Home Movies
Series, 1999, Launch night, Set in Brendon's home videos
Home Movies is #2 of 16 in release order and #2 of 16 in chronological order in the Adult Swim Classics.
The story
TV series about the life of Brendon Small, an eight-year-old visionary who, using his friends Jason and Melissa as actors, have managed to direct over a thousand homemade films. His parents are divorced, but it doesn't feel strange since so many other kids' parents are divorced. His friend Jason actually feels upset because his parents are still together. At school, he is taught soccer by his coach John McGuirk, or as he calls him, "that weird Irish guy".
Home Movies recap
Brendon Small is an eight-year-old who makes short films with a camcorder alongside his friends Jason, a sugar-obsessed boy, and Melissa, the most level-headed of the three. The movies are ambitious, odd and usually unfinished: rock operas, period pieces, sci-fi epics. Brendon lives with his divorced mother Paula, a writing teacher, and his baby sister Josie. His soccer coach, John McGuirk, a lazy, drinking, short-tempered man, becomes a strange father figure who gives him bad advice and real support. The dialogue is mostly improvised, giving the show a loose, overlapping style. It premieres on UPN in 1999, is cancelled after five episodes, and is then picked up by Cartoon Network, becoming the first original show on Adult Swim in 2001. The first season uses jittery Squigglevision animation; from season 2 onward it switches to cleaner Flash animation. Over four seasons, to 2004, Brendon deals with his father's new wife, rivalries with other kids, and growing up a little.
Home Movies ending explained
The series finale is "Focus Grill" (2004). Brendon, Jason and Melissa finish their first real film, declare their friendship, and decide their movies are not really meant for an audience. Then Brendon's camera falls out of a moving car and is run over. His grief lasts only until his mother and Coach McGuirk start a conversation about fast food, and the show ends there.
Where to watch Home Movies
Home Movies is streaming on YouTube TV, Adult Swim, and HBO Max in the US.
Ratings
IMDb 8.2/10
Where it fits
- Release order: after Space Ghost Coast to Coast, before Sealab 2021.
- Chronological order: after Space Ghost Coast to Coast, before Sealab 2021.
Cast
- Brendon Small as Brendon Small (voice)
- H. Jon Benjamin as Coach John McGuirk / Jason Penopolis (voice)
- Melissa Bardin Galsky as Melissa Robbins (voice)
- Janine Ditullio as Paula Small (voice)
- Loren Bouchard as Josie Small (voice)
- Ron Lynch as Ronald Lynch (voice)
- Sam Seder
- Jonathan Katz
- Laura Silverman as Linda (voice)
- Louis C.K.
- Paula Poundstone as Paula Small (voice)
- Mitch Hedberg
Created by Brendon Small, Loren Bouchard.