Downey’s Dream Cars
By Melissa Camacho,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Climate change-themed car series has some cursing.
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Downey’s Dream Cars
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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.
Is It Any Good?
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?
TV Details
- Premiere date: June 24, 2023
- Cast: Robert Downey Jr.
- Network: Max
- Genre: Reality TV
- Topics: Cars and Trucks , Science and Nature
- TV rating: TV-MA
- Last updated: December 6, 2023
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