Climate change-themed car series has some cursing.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Language
a lot
Words like "hell," "pissed," "g--damn" and "badass" and curses like "s--t" are frequent. The word "f--k" is occasionally used in some episodes. Rude gestures are blurred.
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Car makes like Ford, Buick, Volkswagon, Chevrolet, Mercedes-Benz, Rimac Nevera, etc. are featured and discussed. Garages like Electrified Garage, Dream Car Restorations, and others are also featured. Tesla batteries and other parts are discussed. Robert Downey Jr's non-profit Footprint Coalition is referenced. Some of the experts' YouTube channels are briefly highlighted. Iron Man and the Marvel story world is discussed.
Violence & Scariness
a little
The death of parents is occasionally discussed. There are images of the negative impact of climate change, including archive footage of massive floods and wild fires.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.
It features pro-environmental themes, and offers lots of information about eco mobility.
Positive Role Models
a little
Robert Downey Jr. is a self-proclaimed environmentalist, and introduces others who are proactively looking for ways to protect the planet.
Diverse Representations
a little
The majority of mechanics are White men, but at least one mechanic is Black and one featured scientist is female. There are occasionally members of agencies and organizations from different racial/ethnic backgrounds featured in the background.
Parents need to know that Downey's Dream Cars is an unscripted series featuring actor Robert Downey Jr., some of his classic cars, and lots of pro-environment messages. Not surprisingly, lots of car makes and models are highlighted, and there are references to the actor's past movies and characters. There's cursing (some episodes contain stronger words than others), occasional innuendo that will go over young people's heads. The death of family members is talked about. Archive footage of natural disasters like massive floods and wild fires are briefly shown in different episodes.
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What's the Story?
DOWNEY'S DREAM CARS is an unscripted series featuring a celebrity who's fighting climate change by rebuilding one of his cars at a time. Robert Downey Jr. is a classic car collector and enjoys restoring them back to their former glory. But he's also well-aware that his vehicles also contribute to environmental pollution. With the help of classic car consultant Chris Mazzilli, he's connected with experts across the country that can make some of his cars faster, cleaner, and fuel efficient. As mechanics and engineers rebuild each one, Downey introducers viewers to eco mobility innovators, and showcases different kinds of initiatives and environmentally-friendly technology that can be used to power vehicles without doing additional harm to the environment.
This unscripted series mixes lots of car shop-talk and pro-environmental messages to highlight the innovative ways old vehicles can be reimagined and restored to be more more efficient while maintaining their legacies. From rebuilding an already gorgeously rebuilt Chevy K-10 pickup truck into a powerful EV, to retrofitting his late mother's rare 1969 280 SE non-diesel Mercedes-Benz so it can run on bio-fuel, Robert Downey Jr. uses the series as a way to expand conversations about eco mobility and its role in addressing the climate crisis.
Granted, a lot of it is also focused on Downey himself, who hams it up for the cameras and makes references to Iron Man and the Marvel franchise while touting his commitment to saving the planet. Folks who like cars (especially classic ones) may be drawn to it, but if you don't watching the actual retrofitting process will be a bit of a bore. Nonetheless, if you think climate change is important, you'll appreciate the information Downey's Dream Cars has to offer.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about eco mobility. What does the term mean? How does it relate to climate change?
What kinds of challenges do the mechanics and engineers featured on Downey's Dream Cars face when retrofitting the different classic vehicles? What are some of the ways they resolve them?
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
suggesting a diversity update.
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 Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
