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 Reel Life with Jane!Get the latest scoop on family-friendly movies at the theatre and on DVD!
by Jane Louise Boursaw Reel Rating: 3.5 out of 4 Reels PLOT SYNOPSIS: Linny the Guinea Pig, Ming-Ming the Duckling, and Tuck the Turtle are classroom pets. But once the kids leave for the day, the animals spring into action and rescue someone who needs help. This DVD features eight episodes of the popular Nick Jr. television series. Sex/ Nudity: None. Violence/Gore: None. Profanity: None. Which Kids Will Like It? Preschoolers aged 2 to 5 will love these ultra-cute animals voiced by real children. Will Parents Like It? The voices of the three main characters will probably grind on the last nerve of most adults. But the cute characters and message-based stories are perfect for preschoolers. Special Features: "Jack's Big Music Show" music video; "The Backyardigans" music video; full screen format; English, Spanish, and French language options. EXPERT REVIEW: "What's gonna work?! Teamwork!" So goes the motto of the three classroom pets known as the Wonder Pets – Linny the Guinea Pig, Ming-Ming the Duck, and Tuck the Turtle. When the kids leave for the day, these unlikely heroes spring to life, assemble their fly-boat (made from classroom items), and travel the globe, helping to rescue animals in need. Like real preschoolers, the Wonder Pets don't have any actual super powers, but by working together, they can overcome any obstacle. Each episode encourages teamwork, empathy, problem-solving skills, and an appreciation of music and humor. The photo-puppetry animation, which allows animators to manipulate photos of real animals, was created specifically for this series. It'll have you scratching your head, because the animals seem real, and yet…they're not. Each episode also includes plenty of music, with dialogue often sung to an original score by some of Broadway's top composers. This DVD includes eight episodes: Save the Unicorn, Save the Penguin, Save the Three Little Pigs, Save the Owl, Save the Swan, Save the Puppy, Save the Bullfrog, and Save the Poodle. The Wonder Pets can always be counted on to help animals in need – whether it's rescuing a baby penguin at the South Pole or saving a French Poodle stuck atop the Eiffel Tower. Ok, the episode about leading the way out of a locked house to help a puppy go pee-pee is a little weird, but hey, it's all part of growing up. The episodes are short – 12 minutes each – and feature cute songs sung by real children and a wholesome message about the power of teamwork. Working together to solve problems is a great skill to have in the real world. JANE’S REEL RATING SYSTEM : One Reel: Pathetic. Even The Force can’t save it. Two Reels: Tolerable. Coulda been a contender. Three Reels: Pleasant. Something to talk about. Four Reels: Wow! The stuff dreams are made of. Jane Louise Boursaw is a freelance journalist specializing in the movie and television industries. Visit her online at www.ReelLifeWithJane.com or email jboursaw@charter.net
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