Strollerderby : review

Post Partum Hilarity in Book Form

JeanneSager — Tue, 12 May 2009 14:30:00 GMT

Normal 0 Too often, the memoirs of celebrity parents and celebrity kids are self-indulgent drivel written more for those of us who want to live vicariously than to learn anything particularly useful.

So I was apprehensive when I picked up a copy of Afterbirth: Stories You Won’t Read in a Parenting Magazine, the newest series of parenting essays to come out of Hollywood.

Phewwww. I laughed my vicarious a—off.

Comedienne Dani Klein Modisett’s collection of written offshoots from her show “Afterbirth . . . Stories You Won’t Read in Parents Magazine” has a nice mix of names you’ve heard (Neal Pollack, Andrew McCarthy) and names connected to projects you’ve heard of (Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner).

Taking turns being irreverent and hilarious, the essays are not exactly “bad parenting” so much as they are “aww, crap, no she DIDN’T” tales . . . that sound vaguely familiar. Except eminently more fabulous.

Ironically, the standout in a book meant to be more funny than functional isn’t a laugh-a-word piece but an introspective (and not at all self-indulgent) essay from the unfortunately named Moon Unit Zappa. Describing her childhood as daughter of the famous rocker Frank as the very reason she has turned into a Type A parent, Zappa could be the poster child for “my parents sucked, but I still decided to procreate.” Which, again, sounds awfully familiar to half of today’s parents.

But she’s also refreshingly aware that she is no more expert than the rest of us.

“Despite all the ways I am trying desperately to do the job differently than my parents, I cannot claim with any certainty that I am doing it any better,” Zappa says.

Well, we’re trying anyway. Get the book from Amazon.

Image: Amazon

Don't Ask If We're Trying to Have a Boy . . . or a Girl

Partly Private: The Long Journey to a Short Cut

editors — Fri, 01 May 2009 13:00:00 GMT

Photo: Philip Touitou

Reviewed by Emily Frost

In Partly Private: The Long Journey to a Short Cut, we join what quickly becomes Director Danae Elon’s personal quest to convince her husband not to circumcise their second son. In one scene, the couple lies together, sandwiching their already circumcised one-year-old, when Danae, pregnant again, begins to weep over their impending decision: whether to do the same thing again.

In the course of her documentary, Elon finds the very first circumcision knives in Israel (sharp stone shards!) and applies an anti-wrinkle cream whose main ingredient is foreskin(!). She travels to Turkey, where circumcision is done at kindergarten-age. In a decorated banquet hall, we see flocks of dressed-up families celebrating — with clowns — a communal ceremony. The little boys, dressed in expensive white bedazzled princely outfits, ride together on a toy caboose while their parents cheer, and when their name is called rush center stage to the circumcision chair.

These fascinating moments feel ancillary to the director’s main mission, to portray the ways culture and family history map onto her family’s circumcision decision. But, spending too little time fully exploring the issue and too much time in a domestic tussle means Elon has to rely heavily on narration, telling us what’s happening, instead of letting life unfold. The high stakes and intense emotion of the family’s decision are eclipsed by the over-scripted plot’s continually calling attention to itself. Nonetheless, the film succeeds in challenging us to take another look (literally) at this American norm.
Trailer courtesy of Filmoption International

Partly Private is part of the Tribeca Film Festival and will be screened on Friday, May 1, 2009 at 8:30 PM at AMC Village VII 2 in New York City.

Find more information here.

What Hannah Montana: The Movie is Teaching Kids (Hint: It's Not Self-Esteem)

Hannah Tennant-Moore — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 19:00:00 GMT

For the last year, I have rarely met a girl under the age of eleven who has not, upon learning my first name, immediately burst into a pop song by Miley Cyrus’ alter ego. And to think, I used to love my name.

Because this is already far more Hannah Montana that I can stand, I don’t plan on seeing her blockbuster. But I will gladly pass on secondhand reasons why you and your kids shouldn’t see it, either.

Unsurprisingly, NPR’s movie blog found the movie lacking in intrigue, camera work, and sound quality, cinematic failures that, admittedly, no 11-year-old is bound to notice. But Miley’s young admirers may be susceptible to the movie’s very clear message that it’s better to please others than it is to act like yourself. (Spoiler alert: stop reading if you don’t know want to know the compelling plot twister that communicates this message.)

After years of trying to live a double life—one of being Hannah Montana the popstar, another of being Miley Stewart, the Tennessee farm girl—Miley decides she can’t stand the deceit anymore. At a concert, she takes off her wig (which amazingly prevents anyone from noticing that Miley and Hannah Montana have the exact same face) and announces her true identity, prepared to be accepted for who she is. Hurray! The end of deceit and superficiality is here!

Well, not exactly. According to NRP, mass disappointment ensues. “Several characters insist that children across the world will ‘lose their dreams’ if they find out Hannah is a fake. So Miley listens to them and puts the wig back on. Happy ending.”

If there’s any message preteen girls don’t need, it’s that other people will not like you if you reveal your true self. As NPR puts it, "Hannah Montana: The Movie suggests that we can make people happy by always being who they want us to be, so we should maintain a performance at all costs." Then there’s the equally problematic message that “average” people from humble beginnings cannot be powerful or inspiring figures (an anachronistic message, given our current president).

I’m sorry that Miley Cyrus has to live her entire life as a fake. But that's no reason to glorify such a dismal fate for the impressionable tween masses.

Photo: NPR

Say Hello to a Tiny Hero

JeanneSager — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 16:34:00 GMT

The soldiers off at war get (and deserve) all the credit, but sitting back here at home while men and women are fighting overseas are hundreds of thousands of kids. They're waiting for mom and dad.

In a memoir about the life of a military wife, out in bookstores this month as the nation celebrates National Military Child Month, Alison Buckholtz opens the doors to her home off the Naval base on Whidbey Island in Washington State while husband Scott is at war. She shares the stories of her two toddler children's struggles to make it through ten months without daddy, and her life as a near single parent for the duration of his deployment.

It's a story we don't often hear. As Buckholtz points out in her book, Standing By: The Making of A Military Family in a Time of War, military spouses put their best faces to the world, even as their internal struggles rip them apart. They do it for their soldier. They do it for the military - and despite it. Because even parents, like Buckholtz, who have a deep respect (and a deepening love) for the military, get angry with it. Angry for the toll separation takes on their lives, and their lives of their children.

Pentagon numbers shared by Buckholtz put the number of parents deployed since September 11, 2001 at close to a million. More than two hundred thousand have gone away twice, more than one hundred thousand have deployed three times over in the eight-year span. Buckholtz's own husband is preparing to leave his family for a second tour in Iraq. And still, they carry on, dragging their loved ones with them on another adventure.

The power of Buckholtz's book remains in the stories of her children, Ethan and Esther, the reminder that her story could be ours. In her frankness, she is both eminently likeable and identifiable. She is just a mom. She's careful to assure single parents that she doesn't want to diminish their battles by claiming to be one (she has a partner . . . even if he's thousands of miles away), and yet she is. My already hearty respect for single parents who juggle it all grew with each page.

Buckholtz is also careful to remain apolitical, making this a book about the military family - not a book about the war. You won't find the names Bush or Obama in Standing By. And as a liberal mother who has always been pro-military personnel but decidedly anti-war, for that, I'm grateful. It let me read about a family and their love.

Soldiers serve presidents of both parties; they make no distinction in who they serve. They serve for the American people, and Buckholtz does not write for a president. She writes for mothers and fathers and little kids - the little heroes who say heartbreaking goodbyes and joyous hellos.

Check out a video she made for the kids, below, and get her book from Amazon.

Images: Amazon, Alison Buckholtz

DVD Review - The Sportys

Brett Singer — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Baseball season has begun. For those of you looking to teach your kids some of the fundamentals of the game, you could do worse than to watch "The Sportys."

The set up is simple enough for even very young children to follow. A group of kids get together and decide that they want to play baseball. But they don't know how. So a talking ball named "Stitch" (voiced by "The Green Mile"'s Michael Clarke Duncan) shows up to teach them. Then they encounter a rival team who are, at first, much better than our heroes, who themselves tend to strike out while batting and to run into each other on the field. Spoiler alert: despite these overwhelming odds, they come back and win the game. It's completely unrealistic but my almost 4-year-old didn't care one bit. He was right there with it the whole time.

The best thing about "The Sportys" are the baseball tips they throw in. From a storytelling perspective, it's not exactly smooth, but as an instructional-type video aimed at youngish children, it works. Examples include:

- "If you're going to catch a fly ball, say 'I got it!'" (advice that even Big Leaguers forget from time to time.)
http://www.guzer.com/videos/baseball_crash.php

- "Lead off? What's that?" "That means you bat first."
- "If I get four balls, I get a walk, right?" (Something I figured out my first year in Little League. The pitching wasn't exactly great, and even though I didn't get a single hit, I was third on the team in walks. Ah, memories.)

There's even a song with the Obama-esque title "Yes We Can" to keep little ones engaged. It's not going to win a grammy, but it worked on my son, who spent the next three days "batting" with his tinker toys all over our apartment.

A nice bonus feature is the 30 minutes of instructional segments by New York Yankees hitting coach Kevin Long. Each lesson is simple to follow and refreshingly low-key, emphasizing "realistic goals" such as "I want my child to hit the ball today." (As opposed to "That kid better hit a home run or she's walking home!" That would be an unrealistic goal.) Fans of Evan Longoria can enjoy a poster of the 2008 Rookie of the Year, included with the disc. (Fans of Eva Longoria should watch "Desperate Housewives." Rim shot.)

Although the animation is nothing to write home about (the "visiting" team also appears to be made up of clones, since the animator didn't bother to create 9 new characters), and the overall story is ridiculous, young children with an interest in baseball should find plenty to enjoy while they – and their parents – learn a few things about how to play the game.

"The Sportys" DVD is $19.99 and can be ordered at TheSportys.com. A portion of DVD sales will be donated to the RBI Foundation.

Uh Oh - Elmo's Gone Green - Literally

JeanneSager — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 16:48:00 GMT

It was bound to happen some day. Cute, loveable and very red Elmo was going to lose his red fur.

Who knew it would come at the hands of equally cute and kind of ditzy fairy Abby Cadabby? Elmo's gone green - literally - in his new DVD, and Babble got a sneak-peek at the all new Elmo and how to throw together a tele-thon Sesame Street style.

Just in time for Earth Day, Paul Rudd (they're continuing the cute theme) suits up in a giant globe costume to host the Sesame Street Earth-a-thon.With Rosita, Telly and Cookie Monster manning the phones, pledges from kids to help the earth start rolling in (and pleas for cookies start rolling out).

In true Sesame Street style, the pledges shoot the show out to spots around the globe where kids are going green in their own way, from kids who watch their glass bottles be melted down and reformed into glass knick-knacks in South Africa to Turkish tots who have an eye for reusing plastic bags.

Bringing it back to Sesame Street, Elmo and Abby make the rounds of the recycling bins and the furry red monster makes a promise to Rudd, aka. Mr. Earth to go green. Which is all fine and dandy until Abby lends her wand to the cause, leaving Elmo looking like he's switched suits with a fellow muppet with a fondness for Miss Piggy. It may not be easy being green, but Elmo fans know he'd never let a little mixed up magic get in the way.

The Sesame Street character love aside, Being Green is a movie that helps break down the big green questions for little green minds. We talk a lot about helping the Earth, but what IS it? Not a guy in a globe suit, but Rudd shows his inner goofball (can you tell this guy's a dad?) walking the muppets on a tour around himself. Songs about saving water when they brush their teeth and saving energy when they shut off the lights send home messages that little kids can make a big difference.

Out on DVD on April 7, you can put in your pre-orders now on Amazon, but if you click on the picture below, your kids have a coloring sheet to get them ready. Will they color Elmo green?

Images: Genius Products

Jack Black Drops In on Yo Gabba Gabba

JeanneSager — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 16:05:00 GMT

You either love Yo Gabba Gabba or you detest the H&R Puff N Stuff out of it.

Kind of like Jack Black, the over the top, goofball star of . . . pretty much EVERYTHING these days.

When we at Babble heard the two were coming together, we just had to have a look. Want to know what happens when Jack Black runs out of gas and lands in Gabbaland?

First, if you're a Jack Black fan, you're going to love the show on April 3. And if you're not, you might still love it. A surprisingly subdued Jack - with some equally surprising blonde highlights (what's that all about Jack?) limps his unleaded motorbike into Gabbaland to find the inner workings of DJ Lance Rock's boombox deserted.

Creeped out, Jack hops around like only a chunky guy with total and complete self esteem (and I mean that in the very nicest of ways - I dig his confidence) can, singing about the possible dangers lurking. Basically, kids, he lets you know it's OK to be scared, but Toodee, Plex, Foofa and the whole gang don't let scared last for long. They're inviting Jack to parties (outside of the tummy) and exchanging dance moves (think Travolta and do the disco roll).

This one should shut down the doubting Thomases who think the show tries too hard to play funky and misses the kid friendly mark. You can't go wrong with singing, dancing and solving real kid problems. Throw in the guy who voiced Kung Fu Panda, and you've got them hooked. Since we all know YGG plays it to the adults too, here's a few things to watch out for - 30 Rock's Jack McBrayer and Human Giant's Paul Scheer tell the knock knock joke of the day (which I refuse to spoil for you).

Oh, and Jack Black in DJ Lance's orange jumpsuit? PRICELESS.

Get a look at clips of the show over at EW and tune in to Nick Jr. at 1:30 ET/PT on Friday, April 3 to catch the whole thing.

Kids Get in on the Man on Wire Story

JeanneSager — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 12:28:00 GMT

Since the adult version won an Academy Award last month, the buzz about Man on Wire has hit a fever pitch. Want to share it with your kids?

Scholastic has adapted the Caldecott Award-winning children's book about Philippe Petit's tight rope walk between the towers into a movie just for them.

The Man Who Walked Between the Towers . . . and More Inspiring Tales is based on a 2003 title for kids four to eight. Using Mordicai Gerstein's dramatic and richly detailed illustrations from the book, Scholastic added animation that lets the kids hop from a Petit-eye-view to the pedestrians on the street and up into the sky. Jake Gyllenhaal lends his voice, telling the tale of the long night of preparation and the day that shocked the world. Petit is almost childlike himself, lying down on his long balancing stick, dancing among the clouds and grinning all the while, giving kids a look at a dream.

It's accompanied by three more tales, including Snowflake Bentley, another Caldecott Medal-winning book adaptation that tells the story of a real life hero, the man who discovered that no two snowflakes are alike and The Pot that Juan Built, about one of Mexico's most famous potters. Each is voiced by stars with stellar voices, including Claire Danes, Sean Astin and Alfred Molina, taking kids on real-life adventures.

Borrow the books from the library, read them, then watch them in animated form - some with live action thrown in - to give your kids another look at the world of literature. Like the read-along tapes we had as kids, the focus on putting books on DVD can be a great companion piece to your regular storytime or a jumpstart to get kids interested in reading.

The Man Who Walked Between the Towers . . . and More Inspiring Tales has stories for kids at any age - even big kids who would give anything for one day as Petit, who knew as long as he stayed on the wire "he was free."

Image: Amazon

Mr. Popper's Taking His Penguins to the Movies!

It's a Circus Out There for The Wonder Pets

Slip Into Something Comfy With Franny's Feet

JeanneSager — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 19:01:00 GMT

Her feet were made for walking right out of the TV screen and into kid's hearts. Now Franny's Feet's on DVD, a celebration of the first season of the PBS Kids show here in America.

Babble gives you a look-see at which episodes made the Franny's Feet DVD cut and why it's worth walking over to the store to pick them up for your kids:

Taking the phrase "take a walk in his shoes" literally, Franny's Feet sends chubby-cheeked Franny on an adventure around the globe every time she slips her tootsies in the latest pair of shoes dropped at her grandfather's cobbler shop. Suspend the ick factor of actually wearing someone else's shoes (which, not surprisingly, doesn't seem to bother kids on iota), and you've got the makings of an imagination generator for off-screen too.

The show itself is short - episodes are broken into eleven-minute-long segments to contend with the attention span of the four-to-seven-year-old target range. Creators make up for it with content. On the new Princess Franny! DVD, six episodes from the season integrate learning about a new part of the world with lessons on shapes, manners and other kid necessities. In that sense, it's your basic PBS fare - heavy on the values and ultra kid-friendly. Franny has an inordinately large head and strange body, but if that's the worst of her faults, I can take it.

The question is - where are your kids' feet going to take them today?

Image: Amazon

Meet Your Kids' New Superhero: Ladybug Girl

JeanneSager — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 15:26:00 GMT

She's back!

Ladybug Girl, the pint-sized superhero who leaps sidewalk cracks in a single bound and isn't afraid to splash her speckled red boots in the possibly shark-infested waters of the local pond has returned to bookshelves to introduce a new member of the playground power pack: Bumblebee Boy.

Ladybug Girl and Bumblebee Boy is the second in the new series from husband and wife team Jacky Davis (a former producer of the Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss) and David Soman. Inspired by their own kids and a focus on getting them outside to enjoy the natural world, the couple introduced the world to a girl hero that parents could get behind last spring.

Ladybug Girl Lulu wears sparkly red tutus and spotted wings, but she's not afraid of getting either one a little dirty - or hunkering down in said tutu in the middle of a stone fort in the woods. Spirited and smart, she makes her own fun out of anything - even if the only spectator to her feats is the family dog.

In the book that hits shelves today, she's got the whole playground watching, and joining in. Yet another example of why girls rule, this Penguin offering doesn't neglect the boys. Clad in yellow and black, Lulu's friend Sam finds his own superpower in the flight of the bumblebee, flapping his wings to fly as high as Ladybug Girl on the swings, and joining forces to tackle the playground monster (aka the tire swing). Drawn in intricate detail and bold colors by Soman, Ladybug Girl and Bumblebee Boy offers a gentle reminder that kids let loose outside can create their own fun - no pile of expensive toys required.

Add in the element of children negotiating their own terms of friendship, and it's a story that empowers kids and reinforces parents' faith that kids who enjoy just being kids are going to be OK.

Image: Amazon

Kid DVD of the Day: Tugger Tugs at Their Hearts

JeanneSager — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 21:23:00 GMT

Who knew there was room left on the family DVD shelf for yet another movie about a talking vehicle? Who knew Carrot Top could not be annoying and kid-appropriate all at the same time?

Believe it. Tugger: The Jeep 4x4 Who Wanted to Fly has its hunka-junk moments, just like the animated World War II era car that lends its name to the film. But overall, the worst thing about the Jim Belushi and Carrot Top vehicle (come on, I had to throw that one in there) is that no one's heard of it.

Voiced by Belushi, the decomissioned 4x4 has dreams of flying - fueled by a creative Army soldier's quick thinking on the front lines that left Tugger with an airplane propeller inside the hood to help cool down his engine. Tugger lands at an airport, where he's supposed to pull in the planes, but inevitably ends up driving the owner a little nuts. Unlike that other talking vehicle movie that one or two kids might have heard of (yes, I'm talking about Cars), this is a movie peopled by humans, talking vehicles AND talking radios (hence Carrot Top's entrance), even a set of talking gas station pumps.

Belushi breaks into song one time too many, but the tale itself is solid, if a little cliched. Believe in your dreams kids, and the impossible might not exactly come to be (did you really think the Jeep 4x4 would suddenly sport a set of wings?) but pretty darn close.

The bottom line is for kids who love moving vehicles, this is fine family fare with a happy ending and a positive message. It hits shelves today, so check it out.

Image: Amazon

Review: My Wubbzy Little Valentine

JeanneSager — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 17:24:00 GMT

The hottest game on NickJr.com might wow you. It's not Dora. Not Jack and his musical pals.

It's Wubbzy.

With some two hundred sixty million plays, the game featuring the little yellow critter of indeterminate origins (is he animal, mineral, vegetable?) has captured our kids' hearts. Now he's looking to keep those hearts pitter pattering with a DVD release timed for the Valentine's season.

Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! A Little Help from My Friends hits stores today, to go along with the recently launched second season of the show. Split into episodes about the value of friendship, it's a movie that highlights just why I've let Wubbzy worm his way into my daughter's heart.

It's creative.

When Wubbzy gets tired of his friends doing everything for him, he decides to bake up a chocolate doodle-berry cake all by himself - only to let things get out of control when he goes hog wild on making it extra fantastic. When the cake batter blows up and out the door and on through Wuzzleberg, buddies Widget and Walden save the day - doing for their little yellow buddy as they always do.

What's going to come next from Widget's tinkering or Walden's scientific explorations is anyone's guess; and the humor that ensues is just right for the pint-sized. Silly, but still sweet, Wubbzy's worth watching so they can learn the value of trying something new and doing it with good friends.

Image: Amazon

Review: Olivia the Pig Comes to Nickelodeon

JeanneSager — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 16:32:00 GMT

She's here, she's finally here! The porcine answer to Eloise has made it to Nickelodeon - or she will on the 26th - and we offer a look-see at Olivia the pig's first day on TV.

For those of you who haven't met my favorite piglet, she's the book version of author Ian Falconer's niece. Prone to driving her mother bananas with the things a six and three-quarters kid does best (opting out on naps, recreating her favorite paintings from the museum on her bedroom walls), Olivia has earned Caldecott Honors on the page.

Now the star of Olivia Saves the Circus, Olivia Forms a Band, and, of course, Olivia, has her own half-hour show on Nickelodeon. Abandoning Falconer's favored clean black and white - with splashes of red for a passionate pig - the animated version is full-color. But what it loses in terms of artistry, the TV version gains with the time allowed to bring Olivia's winsome "sixness" to life.

Broken into two storylines, the premiere episode explores the big sister/little brother rivalry made famous on Falconer's pages - putting Olivia in a tizzy when her father reveals baby brother Ian will one day grow up to be bigger than her. After all, what's the point of being the big sister if you aren't the biggest? Olivia tries convincing Ian to stop drinking milk, and warns he'll miss out on the fun of hide and seek and game time if he grows up. But when Dad reveals there's fun to be had in grown-up-land, and big sisters will always be big sisters, the sibling rivalry drops back down to normal levels.

Part two takes a snow day for a spin, and imagination takes over the house. With the flakes flying, Olivia's mom brings home her brood and two of Olivia's friends for a playdate - while the piglet turns her family house into the luxe accomodations of the Olivia hotel. Ian plays the hotel's ghost - and scares the guests - until an electric outage taxes even Olivia's imagination of how to make the hotel to the stars keep running.

Olivia makes great strides toward improving brother-sister relations in kid shows. Olivia is annoyed by Ian, but the two cobble together a friendship of sorts - with a bit of gentle pushing from their parents. The show makes a point not to celebrate Olivia's irritation with Ian, but not to downplay it either. It highlights the imperfect relationship between brothers and sisters in the best way - allowing for improvement. The result is somewhere in the middle of the perfection that is the Pinky Dinky Doo and Tyler symbiosis and the domineering Ruby to misunderstood bunny Max.

If I sound like I'm gushing, I'm sorry. I was biased walking into a screening of the first episode; after all, I named my dog Olivia after Falconer's books. But with repeated requests from my pre-schooler to watch Olivia again. . . and again . . . and again . . . I'm not the only one who sees a hit. Airing at 11:30 a.m. eastern and pacific on the 26th, all-new episodes will air all week long. Can't wait? The family can get ready with a pile of Olivia crafts, iron-ons and games over at the Nick Jr. site.

Image: Nickelodeon

Kid and Kangaroo Best of Friends

Review: Unstable Fables Goldilocks and the Three Bears Show

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Review: Unstable Fables Goldilocks and the Three Bears Show

JeanneSager — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 20:36:00 GMT

The girl who's always looking for "just right" and the family of bears that shows there's always three sides to every story gets a full-length feature in the latest installment of fairy tales with a twist.

Fresh to DVD, the Unstable Fables version of Goldilocks and the Three Bears puts the golden girl on the tube as a reality show host and fleshes out the story of the bears who usually come in at the tail end of the fairy tale.

Lisa Henson (you know, daughter of Muppet creator Jim) told Babble editor Gwynne back in October that the Unstable Fables would give some of the shortest stories of our childhoods new life, using them as jumping off points for entirely new family-oriented adventures.

That's exactly what they've done with Goldilocks, reimagining the little girl lost story as The Goldilocks and the Three Bears Show. Underneath the CGI animation, satirical fun poked at reality show programming and - of course - the kiddie jokes, the fable still has its morals. The bears start looking for "just right" only to find they had it all along, with a tight-knit family that the lonely TV host Goldilocks (voiced by a pre-pregancy Jamie Lynn Spears) would trade her eyeteeth and screen fame for.

Spears as the whining Goldilocks can be grating, but then again, she's supposed to be a starlet who always wants the best and the brightest (remember, papa bear's porridge was too hot, mama bear's too cold and baby bear's just right . . . ). Tom Arnold as papa Mac Bear is the typical slightly loser-ish, lumpish dolt with a big heart, while mom Brooke Shields is the consummate earth mother as Ruby Bear, the mom who takes the Paris Hilton-esque Goldilocks (complete with dog companion) under her paw and slips her some honey.

It's not exactly a fractured fairy tale - with the hilarity and ribald (read adult) take that genre has come to convey - but Goldliocks and the Three Bears Show is, after all, a kid's movie. Come at it expecting anything else, and you may be disappointed, but it's got the kid concept just right.

Image: Amazon

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Breaking News: CA Supreme Court Will Hear Prop. 8 Challenges

Hannah Tennant-Moore — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 20:40:00 GMT

In case your post-election elation is starting to wear off, here's some good news in the fight for constitutional protections. The California Supreme Court agreed today to hear the case against Proposition 8 brought by the ACLU, the City of San Francisco, and gay rights organizations. This is the same court that unwittingly brought about the Prop. 8 firestorm after they ruled that banning gay marriage violates both the fundamental right to marry and the equal protection clause of the California Constitution.

The lawsuits against Prop. 8 hinge on two main arguments, namely (according to the San Francisco Chronicle) that "the measure exceeds the legal scope of a ballot initiative by allowing a majority to restrict a minority group's rights, and that it violates the constitutional separation of powers by limiting judicial authority."

The court's decision to review challenges to Prop. 8 is great news, but the fight is far from over. The court also ruled that same-sex marriages will remain illegal until it has considered the constitutionality of Prop. 8. And if it does find the measure to be constitutionally sound, the court will have to decide whether to apply Prop. 8 retroactively, nullifying the 18,000 marriages that took place between the court's legalization of same-sex marriage and the passage of Prop. 8. We'll keep you posted.

Photo: Los Angeles Times

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WALL-E: Do you really need 3 DVDs?

editors — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 21:05:00 GMT

I'm way into Pixar bonus features. I've spent an embarrassing number of hours reading those fake-superhero bios on Disc 2 of The Incredibles and watching the fish in the Finding Nemo aquarium swim by. However, I'm also really skeptical about this super-all-inclusive DVD trend, which too often involves paying a lot of money for fancy packaging and none-too-illuminating special features. It's like paying $20 extra for a fancy steak so the chef will throw in some potato chips. Given this attitude, I was a little conflicted when I found out that Pixar's WALL-E would be released tomorrow as a deluxe-edition 3 DVD set. What could possibly fill 3 DVDs? I decided to find out. Below, a breakdown of every single special feature on the WALL-E DVD, and a verdict on whether you should put it on your Christmas list. -- Gwynne Watkins

DISC 1
- Why do all these Disney DVDs start with 800 previews? My finger is getting tired from hitting "skip."

- Okay, first up, we have that funny little short about the magician and the rabbit that we saw in theaters.

- And here's a new short, BURN-E, about an accident-prone repair robot who gets stranded outside the space station during the events of the film. Cute but has a lot of recycled film footage, which feels vaguely like cheating.

- Next, a 20-minute feature on the sound design. No, really, it's interesting! The true geeking-out commmences.

- DELETED SCENES! Unlike the half-finished scenes on past Pixar DVDs, these basically look and sound like the real thing. Includes a mildly disturbing sequence (with at least a dozen Star Wars references) in which a trash compactor nearly kills Eve.

- Director commentary -- okay, I don't have all day, people.

- Preview of WALL-E's Tour of the Universe -- I watched this -- it's 50 seconds long -- and I still have no idea what WALL-E's Tour of the Universe is.

- Easter egg featuring Pixar guys bragging about what nerds they are. Adorable, but I'm seeing a serious absence of lady Pixar employees. Hire me, Pixar! I can hold my own with the Star Trek references!

DISC 2
- This disc is divided into 2 categories. Let's start with "Humans: For Film Fans."

- A "Behind the Scenes" section contains six different featurettes (average length: 10 minutes) on animation, design, character concept -- I'm going to get any work done today, am I?

- Deleted Scenes. Yes, more deleted scenes! Unlike the others, these are all sketchy-looking and prelimary.

- BnL shorts - A history of the Buy N Large corporation, in commercials. Awesome.

- The Pixar Story -- a feature-length documentary about Pixar. Unquestionably biased, and yet, it had me from that first montage of the history of animation. What can I say, I'm just a sucker for lovable big-eyed creatures that talk with celebrity voices.

- Now let's check out the "Robots: For Families" category.

- WALL-E's Treasures and Trinkets -- Against a blank screen, the film's robots interact with objects from the human world. Hi-larious! I may need to watch this twice.

- Bot Files - Oo, it's like those superhero bios on the Incredibles disc! But about robots! And better!

- "Lots of Bots" Storybook - Not so much a book, more like a combination educational game/story/stylized cartoon, but it works.

DISC 3
Ohhh, Disc 3 is a digital copy. What are digital copies for again? So I can put the movie on my iPod? Yeah, now that you mention it, I want WALL-E on my iPod.

Verdict: If you're a Pixar fan, you want this. The deluxe DVD set retails for $40, but I bet you could find it at a pre-holiday sale for $25 or $30, or pre-order it before tomorrow on Amazon for a hefty discount.

Fall TV Preview: Imagination Movers - Playhouse Disney

Cole Gamble — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 13:00:00 GMT

I should start by saying my daughter and I don't have the same taste in kids’ shows. She's more of a Dora girl; I'm more of a Yo Gabba Gabba dude. I guess I can't blame her; I mostly like Yo Gabba Gabba because it’s just so strange. I can’t expect my four-year-old to share my cultured and detached sense of irony. Yo Gabba Gabba frightens my mother, which makes it a great kids’ show in my book.

What’s This Show About?

So my daughter, Jillian (age 4), and I recently sat down to watch the Imagination Movers a new show featuring a quartet of musicians who dabble in problem solving. The Imagination Movers live in the world's cleanest garage; you could eat an omelet off their work floor. The Movers’ are comprised of four dudes whose acting ranges from merely super excited to psychopathically enthusiastic. They make The Wiggles look like their hopped up on Quaaludes. In other words, just the right tone to get a girl Jillian’s age jazzed.

The Tone

With the Imagination Movers, we’re really in it for the music. So how's that? The Imagination Movers are billed as alternative rock for preschoolers. On their website the they describe themselves as “what would happen if the Beastie Boys collaborated with Mister Rogers.” This comparison isn’t quite accurate, the Imagination Movers don’t rap (the jury’s out on Mister Rogers rap skills). However, they do wear similar jump suits to those worn by the Beastie Boys in their Intergalactic Planetary video. The website further claims the Imagination Movers songs would be right at home on an MTV countdown, which is also misleading. I’d say they were more VH1-y if it weren’t for the fact neither of those music channels play any music. Personally my gold standard for kids’ music is The Backyardigans, with its loopy, surrealistic lyrics and limitless range of genres, from surf rock to folk music. That said, where do the Imagination Movers fit on a scale of kids’ music ranging from The Wiggles (insufferable) to Backyardigans? In the upper registers of the scale, catchy even. I can imagine listening to the Imagination Movers on a long trip and not wanting driving us all off a cliff, high praise indeed.

Details

The Imagination Movers have all the requisite secondary characters: a cutesy girl who drops by regularly, a puppet mouse that lives in their walls and a beige clad man named Knit Knots who represents the utter banality that apparently is anyone who isn’t as peppy as the Imagination Movers. There was a learning factor (they taught us about sound and how it travels in waves) and the show encouraged movement and problem solving. Oh, and the Imagination Movers had enough gadgets to make Bruce Wayne envious, which is a big draw. Gadgets are cool.

The Verdict

But what I think is just a bunch of noise. What did my daughter think? We sat down Ebert and Roper style to hash it out.

Me: How much did you like it?

Jillian: (Opens her arms wide) This much.

Me: Who was your favorite character?

Jillian: The guy with the long hair and the cool goggles (the most psychotically enthusiastic one).

At this point Jillian wanted no more of my questioning, and asked I play the show for her again. This time she walked up closer to the screen and danced along. The show also caught the attention of my normally amuck 2 year old for the duration. So I'd say we’ll be seeing more of the Imagination Movers in our house, and from the dad perspective, it’ll be a welcome addition.

More by this author:

My Daughter Wants A Penis

They Like Big Butts, and They Can Not Lie: Survey Finds Men Prefer Bigger Body Sizes

The 9 Most Racist Disney Characters

The 6 Creepiest Marketing Campaigns Aimed at Children

**The Sh*t List: 10 Bizarre (or Terrific?) Potty Gadgets**

Satan and 9 other bad (but real) baby names

Nipple Jewelry: 5 Products Moms DON’T Need

10 Naughty Things We Do to Our Kids (but keep doing anyway)

The 26 Most Disturbing Kids Movies Ever

What's Next, Shock Collars For Your Kids?!

Fall TV Preview: Sid the Science Kid on PBS

Adrienne Martini — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 14:00:00 GMT

My oldest kid – she’s six – has the makings of a scientist, if only because she can’t stop asking “why?” every 30 blessed seconds. One of her all-time favorite shows (and mine, if the truth is to be told) is Fetch with Ruff Ruffman, which is a PBS Kids’ program that features an animated dog and kids who are sent out to solve problems. It’s all very silly while remaining smart.

The youngest – he’s three – enjoys Fetch, too, but only because his sister won’t let him change the channel. He has to watch it, unless he wants to go play. And, seriously, who wants to do that when there’s a TV with a talking dog on it?

I doubt he’s getting more than simple enjoyment out of Fetch, which is fine. The concepts are a little to abstract for him to really get a grasp on. Enjoyment has value, sure, but it’d be nice to learn a little, too.

Enter Sid the Science Kid, PBS’ co-production with The Jim Henson Company, which debuts on Sept. 1. Pitched at the pre-school set, Sid explores all of those “why” questions that my older kid can’t stop asking, like ‘why do bananas get mushy” and “why are my shoes shrinking” and “why did mommy ask me to stop talking?”

OK, maybe not that last one.

Still, the Boy loves him some Sid and remained glued to the telly for the entire 25 minutes. His sister, who declared it “lame” when I first popped the disc in, asked to see it again later that night. And again that morning. And again after school. And went to the show’s website to poke around and watch the music clips. Which means we might have different definitions of what “lame” means.

From an adult’s perspective, the jokes are kinda lame, by the standard definition. And Sid’s friends are a little stereotypical, from Gabriela, the tomboy who likes pink, and Gerald, the boy who thinks he’s an airplane. But my perspective is irrelevant because my kids like Sid so much. Which is great because they (and all of their “whys”) are the show's target and it hits that mark well.

Fall TV Preview: Monster Buster Club on ToonDisney

Brett Singer — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 15:30:00 GMT

This animated series, airing in the U.S. on ToonDisney, is about a club. That busts monsters. Yawn.

Here are the basics: a group of four vaguely ethnically diverse kids are part of a "secret society" that protects Earth from alien intruders. Of course, no one can know that these normal (if a bit annoying) middle school kids are in fact keeping their planet safe. So they live in fear of being discovered… well, that's giving them too much credit. They mention every now and then that no one can know who they are. Of course, they could try wearing masks that actually hide their identities, and not bust monsters while the school play is being performed. In front of everyone they know. But hey, why quibble?

The episode I watched, "Acting Out," explains very little of the background; poking around the interwebs I found out the names of the four main characters, the fact that their leader is an old man who is an alien and the grandfather of one of the members, and also that it is never really explained just where this secret society came from. It doesn't really matter, because the show is a mish-mash of elements from other animated series: think "Men in Black" meets "Power Rangers" meets "Little Einsteins". I'm not going to bother giving you the specifics; if you're interested, check out this page on Wikipedia or the official web site.

The plot of "Acting Out" has the same weird obsession with fame that you find on many Disney shows ("Hannah Montana", "High School Musical"). After the club saves an eight-armed talent agent from a lizard-creature (who turns out to be a rival agent – oh, did I spoil the surprise ending? Good, now you don't have to watch the show) he offers to make them "superstars." They get excited until the old man in charge tells them, "Monster Buster Club is a top secret operation, so you can't be superstars." The kids are, of course, bummed out. One of them decides to make commercials that only air on other planets. Of course, now he thinks he's a big star and he's ignoring his Monster Busting duties. Then the granddaughter of the old man in charge, who is not from Earth, ends up playing Juliet in the school play, and the lizard guy comes after her because he can't get to the kid doing commercials… It's a little bit hard to follow, less because it's complicated and more because it's not remotely interesting.

The animation is all computer-generated; think "Jimmy Neutron" but with a smaller budget. (A review on about.com claims that Disney says the budget for the show is $21 million, but, to paraphrase Chris Rock, somebody must be walking around with $20 million in their pocket.) The voices are either just poorly synced or the show was originally recorded in a language other than English (I think it’s the latter, which is foolish.) In general, everyonetalkseallyfast, which is probably because the characters are spouting some of the lamest lines on television. When the lizard-like alien who shows up in the first four seconds escapes: "He's getting away… and even worse, he squished my fruit." When they encounter said lizard-like alien again: "Don’t stick out your tongue, it's not polite…I've seen faster tongues on an old pair of sneakers."

The show claims to be targeted at ages 6-11, but with so many better entertainment options out there, "Monster Buster Club" will only catch on because the Disney Marketing Machine will cram it down everyone's throats. Not recommended.

image: about.com

Mr. Rogers Talking Keychain

Why the puppy games are better than the Olympics

8 year old blues guitarist not allowed to play in bars

Nastia Luikin's mom watches from the stands (video)

Fall TV Preview: Martha Speaks on PBS

Is it ever OK to hit your kids?

Oy vey, Miley showed her tuchas again

Old Jonas Brothers CD priceless

Family Movie Night – Hairspray

Son stabs father over haircut

The Dark Knight -- parents strongly cautioned (to go see it)

Brett Singer — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 19:00:00 GMT

Let's get one thing out of the way right now – you shouldn't bring your children. They might want to go, but unless they have a very high tolerance for a long movie (2 and half hours) and an abnormally high tolerance for what might be the most frightening performance ever (Heath Ledger's Joker), I'd get a sitter.

Now: this is some incredible movie. At first, I was a little bit apprehensive. Part of that feeling was the hype, which was so intense that it seemed impossible anything could live up to it. (Part of it was also that the movie didn't start until almost 1am because we had to sit through 7 commercials, none of which I remember at all – money well spent, advertisers. But I digress.) There are some slow spots, especially in the beginning, and I think the director, Christopher Nolan, could have cut 10 or 15 minutes of film and made it a tighter movie. But that's nitpicking, because there are several scenes, some just quick moments and some long, exciting action sequences, that will put your jaw on the floor.

The saddest thing about Heath Ledger's death is that his daughter will never know her father. But it's fair to say that if an actor had to go out with one performance, this is that performance. He's so good that I completely forgot I was watching an actor, which, for me, almost never happens. (It's worth pointing out that Gary Oldman as James Gordon, and Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox, do the same thing in smaller and less flashy roles.) He's frightening, but not the way a horror movie villain is frightening. It's not shock value, although there is some of that (there's a bit with a pencil that might be the best 5-second description of a character in the history of cinema.) Without giving anything away, The Joker is referred to as a "terrorist" a couple of times, but unlike the terrorists in our world, this one has no cause that he fights for. He's just… mad. Not angry-mad, just flat out crazy. And Ledger captures that in every possible way. You could teach an acting class using this movie – what he does physically, vocally, emotionally; it's all stunning to watch.

The rest of it is, for the most part, equally good. I don't care about the love story, but it's fine I suppose and does serve the story. Aaron Eckhart is a solid actor and he does a good job as Gotham City District Attorney Harvey Dent. Christian Bale is by far the best Batman yet, although Ledger is so good that he really takes over the movie. Michael Caine is a good Alfred Pennyworth, Maggie Gyllenhaal is fine as token love interest Rachel Dawes; she's more than that, I guess, but it's not her movie. Gary Oldman is amazing; as in "Batman Begins," he somehow manages to completely capture the essence of a fictional comic book character that isn't a superhero, meaning that, as an actor, he has fewer details available to work with. I can't explain it but he IS Jim Gordon.

The nits to pick if you want to go there: some of the dialog is hokey (although the lines written for Ledger are brilliant.) There are a few slow spots. At times the action sequences are a tad frenetic, here and there. But it really doesn't matter. You'll read a lot about the surprising depth of this movie, and this is true to an extent. "The Dark Knight" is incredibly entertaining and does have some thoughtful moments amid the comic-book chaos, but there's no need to over think them. I would say just relax and enjoy it, but it's not a relaxing experience. Ledger's Joker is uncomfortable to watch, but in a good way. I don't want to give anything away, so you'll have to see it for yourself (but, as I said, get your tickets early; even the 12:30am showing was completely sold out.)

Now, despite the fact that there isn't much in the way of blood, this is not a film that you should take your children to see. Obviously, you know your offspring better than I, so if you think they can handle it, that's your call. And of course older kids will be fine. I hesitate to suggest an age-range, but I recommend seeing it yourself first if you're not sure. Worst-case scenario – you get to see it twice. Believe me, that's not a bad thing.

image: Reuters

Batman: get your tickets now

Set Your Alarm for a Romp Through LEGO Batman: The Video Game

Maggie Gyllenhaal on Letterman- He Wishes

Spying on the Neighbors: 7-17-08

Sexy Superhero Parents: The Top 10

Little Matilda Had Heath's Heart

Hulk want puny blogger to review Hulk movie

Brett Singer — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 14:00:00 GMT

Yesterday I received the following email:

To: Puny Blogger
From: Hulk
Subject: Hulk Movie

Hulk get right to point, Puny Blogger. Why Puny Blogger not review Hulk's movie? Puny Blogger wrote about Metal Man movie. Hulk hate Metal Man! Hulk smash!

Hulk know last movie had stupid plot and gamma-charged poodle. Hulk tell stupid producers about script problems at first table read, and Hulk not hire Ang Lee. (Hulk think Tiger/Dragon movie highly over-rated.) But Hulk feel good about latest big screen effort. New movie tell Hulk story in entertaining and emotionally satisfying way. Hulk see movie. Hulk happy with final cut.

Hulk angry that Puny Blogger not write about Hulk movie! Hulk just trying to get something going with career. Hulk father now, need to get ducks in row. Has Puny Blogger seen price of tuition? Hulk need start saving now. Hulk finally get big movie with big opening weekend gross, and Puny Blogger not care.

Write review of Hulk movie, Puny Blogger – or Hulk smash!

Cordially,

Hulk

Hulk, please accept our apologies for not reviewing your film sooner. I've just been busy with other projects, and of course, my family. As a new father, I'm sure you can understand. Please, do not smash me, my computer, or anything else for that matter. Here is my review of "The Incredible Hulk."

The last time Marvel brought ol' Greenskin to the big screen, it was a disaster. Too long, bad CGI effects, and a gamma irradiated poodle were only some of the problems. Bruce Banner becomes the Hulk because his father was mean to him, injecting him with some experimental serum, which is triggered by a blast of gamma radiation? Oookay. No disrespect to Ang Lee, but he was a bad choice.

For this latest effort, Marvel took over the producing reins and went back to basics. The story actually picks up where Lee's film leaves off; five years have passed, both in the film and in actual reality (Ang Lee's "Hulk" was released in 2003.) Ed Norton is a good Banner, although there are too many scenes that are clearly meant to "deepen" the character. When the Hulk shows up, it's great. The CGI isn't perfect, and it's not nearly as seamless as "Iron Man", which almost made you believe someone could build a shiny flying super-hero suit. But this new "Hulk" is 1000% better than the last one.

One interesting choice the director Louis Leterrier (the "Transporter" movies) and screenwriter Zak Penn (the last 2 "X-Men" flicks, as well as the upcoming "Captain America" and "Avengers" films) made was to go back to the much-beloved television series. They use a new version of the intro, the music shows up a couple of times, and some of the feeling of Banner wandering the globe looking for a cure is very much a part of this new "Hulk". (They did do away with the amazingly bad choice of renaming Hulk's alter ego "David Banner", although Bruce does use that name as an alias at one point.) I'm one of the millions of people who fondly recall the old "Hulk" series, which starred Bill Bixby and Lou Ferigno. (Lou has a cameo as a security guard and is still in body-builder shape.) That show, hokey and mopey though it was, had something that the first "Hulk" movie didn't, which was a sense of reality. Having a real person (Ferigno) play the Green Goliath made it feel more like it could actually happen. Part of what the new "Hulk" does better is to just have better CGI effects. But part of it is keeping things simple. Somehow going back to something that worked – the TV show – made this easier to pull off.

It's not a great movie. But it was so much better than I expected. Also, it sets up for future Marvel super-hero movies featuring multiple characters: Robert Downey Jr. shows up at the end to do his Tony Stark thing; this time you don't have to wait until after the credits. There's even a hint at a villain for a "Hulk" sequel. Part of the fun of watching our beloved funny books turned into movies is the recognition factor: "Hey! There's General Ross! Talking to Tony Stark! And they said something about a team!" Avengers! Yes!

"The Incredible Hulk" is still in theaters, so go check it out. It's a fun popcorn flick, and besides, Hulk needs the cash for Hulk Jr.'s college fund.

image: EOnline

Five Forgotten Fictional Fathers (Hulk mentioned here)

Stay out of my room or I'll pee on your tree (Hulk not mentioned here, but Hulk think story funny)

Here's to the laddies who lunch (Hulk not want have coffee with fellow dads)

Sexy Superhero Parents: The Top 10 (Why Hulk not mentioned? Hulk very attractive! Look at Hulk's abs!)

Hancock Tops U.S. Box Office for Holiday Weekend (Hulk knocked from top spot, but Hulk OK with that. Will Smith box office gold. Hulk relative newbie in movies)

An American Girl: Lisa Kudrow (Story mentions Hulk)

DVD Review: Our Country, USA to Z

Brett Singer — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 19:00:00 GMT

With July 4th coming up in a couple of days, many of us are feeling patriotic. But in our current political climate, patriotism can be a highly charged topic. Personally, I think you should be able to love your country without buying into the ideology of a particular person or political party. More "celebrate what's great about America" and less "keep the immigrants out."

"Our Country, USA to Z" (Team Baby Entertainment) is more the former than the latter. Narrated by Whoopi Goldberg in her usual slightly sleepy-voiced style, this is (mostly) politics-free patriotism.

The disc opens with a relatively painless song (performed by John Lennon Songwriting Award winner Joe McDermot) about our nation and how good it is, with shots of cute babies dancing around. Football, kids, cities, Native Americans, Statue of Liberty – pretty straightforward stuff, pleasantly presented.

Then come the letters. (The chapters on the DVD, available in the main menu, are helpfully split up by letter so you can skip around if you need to.) A is for America (duh), B is for Bell, as in "Liberty Bell," C is for Columbus (with no mention of Native Americans), D is for Diveristy, and so on. My favorite segment was J, which is of course for Jazz. Whoopi should do a whole DVD for kids on the history of jazz. M is for Military was a little weird, but kids will like the trucks and Coast Guard boats. There is a slightly right-of-center leaning revealed (I think) in the choice of "great presidents" (the letter P, of course): George Washington, Abraham Lincoln (a "civil war hero", no mention of freeing the slaves), Teddy Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan. It's not a huge deal, but I'm guessing that the Democratic version of this disc might not mention ol' RR in this grouping.

There is a teeny amount of suspense when you watch "USA to Z" for the first time – what the heck are they going to do for X, for example? Since K was for King (as in Martin Luther King), I thought maybe we'd get Malcolm X, but they went with Railroad Crossing, which is a little lame, but at least features subways as well as railroads. Then there's "Road Trip," another original tune with a nice montage of video from the 50 states. These include cities as well as purple mountains majesty and amber waves of grain, something that, as a lifelong city dweller, I always appreciate. As always, there are cute kids of various colors and creeds bouncing around.

"Our Country, USA to Z" is a little different from the DVDs that Team Baby Entertainment typically puts out. Most of their content (which I've never seen) seems to be geared towards indoctrinating young children in the ways of sports fandom – Mets Baby, St. Louis Cardinals Baby, Red Sox Baby World Series Edition narrated by Ben Affleck (ouch, that was hard to type – guess who my favorite team is?), and of course, Yankees Baby, which I've never seen but is of course the best of the bunch (that would be my team.)

For the most part, this relatively short DVD is cute, harmless patriotism that does a decent job of including the different types of people and places that make up the United States of America. There is no mention of more controversial topics – Native Americans, slavery – but it is geared towards very young children; 2 or 3-year-olds is about right in my view. "Our Country, USA to Z" is educational, colorful, and doesn't go too far to the right. And when it does skew a little bit more Red State than Blue, that's tempered by the presence of the Whoopster's narration. Whoever hired her deserves a big, fat all-American raise.

image: Team Baby Entertainment

Iraq War Takes Its Toll on Officers’ Marriages

Brad and Angie, What Will They Do With The Money?

Political Nanny: Obama Gives MoveOn a Stern Talking To

Son Gives Jolie a Gun

Afghanistan War Veteran Assaults Infant Sons

Jolie-Pitts Give $1M to Iraqi Children

Parody of Mother's Plea to John McCain

Giveaway: Win "The Muppet Show: Season 3" DVD!

editors — Fri, 30 May 2008 14:00:00 GMT

There are a few different ways to watch The Muppet Show: The Complete Third Season. You can view it as a freakish collection of pop-culture oddities: Gilda Radner singing Gilbert and Sullivan with a seven-foot-tall carrot, Sly Stallone sparring with a talking punching bag. You can look at it as a record of great live performances by the likes of Pearl Bailey and Danny Kaye, or a tribute to forgotten stars like Leo Sayer and Elke Sommer. You can see it as an an absurd backstage soap opera, following Kermit's struggles to keep his show afloat while Fozzie enters group therapy and Piggy threatens her romantic rivals.

But I'd recommend watching it as a child would: Laugh when the Swedish Chef is outsmarted by his own dough. Smile at the unexpected beauty of the African masks singing backup to Harry Belafonte. Let yourself believe the puppets are alive. Season Three is the best Muppet Show collection yet, with fantastic bonus features perfect for family viewing (including a 1968 special called "Muppets on Puppets," which explains the art and process of puppeteering).

And we have three to give away!

Email babblecontest@gmail.com with your full name, mailing address, and the name of your favorite Muppet, and we'll pick three winners at random.

And if you don't win, you can still pick up the set for $32.99 at Amazon. Good luck! -- Gwynne Watkins

UPDATE: The contest is closed and we have 3 winners -- congratulations to Tracey from Ontario (favorite Muppet: Fozzie), Maribeth from Quentin PA (favorite Muppet: Rizzo) and Jeanette from Santa Monica (favorite Muppet: Rowlf)!

Babble Film Review - The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

editors — Fri, 16 May 2008 13:09:00 GMT

There's something a little off about these Narnia movies. Anyone who loved the books as a kid remembers how real Narnia seemed: It encompassed both the magical wonder of childhood and the frightening unknowns of the adult world. So why does the cinematic Narnia feel so flat and lifeless? Don't get me wrong, it's beautiful, filmed in Slovenia, where I suddenly have the urge to relocate. But between the uninspired child actors and the unrealistic-looking CG characters, the Narnia of Prince Caspian has little more weight than a cartoon. Our child heroes alternate giggling and furrowing their brows, without any sense that they're coming of age, or even that their actions have consequences. The formidable figure of Aslan the Lion has been reduced to an affable animal pal, like Mickey Mouse with a propensity for self-sacrifice.

In this second installment of The Chronicles of Narnia, the four Pevensie children are summoned back to their beloved magical land, only to find that hundreds of years have passed and their kingdom is in ruins. With the help of a reluctant dwarf, they learn that an evil (and inexplicably Hispanic) rival nation has conquered Narnia, forcing dwarves, talking animals, and all other mythical creatures into exile. It's up to the children, and a displaced prince, to reclaim the kingdom.

Aside from filming in Slovenia, the film's creators have made two very smart decisions: the casting of Peter Dinklage as sarcastic dwarf Trumpkin and Eddie Izzard as the voice of swashbuckling mouse Reepicheep. But those same creators added an extraneous love story (which turns a competent female character into a damsel-in-distress) and several excrutiatingly drawn-out battle sequences. The result is a film that wants to be all things to all viewers, at the expense of its rich source material. -- Gwynne Watkins