35 of 39 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the most sophisticated shows on TV - and funny too!, Feb 16 2007
By Norm de Plume - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Moral Orel V1 (DVD)
Yes, there are jokes about crack addiction and zombies, but the real gems in this show are the clever wordplay, the well thought out characterizations, and hidden details. Moral Orel is not a show with pop-culture references, cheap cartoon violence, or stoner non-sequiters. It is a refreshingly honest and relevent satire - not to mention some incredible character animation!
40 of 47 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Here's a more intelligent review than monseigneur's..., Feb 14 2007
By konstantine "konstantine" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Moral Orel V1 (DVD)
It's from Common Sense Media:
"Created by Dino Stamatopoulos, a writer known for his regular contributions to adult comedy shows like Late Night with Conan O'Brien and TV Funhouse, this sinfully clever stop-motion series packs a wallop of a message in a short amount of time -- and, in essence, that's part of the problem. In fact, so much controversial humor peppers the show's 15-minute run that the shock value of the humor could overshadow the program's subtle message.
So while adults are more likely to see MORAL OREL for what it is -- a biting social satire mocking religious fundamentalism and hypocrisy within the Christian church -- kids (even some older teens) probably won't be able to appreciate the true sophistication of the humor. (And in case you were wondering, young children definitely won't get the joke.)
Borrowing its distinctive animation style from classic Rankin-Bass shows like Davey and Goliath, Moral Orel follows the often-shocking misadventures of 11-year-old Orel Puppington (voiced by Carolyn Lawrence), a devoutly Christian boy who tries his best to live life by "the book" but often misinterprets God's teachings. Week after week, Orel's good intentions lead to disaster.
But instead of learning from his mistakes, Orel is usually led astray by his pseudo-reflective father, Clay (Scott Adsit), whose advice is rarely helpful and always misses the mark. For example, at the end of an episode chronicling Orel's brief addiction to crack cocaine, Mr. Puppington cautions Orel that crack "is a gateway to slang," prompting the boy to solemnly vow: "When I do drugs, I'm going to speak properly." Parents should be aware that those are the types of "lessons" kids could inadvertently learn from watching this show.
Fans of Moral Orel will undoubtedly enjoy South Park and will probably also get a kick out of revisiting old episodes of Davey and Goliath for some pointed comparisons. Other recommendations include Strangers with Candy, King of the Hill, and The Simpsons."
And a Common Sense Note states:
Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that while this satirical Cartoon Network comedy is animated, it's part of the Adult Swim line-up for a reason: It's rife with graphic humor and isn't appropriate for young children. (For example, when the 11-year-old Orel takes a drag from his very first crack pipe, he snaps at his talking Jesus figurine and tells him to shut up.) Troubling content aside, however, the show can serve as a way for parents and older teens to talk about the pitfalls of religious fanaticism -- although families who are deeply religious may find the program offensive.
Families can discuss the ways in which religious dogma can be misinterpreted by those with good intentions. Does a person who is considered to be religious always act morally? What statement are the creators of this series making about the state of modern-day Christianity? How does this cartoon compare with Davey and Goliath, the early 1960s animated series it gently parodies?
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the funniest shows ever!, Jun 14 2007
By Allen Chapman - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Moral Orel V1 (DVD)
This show is one of the funniest shows ever made. I first stumbled upon this show on Adult Swim on the Cartoon Network, I thought it was an episode of Robot Chicken poking fun at Davey & Goliath. Turns out it was Moral Orel! Orel is a young boy who wants nothing more than do right in the eyes of God. However despite his best efforts no matter how hard he tries, he always screws up in the end. What makes the show funny is as the viewer you can see the trainwreck that is about to happen and just sit there and wait for it to happen.
The show isn't for everyone, but for those with a slightly off sense of humor you will love this show.