Oh Mikey! (2002–2005) User Reviews

A tale of two shows

[Phoenix-24 · 8/10 · 10 June 2008]

There are two very different versions of "Oh Mikey!" The original Japanese version is funny, fast-paced, satirical, and witty. The actors know just the right way to over-act their lines and the entire effect is hilarious.

The English-language version is dreadful. The actors (and entire localization team, apparently) did not "get" the humor of the original. It's like they're trying to explain the "plot" of the original, as if the plot mattered _at_ _all_. All of the wordplay is gone. They just don't know how to play the lines, and the entire effect is strange and stale and stupid. The whole thing just rings false.

This is not a show for everyone. It is definitely odd-ball humor. But I would go further and say that, if you can't speak Japanese enough to watch the original, just skip this one, because the translation just does not do it justice.

Loved it!!! hahah

[sirseany · 8/10 · 29 August 2008]

You definitely need to watch the Japanese version to understand the humor involved. The wordplay and dark humor is what makes this show so funny. The English version does not capture that at all. I highly recommend this show to anyone who knows Japanese and can understand the Japanese culture, because this is a completely new type of comedy that hasn't been done before. My favorite characters are definitely the twins and bob. f@ckin' hilarious!!! i guess being a fan of Japanese manga from way back, this kind of humor is just sooo much funnier than anything in the west.

if you like this show, i also highly recommend "world of golden eggs". another amazing show, but again you need to understand Japanese to really get it.

Quick and Painful(ly hilarious)

[TheFunkmaster · 10/10 · 8 May 2006]

This show, a collection of two-to-three minute vignettes, is a strikingly hilarious satire of American culture. It's from the viewpoint of an American family of mannequins who move to Japan, and stereotypes ensue. The directors guarantee that every episode ends in uproarious laughter. Originally conceived as a bit on late-night TV (kind of like how "The Simpsons" got their start), it has grown to cult status among the faithful. From the day they move to Japan, to the day they meet Mikey's hesitant teacher, to the day Mikey saves his parents by drinking his milk, the plot is quick and witty.

For anyone who enjoys anything Japanese, or anything funny for that matter, I highly recommend "Oh Mikey!" (aka "The Fuccons") for your viewing pleasure.

first class! (for the Japanese voice acting)

[kriskuna · 9/10 · 27 June 2009]

This show is hilarious - if you understand Japanese. The episodes are witty and fast paced, and are mostly stand-alone ones that can be enjoyed by themselves. The original voice acting is the best I've ever heard, better than some of the Japanese anime out there, and the fact they managed to make some inanimate mannequins into characters that have CHARACTER and emotion is nothing short of brilliance. Each main character has their own distinct personality that are real and believable.

If the original voice acting is on one end of the (good) spectrum, the English dubbed would be on the other...at its extremities. The quality is really a polar opposite, with just some plain bad acting. I personally think that the English dub ruins the show and they're better off not including it.

So, if you want to watch this and get a good laugh, don't touch the English dubbed. Even if you can't understand Japanese that well, enjoy the quality of the first rate voice acting.

Just plain stupid?

[Ingvarsson · 1/10 · 7 July 2007]

I wouldn't call myself a big fan of the genre inventive silliness, so i might not be the best audience for this show. Although, being a critic i do have a sense for what i personally like and dislike, this being the later.

Lack of humor is a big turnoff when it comes to comedy, things can be catchy, cool and perky for about 4 minutes and after that you start getting bored unless its the badger animation from a couple of years ago (?) This is the exact opposite, with a stiff script and all overacted voice-overs its just plain silly and very very boring to be subjected to. Unfortunately, since it did have a big market ahead of itself, and a lot of potential.

A waste of time.