyder productions(I'm pretty sure this isn't the same Tom Snyder who spent about four decades of radio and television,speaking avuncular,guffawing and "thanking people for dialing up the show" and "watching the pictures as they flash before you"). "Dr.KAtz did four plus seasons of shows that were very limited in squiggly visuals,preferring to let the characters and the veritable universe of comedians to let their words power the show. This show allows the characters to periodically move through space and time,but the general principle remains the same: verbal,dry,ironic humor full of pathos. This is kind of moving along the original "KAtz" dynamic to make this show a little less about making an animated "radio play" and more of a show. I believe that there are more than one or two ways to view the "Adult Swim" experience,and this one fulfills a dryer,less sight-gaggy need. While certainly not all of the "Swim" viewing audience(particularly those who enjoy a more sped up,visual tempo of animation/comedy,demonstrated in such shows as "Robot Chicken" or "Aqua Teen Hunger Force",to name but a few)will dig this show,I think those,like myself,who appreciate a wide spectrum of shows to fill a four to five hour spate of programming late at night. Worth a purchase(perhaps)or rent(more likely)on DVD,too.

go49_20 I absolutely love Home Movies. I wasn't really old enough to get everything when it first came out, but I have discovered it via Comcast's On Demand and fell in love with it. Since then, I've bought the first three seasons on DVD, and continue to watch them non stop. It's a horrible shame that it's been canceled. It really was the smartest cartoon of its time. It never really got the attention that it deserved. Though I'm not sure it would have gone mainstream (frankly, I think the humor's almost too smart for what people want), it was an utterly remarkable show. The character's are all perfectly developed. Each plays off of the others beautifully. The voices applied to the characters are wonderfully suited as well. In all honesty and sad as it may seem, Home Movies has changed my life. Even the crude animation of the first season can be completely ignored simply by listening to the dialog. Brendon Small and H. Jon Benjamin are extremely funny and help to make the show what it is. Small and Benjamin play off each other at least as well, if not better, than any pair of actors on any show or movie. Benjamin, playing the irresponsible soccer coach John McGuirk, often shares his drunken wisdom with the ten year old movie making Brendon Small, played by Brendon Small. Of course, McGuirk's advice is never really helpful, nor is it always pertinent. Brendon isn't the only one McGuirk dispenses advice to or comforts. One memorable example is McGuirk explaining to Brendon's baby sister Josie that she shouldn't be afraid of thunder, because thunder doesn't kill people. It's the lightening that you have to worry about as that kills millions of people a year. And food, food will kill you. Raw pork... This is the show. Brendon Small (the writer, not the character) was right, I think in saying that if you love the show, you would give anything for it, you would die for the show, but if you hate the show, you really abhor it. I would take a bullet for Home Movies anytime. I hope that everyone watches it!

liquidcelluloid-1 Network: UPN & The Cartoon Network; Genre: Animated Comedy; Content Rating: TV-PG (for language); Available: on DVD; Classification: Cult Classic (Star range: 1 - 5);Season Reviewed: Completed Series (4 seasons)In 1999 primetime animation was so in vogue for the network that even UPN got into the act. After the much hyped 'Dilbert' slowly crashed and burned on the runway, those that stuck around found a surprise gem in the next time-slot. 'Home Movies' comes from comedian creator Brendon Small, Loren Bouchard and Soup2Nuts, the production company behind Comedy Central's modest hit 'Dr. Katz: Professional Therapist'. When UPN canceled the show after not even a full season I mourned the loss and put 'Home Movies' on the list as one of those great shows that never had a chance. Then a modern television miracle happened. The show was resurrected from the dead by the Cartoon Network 2 years later and thanks to the cost effective animation (turned into the flash style) and a real nuts-and-bolts crew that pulls the show off, it went on for 3 more seasons. Given the time and freedom, it fleshed out characters, matured and improved. 'Movies' follows 8-year-old Brendon Small (voiced by creator Small) whose passion in life is making movies with his home camcorder using his best friends, Melissa (Melissa Galsky) and Jason (H. Jon Benjamin, giving Jason a hilarious and endearing sniffle in his voice), as actors. The 3 kids talk as if they have the experience of adults, and like true young elites, often mock someone for not having seen a movie that was released before their parents where born. To complicate matters Brendon's best friend is pathetic soccer coach John McGuirk (Benjamin). The show's breakout character, McGuirk isn't above blaming the kids and not his coaching abilities when they lose or to mysteriously not show up for practice leaving them to stand around in the pouring rain. Maybe it was the show's slow pace, very loose plotting and downright shabby animation, but 'Movies' was a show that I sometimes didn't look forward to watching and then, the episodes would win me over by the end reminding me what I liked about it in the first place. This is a charming and immensely enjoyable, where the humor comes in its improved naturalistic dialog, the perfectly deadpan way its all delivered and the unique, honest and fully developed relationships between each character. The bizarre friendship between Brendon and McGuirk; the banter amongst the kids; and the indescribably sweet and true-to-life relationship between Brendon and his single-parent mom Paula Small (Janine Ditullio). There's also Melissa and her father, the priceless egging-on McGuirk gives to Melissa, and Jason's own preoccupation with Brendon, candy and a fear of his bed among other tangential things. It's not a stretch to say that 'Home Movies' is the best character comedy in recent animated memory. One of the funniest aspects of this show are the movies within it. Brendon is part Ed Wood, part Max Fischer and part every arrogant prick you knew in school. He builds elaborate sets in his basement, dresses his best friend up in a wig and writes his scripts based on whatever is going on in his life - using the movies to exorcise his demons. Few series main characters are as interesting as Brendon. His passion for what he does is infectious - we laugh at his cheaply made movies because that's the joke, but we also are pulling for him and his dream. And the more absurd and nonsensical the movies are, the better, such as "Attack of the 50 Foot Jesus" or his history-twisting masterpiece "Starboy and the Captain from Outer Space" in which space heroes battle tyrannical figures George Washington, Pablo Picasso and Annie Oakley.In terms of sophistication, 'Movies' is light-years from the other Cartoon Network originals. Sometimes, however, it doesn't seem that way as writer Small and co-creator Loren Bouchard indulge in more cartoonish slapstick humor and pump the show full of annoying characters with grating high-pitched voices, dragging the gags longer than they need to be and just annoying the audience. Flamboyant, sexually confused couple Walter and Perry can prove hysterical additions - but there is only so long that the gag works. In seasons one through three the show is adult animation and deadpan humor at it's finest. I would rank 'Brendon's Choice' on a list all-time-favorite episode endings. However, in the mysteriously delayed 4th season the show becomes overrun with its annoying impulses. Characters we don't care about are given an insane amount of screen time. It seems to even infect McGuirk who is reduced to a screaming mess in 'Camp' and giant man-boobs in 'The Heart Smashers'. This season is not the best of what this show has to offer, but Small and the Cartoon Network wisely pulled out before any real damage was done.While 'Home Movies' never got the attention of more hyped up animated fair like 'South Park' and 'Family Guy', it deserves a place in that group as one of the best animated shows in recent years. Like 'Park' it is true independent television in which a skeleton crew does all the voice, writing, directing and even writing all the original songs that never cease to pop up in the episodes (the 'Starboy' theme is infectious). The show is Small's baby and (not to sound sappy) it's a celebration of the seemingly limitless possibilities of childhood. Small's series is a little gem, proving that sometimes less is more. Amid the slapstick and the screaming and the charmingly simple 2 dimensional, is a morality play and a fully constructed character comedy. A work of honesty - subtly funny, intelligent, and fully satisfying, this show is worth the time it will take to acquire a taste for it. A modest cult classic. * * * * / 5

MelissaBeverly Nothing comes close to the hilarious, comical, even witty performances of every character on this show. I have never laughed so hard and yes even cried so much while watching a cartoon. Perry and Walter are two of the most hysterical little characters I have ever come across. Jason is just so endearing and adorable every word that comes out of his mouth is gold. Since my name is Melissa hearing everyone say it all the time is also quite delightful. What more could you ask of from a show, that delivers the very best every time. Who could have known the unexpected, quaint, amusing life of Brendan Small could be so wonderful. I can't say anything thing else but, "Ingenious!!"