Britney & Kevin: Chaotic - Critical Reception

Critical Reception

"Parents need to know that there is plenty of sexual material here, from Britney polling her staff members about their favorite positions, to her talking about how many times she and Kevin had sex in one day. In addition, there is smoking, swearing -- and the theme song is Britney's single "Chaotic."."

As previously mentioned, Britney & Kevin: Chaotic received negative reviews from contemporary critics. Taylor Carik of Flak Magazine considered the series an "insult to common sense and decency", while commenting that "Britney's ridiculous behavior in "Chaotic" confirms the obvious transparency of her status as a "celebrity product" and the calculated nature of her success". He also noted that music critics would "easily open the floodgates for new and creative ways to discuss her offense to pop culture's attempts at meaningfulness". Aaron Beierle of DVD Talk reviewed the series as "an absolute disaster of the highest order", while saying, " is an absolutely watchable and horrifying train wreck of a series". Slant Magazine writer Ed Gonzalez noted that "the show's extreme shooting style makes it especially hard to stare at what is—no more no less—a totem to the pop singer's narcissism", criticizing the fact of Spears and Federline's "views on sex, life and love suggest someone they're the only person on the face of the earth".

Josh Wolk of Entertainment Weekly felt that Britney & Kevin: Chaotic was Spears' "career suicide by videocam", commenting, "the truth is not only that she's vapid, but that she's self-obsessed to a dangerous degree". Wolk also noted "many intersecting things wrong on this show and with Britney that I can't possibly prioritize them. I can't say that the sheer narcissism is the main problem, since that may be a byproduct of the overwhelming stupidity showcased here". Laura Fries of magazine Variety perceived the series as "a visual assault of nauseating camera angles, likely to upset even the most desensitized TV viewer. Note to Spears: Learn how to use a camcorder before basing a show on its usage". Hayley Butler of Jam! gave the final episode of the series a mixed review, saying it "was full of tear-jerking moments" and "the only episode not full of stupid jokes, childish behaviour and Britney's thoughts on life", commenting that Spears and Federline wedding scenes "looked to be a very emotional and touching event". Butler also wondered "if they feel their show served its purpose. They annoyed us, made us cringe, gave us their insights on life and love and finally, annoyed us some more. However, if the whole point of the show was to prove their love is the real deal, well I have to say, Britney & Kevin: Mission Accomplished".