Common Sense Media Review
By Heather Boerner, based on child development research. How do we rate?
age 14+
Simpsons-like cartoon earns its PG-13.
-
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that while this is a cartoon, it's not meant for young ones. Characters drink, smoke, gamble, leer at women, and lie. There's considerable cartoon-like violence, like kids falling long distances and lots of hitting, punching, and chasing with a mallet. No one gets hurt. And the mom of the out-of-control kids -- Bebe -- is never actually seen. She's working all the time.
To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
-
Products & Purchases
some
Characters mention Lane Bryant, Lee Press-On Nails, and Nintendo.
-
Drinking, Drugs & Smoking
some
Several characters drink and become visibly drunk. Some fall down. Several people smoke.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.
Get started
-
Language
some
Three uses of "damn" and "hell" each, and one use of "badass."
See AlsoBébé’s Kids Turns 30: Faizon Love, Myra J, and Marques Houston Share Oral History Behind This ClassicBebe's Kids | Rotten TomatoesDid you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.
Get started
-
Violence & Scariness
some
Lots of comic, cartoonish violence, including characters falling a long distance; getting chased by a mechanical bear and with a mallet, a la Tom and Jerry; and firing cannonballs at a boat. Grownups walk the plank for not buying their kids the toy they wanted. Kids also beat each other and one tells another he's going to "beat the black right off you." No one is seriously injured.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.
Get started
-
Sex, Romance & Nudity
none
Leon and LaShawn kiss once. Robin and Jamika kiss once.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.
Get started
-
Positive Messages
none
White police and security single out the African-American children for monitoring and harassment. Kids get into Simpsons-like trouble. The adults smoke, gamble, and the men ogle women, saying things like, "she's so fine, she doesn't need to know how to type." Robin also makes lots of fat jokes. Women lie and try to undermine a new relationship. After drinking a lot, Robin gets in his car and drives away -- with kids in the car.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Bebe's Kids
Parent and Kid Reviews
See all
- Parents say (4)
- Kids say (5)
age 11+
Based on 4 parent reviews
eric H. Adult
January 25, 2024
age 13+
Litandharris Adult
May 7, 2020
age 12+
Making fun of my family
this TV show was based on my family my parents name Dennis Harris -litand Harris baebae was my dad Nick name and my mother's nickname was dude that was there a nickname as a kid in 1924they had 13 children in Chicago 8 girls and five boys and we lived on the Southside of Chicago and net TV show is making fun of my parents because they had a lot of kids we are the original Baebae kids they made money off of us creating Black TV showbecause we had strong black parents and all 13 of us is doing okay and made something out of my life so yes my pants was a great role model to be able to take care of 13 kids back in the 60s and 67 sets of foster kids went through our home we asked me the original Bay Bay kids we don't die we multiply
See all 4 parent reviews
What's the Story?
Adapted from comic Robin Harris' stand-up comedy act, BEBE'S KIDS follows the adventures of single guy Robin (voiced by Faizon Love), who vows to get close to beautiful Jamika (Vanessa Bell Calloway). He offers to take Jamika and her son Leon (Wayne Collins Jr.) to Fun World for the day. But then all hell breaks loose, in the form of LaShawn (Jonell Green), Kahlil (Marques Houston), and Pee Wee (Ton Loc) -- Bebe's kids. They are the butt of all jokes: The family arrives at Fun World and the surly racist cop exclaims, "It's Bebe's kids!" and runs away. A whirlwind of gleeful destructive energy, Bebe's kids become the reason Robin can't get close to Jamika. Needless to say, Fun World doesn't stand a chance against them. What ensues is chaos that kids will likely enjoy and parents will relate to on some level.
Is It Any Good?
Our review:
Parents say (4):
Kids say (5):
Bebe's Kids does have some great animated stuff for kids. In the early 1990s, Harris' stand-up captivated viewers with tales of demon children and befuddled adults. It's unfortunate that the transition from comedy act to animated big-screen movie suffers from a paper-thin plot and little character development. Nonetheless, when LaShawn takes over a pleasure cruise ride and turns it into a pirate ship, taking hostages and hurling cannonballs at another pleasure cruise, kids will cheer. While kids may be attracted to the animation and hijinx, Bebe's Kids, like The Simpsons, has mature subject matter. The sheer level of drinking, smoking, gambling, and lying earn this film its PG-13 rating.
This film's rating robs it of its audience. Sure, adults may enjoy portions of it, but do they really want to watch an hour-and-10-minute movie that's so thin that the filmmakers resort to a musical montage? Probably not. And when LaShawn sings that kids suffer from a lack of freedom, parents may quibble. What she may mean is freedom from the racism that treats innocent kids as criminals and delinquents. But these kids are essentially neglected and lack any real adult guidance. The last thing they need is more freedom to roam.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the importance of helping out friends. Jamika babysits because Bebe's kids are often alone. When do you do things to help people who need it? How do you show you care about people in your neighborhood and your friends?
Movie Details
- In theaters : September 18, 1992
- On DVD or streaming : October 5, 2004
- Cast : Faizon Love, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Wayne Collins Jr.
- Director : Bruce W. W Smith
- Inclusion Information : Black actors, Latino actors, Female actors
- Studio : Paramount Pictures
- Genre : Comedy
- Run time : 72 minutes
- MPAA rating : PG-13
- Last updated : May 26, 2023
Did we miss something on diversity?
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
Bebe's Kids
Suggest an Update
Your privacy is important to us. We won't share this comment without your permission. If you chose to provide an email address, it will only be used to contact you about your comment. See our privacy policy.