1. This movie is nothing like The Lizzie McGuire Movie. The film ads for Monte Carlo gave the impression that this is strictly a film about a small town American girl in Europe who looks like a rich heiress and they switch identities, essentially the plot of the Hillary Duff Lizzie movie from 2003. Instead, Selena Gomez’s Grace is small town girl who wants nothing to do with assuming the identity of the bitchy heiress she’s a doppelganger for. She gets roped into the shenanigans by her best friend. Additionally, Grace only continues the charade when she realizes that the heiress is in Monte Carlo to help promote the opening of a school for underprivileged children. Sure, identity theft is a pretty serious offense, but since it’s for a worthy cause, the adults let it slide.

2. Selena Gomez is actually a pretty good actress given the right material. This is the second film of hers I’ve watched in which she’s been out of the shadow of Disney. Her acting on the hit sitcom, Wizards of Waverly Place, can get pretty grating and Gomez’s character is selfish and mean. In Monte Carlo, the young actress is allowed to play naïve and nice, for a change, and she holds her own against more established actors like co-stars, Leighton Meester and Katie Cassidy.

3. Hey, this movie isn’t just about Gomez’s character. Meester and Cassidy share the same amount of screen time and follow their own story arcs over the course of the film. Unfortunately, you wouldn’t know this from the film’s marketing campaign when it was released in theaters. Instead of promoting this as a romantic comedy about three young women on a trip to Europe, it was aimed squarely at the young Disney crowd. A shame because Meester and Cassidy are two winning actresses and their time on screen is quite appealing. Which leads me to….

4. Leighton Meester is very, very charming and should be given more opportunities to play in romantic comedies. I’m afraid that her role on Gossip Girl may get her pegged as a certain type of character actress. In Monte Carlo, Meester provides a lot of the emotional growth you expect from a character in a movie. Her character, Meg, goes from uptight college student with some emotional issues, to someone you fall in love with by the film’s conclusion.

5. Did you know that Cory Monteith (Glee) is in this film? Neither did I! The guy only stars on one of the most successful pop culture phenomena in the past ten years and he was no where to be found in the TV ads! And this isn’t a case of the young man popping up in a cameo early in the film. Monteith’s Owen plays an integral role in the entire plot involving Cassidy’s Emma. Monteith is sturdy in his performance and makes a cute companion to Cassidy.

6. Andie McDowell still acts. Alright, that last one was a little snarky. I was surprised to see the once leading actress relegated to the “mom” role. She’s such a fine actress, adding much more depth to her few scenes than was probably on the page. I wish she did more acting. Oh wait, she’s in Footloose, isn’t she, playing… the mom. Somebody please write her an intelligent, mature romantic comedy right away.

To wrap this up, Monte Carlo is a safe, fun movie that you can watch with your daughter, whether she’s twelve or fifteen. For me, a dad who’s seeing some of his father/daughter time diminishing as she gets older and her interests don’t include her dad, it was nice that we got to bond over this movie. It’s even nicer that Monte Carlo is delightful and provided enough laughs and emotional moments to occupy an hour and a half.

By the way, I said that I’d get a quote from my daughter for this review. All I could get out of her was, “I liked it. I’d watch that again.” I guess that’s all you need to know.

Judy Moody and the NOT Bummer Summer

Young Jordana Beatty takes on the lead role of Judy Moody, and the girl has the right combination of spunk and charisma to carry the whole movie. In the film, it’s the summer after third grade and Judy has great plans for two months of thrills and excitement. She gathers her best friends to lay out her plans, but learns that two of them, Rocky (Garret Strong) and Jessica (Ashley Boettcher) will be gone for the entire season. Rocky is attending circus camp and Jessica will be out of the country with her mom. That leaves Judy to try and figure out an adventure for her and the last of their foursome, Frank (Preston Bailey). She’s not happy. Frank is probably the least exciting of the four and truth be told, it’s kind of obvious that Judy has a crush on Rocky.

Making matters worse, Judy’s parents have to leave town suddenly and her Aunt Opal (Heather Graham), a spacey “artist,” will be taking care her and her little brother, the ever popular Stink (Paris Mosteller). After this quick set up, the movie falls into an episodic pace, with Judy and Frank trying to come up with “thrill points,” i.e. exciting stunts, that will rival the things Rocky and Jessica are doing on their trips. Most of the thrill points backfire (the roller coaster one is particularly gross), leaving Judy to finally take Frank seriously when he talks about searching for Bigfoot. Judy, Frank, Stink and Aunt Opal spend the last half hour speeding around in search of the elusive Yeti.

While not on par with some other family movies available, Judy Moody and the NOT Bummer Summer is still an easy watch, especially if you have children under the age of 10. They’ll be entertained, for sure, and laugh each time Stink opens his mouth. The film was directed with a sure hand by John Schultz, who also helmed the likable Aliens in the Attic. Graham provides stability as the primary adult in the movie and all of the kid actors are quite good. But really, the only performance that matters is Beatty’s. As she has to live up to the imaginations of children who adore the Judy Moody books, she does a great job and really makes the movie fun to watch.

The DVD release comes with the following bonus features: Join The Toad-Pee Club, Flippin’ Out With The Cast, Camryn’s “WAIT AND SEE” Music Video, 10 Things You Need To Know About Judy Moody, Judy Moody’s Guide To Making A Movie, Deleted Scenes and the Theatrical Trailer.

The first film adaptation of the beloved children’s book series, JUDY MOODY AND THE NOT BUMMER SUMMER, by Megan McDonald with illustrations by Peter H. Reynolds, is a delightfully, laugh-out-loud hilarious treat for adventure-loving kids, tweens and adults. The film stars newcomer Jordana Beatty (Superman Returns)  as Judy Moody along with Heather Graham (The Hangover), Jaleel White (Psych,Family Matters), Preston Bailey (Dexter) and Parris Mosteller (Worst Week).  John Schultz (Aliens in the Attic) directs from a screenplay by Megan McDonald and Kathy Waugh (Big and Small).

In celebration of the October 11th release of Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer, Dadnabbit has 2 DVD’s of the movie available for giveaway. In addition, we have some really neat crafts ideas that you can do with you children. Read to the bottom to find out how you can win!

Judy Moody and her cool Aunt Opal have fun making art from garbage. You too can make cool things from common items you find around your house! If you want to be crafty like Judy and Opal, here is a list of some fun, easy things you can create from items found in your kitchen.

MACARONI JEWLERY

Making jewelry from macaroni is both fun and easy! All you need is some rubbing alcohol, food dye, dry macaroni, some bowls to mix in, and string. Once you’ve mixed the rubbing alcohol and food dye to the color you like, drop the macaroni in and let it soak until you like the hue. Take the macaroni out of the dye, and let it dry, then use yarn or string to make necklaces, bracelets, crowns, and more!

PAINTED TOAST

PLAYDOUGH

Some people might find toast a little dry, but this activity will surely remedy that! All you need is a little milk, some food coloring, a new paintbrush, white bread, and a toaster. Mix a few drops of food coloring with the milk, then use the paintbrush to paint whatever you want (animals, friends, designs, etc.) on the bread. Then simply put the bread in the toaster, and toast it! It’s safe to eat, so you can use it for a sandwich, butter it, or even make colorful French toast!

Everyone remembers Play-doh from when they were a kid, and now you can make your own non-toxic playdough at home! You need flour, warm water, salt, vegetable oil, cream of tartar and food coloring. You can add scented oils if you’d like, to make the different colors smell like different things. All you do is mix all of the ingredients together in a pot over low heat until the mixture thickens and pulls away from the sides of the pot. Let the playdough cool until it is cold enough to handle, and then enjoy playing with it!

HOMEMADE BUBBLES

Making your own bubble solution and wands is fun for kids of any age. All you need is dishwashing liquid, glycerin, and water. Gently mix the dishwasing liqud, glycerin and water together, then, use common household items (like funnels, fly swatters and cookie cutters) to blow bubbles. This simple recipe can provide hours of fun!

KOOL-AID FINGER PAINTS

Finger painting is so much fun, but sometimes finding safe paints for your kids to use is hard. The simple solution? Make your own! Mix flour, Kool-Aid, salt, boiling water and oil together. Then all you have to do is let the mixture cool until it’s safe to finger paint with!

Awesome stuff, huh? Interested in winning a copy? Great, all you have to do is email your name and address to me (Malchus@popdose.com). Two names will be drawn by the 14th and notified. Winners must live in the United States or Canada. Good luck!!

Rio is about a nervous, inhibited Spix Macaw named Blu (voiced by Jesse Eisenberg of The Social Network). At a young age, Blu is captured from his native homelands of Brazil and shipped off to Minnesota. When his cage accidentally falls off the truck of his abductors, Blu is discovered by a little girl named Linda. The two grow up together. As an adult, Linda (voiced by Leslie Mann) is a bit of a homebody who owns a book store in her small town. She is approached by Tulio, an eccentric ornithologist from Brazil (played by Rodrigo Santoro) who informs Linda that Blu is the last male of his kind. He asks Linda to travel with Blu to Brazil so that the bird will mate with the lone female of the species. Linda, overcoming her fears of change, agrees and heads down to the lush, vibrant city of Rio de Janeiro.

As you would expect, things don’t go as planned in Rio. First of all, Blu’s “mate” is his complete opposite. She’s a strong willed and independent extreme flying female named Jewel (voiced by Anne Hathaway). When the two are left alone, Blu does his best to break the ice while the only thing Jewel wants to break is out of the lab where they’re being kept. Things turn ugly when animal smugglers, with the help of a sinister Cockatoo named Nigel (played to perfection by Flight of the Conchords’ Jemaine Clement), steal the two rare birds and they find themselves chained together.

Blu and Jewel manage to escape from the smugglers, but now they’re helplessly lost in the Brazilian rainforest. They embark on a hysterical and endearing adventure where they run into a friendly toucan (George Lopez), a hip canary and his too cool for words cardinal pal (Jamie Foxx and will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas), and a slobbering, big hearted bull dog who just wants to dance (30 Rock’s Tracy Morgan).

Rio has everything you could ask for in a family film. It’s one of the most visually striking movies you will see all year. The colors burst off the screen and the animation is so graceful and nuanced. The voice casting is perfect, with Eisenberg and Hathaway making a great romantic duo, Foxx and will.i.am stealing every scene they share, and Clement giving a genius performance. The script has heart, adventure and perfectly timed laughs. And there is the great music. In addition the John Powell’s authentic score, there are superb contributions by Sergio Mendes, Taio Cruz, will.i.am and Clement.

When I say authentic, I mean it. Director Carlos Saldhana (who also co-helmed the first Ice Age and Robots, then directed the two Ice Age sequels) is a native of Brazil who came to America to pursue his artistic dreams. You expect someone to take great care when presenting a colorful place like Rio to the rest of the world and this director did just that. Rio has the feel of a labor of love and that love just pours out of every image, joke and musical note.

The special features of the disc are plentiful. It now seems that whenever an animated film is produced cameras are constantly rolling to capture the behind the scenes magic. Besides some goofy interactive features that show kids dance moves, there are many informative featurettes detailing the casting of Rio, the lengthy animation process, and the years of hard work that go in to creating 90 minutes of entertainment and art. Technically, this is one film that is worth seeing in hi-def. The colors are so vibrant and the music is so joyful, you will find yourself returning to Rio soon after your first visit.

And guess what, for on lucky reader, we are offering a giveaway of the Rio Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Download combo pack. Email me your name and I will randomly draw one name to be the winner. The contest ends on August 13 at 6:00 PM. Email me at malchus@popdose.com.  Good luck!

In case you missed it in the theaters this past spring, Rio the CG animated film about a nervous, inhibited Spix Macaw named Blu (voiced by Academy Award nominated actor, Jesse Eisenberg). At a young age, Blu is captured from his native homelands of Brazil and shipped off to Minnesota. When his cage accidentally falls off the truck of his abductors, Blu is discovered by a little girl named Linda. The two grow up together. As an adult, Linda (voiced by Leslie Mann) learns that Blu is the last male of his kind, and with that, the two head south to Rio de Janeiro to meet Blu’s new mate. However, it’s nowhere near close to love at first sight between the socially awkward, flight challenged Blu and the strong and independent extreme flying female Jewel (Academy Award nominated actress, Anne Hathaway). Shortly after Blu’s arrival, greedy animal smugglers capture the two rare birds and they soon find themselves chained together and helplessly lost in the Brazilian rainforest. They embark on a hysterical and endearing adventure where they learn about friendship, love, courage and spreading ones wings to fly.

The film is vibrant, full of wonderful music and also features fun performances by George Lopez, Jamie Foxx, Will.i.Am of the Black Eyed Peas, and Jemaine Clement from Flight of the Conchords. Blu was produced by the same people behind the Ice Age movies and the underrated gem, Robots.

A DVD  giveaway does not begin until next week (when my review goes live). As I said, this post is in honor of Friendship Day. Below are two E-cards that you can download and send to your friends, or send to your kids, or have your kids send to their friends… or your friends. The choice is yours. Pass them along and help the world become a safer, better, friendly place. Check in next week for the rules to the giveaway and a full review!

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules

Like the previous film, Rodrick Rukles is based on the bestselling books by Jeff Kinney. The central story of the movie deals with seventh grader, Greg (Zachary Gordon), and his relationship with older brother, slacker high schooler, Rodrick (Devon Bostick). The film opens with the beginning of a new school year. Greg is less concerned about being popular and more interested in meeting the cute new girl, (Peyton R. List). As if he has a chance. Luckily, Greg has his loyal companion, Rowley (Robert Capron) to provide a constant stream of optimism.

Meanwhile, Greg and Rodrick are at each other’s throats, like normal siblings will be. One Sunday morning, Rodrick sneaks a candy bar under Greg’s seat on the way to church. Poor Greg looks like he’s dropped a load in his khaki’s and when he has to walk before the entire congregation, the kid is mortified. While Rodrick cracks up behind him, Greg tackles his older brother in front of the whole church. Now, the boys’ exasperated parents (Rachael Harris and Steve Zahn) are mortified.

As punishment, Greg and Rodrick are grounded at home while the rest of the family goes to a water park. This is perfect for Rodrick as he throws a massive party. Against Rodrick’s plans, Greg and Rowley manage to crash the party and surprisingly, the two young ones manage to fit in with the older crowd. When their folks call to announce that they’re coming home a day earlier, Greg and Rodrick scramble to clean the house and somehow replace the broken doorknob on the downstairs bathroom door. I won’t spoil how they manage this. In the process, the two of them start to bond.

I’m not saying that lying to your parents to cover your older brother’s ass is the right way to connect with him, but that’s what happens when Greg feigns innocent after their mom becomes suspicious about what happened while they were away. Rodrick suddenly sees his little bro in a different light and Greg discovers that his older brother isn’t such a menace to society.

It’s within this plot that the film really gels. Gordon and Bostick really seem to have a brotherly bond (this is their second film together, after all) and it adds to the believability of the movie. Moreover, the two actors show more range in this film than in the first, especially when it comes to emoting the disappointment and heartbreak that comes with growing up. Rodrick Rules also has a funnier script than the first movie, making it mopre fun that the first one. It’s rare that a sequel is better than the original (especially in family films), but this is one that won’t make you want to throw the remote at the television.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules is available in three different releases: The single disc DVD contains the following bonus features: Two (2) “My Summer Vacation” Shorts, Theatrical Trailer, and Audio Commentary. The two disc DVD comes with these bonus features: Six (6) “My Summer Vacation” Shorts, Six (6) Deleted Scenes, Gag Reel, and Audio Commentary. Finally, the DVD/Blu-Ray/Digital Copy version comes with Seven (7) “My Summer Vacation” Shorts, Ten (10) Deleted Scenes, Gag Reel, Alternate Ending, and Audio Commentary. The “Summer Vacation” shorts are very cute and further the adventures of Greg and Rowley.

Just like their Disney cousins in Toy Story, the gnomes and their other lawn friends, like trolls and frogs, all come to life when humans aren’t looking. Likewise, if a human is around, they must freeze in place. This leads to a couple of perfectly timed jokes, but the gag isn’t overused. While the humans are away, the gnomes are involved in all sorts of backyard shenanigans, the most popular of which are lawn mower races between the warring gnome factions. It is here that we see that Gnomeo is noble, heroic and loyal. We also meet his bitter rival, Tybalt, who cheats on his lawn chariot and isn’t above risking Gnomeo’s life in order to win.

Like the story of old, Gnome and Juliet accidentally meet  and have an instant attraction. That attraction leads to secret meetings and eventually a secret love. The two kids dream of running away from the chaos of their families and starting a new life in a run down, deserted yard occupied by a lonely, one legged flamingo (one of the best characters in the film). Of course, their dreams are shattered once Tybalt is shattered (he is ceramic, after all) and Gnomeo goes on the run.

The rest of the plot follows Shakespeare’s tragedy, although with some wacky twists, including the world’s most outrageous lawn mower. You’ll be happy to know that the ending of this film ends on a more upbeat note.

The film was directed by Kelly Asbury, who also co-directed Shrek 2 and Spirit: Stallion on Cimmaron and was written by a platoon of writers. The script is witty and uses the classic tale as a starting point but finds ways to be original and funny. Asbury’s direction is imaginative and he keeps the film feeling fresh and exciting. As was well advertised when the film came out, Gnomeo & Juliet uses new and old songs by Elton John and Bernie Taupin. Additionally, the original score by critically acclaimed composer James Newton Howard (an old friend of John’s) incorporates several of John’s most famous songs into his music.

Another reason Gnomeo & Juliet succeeds is the stellar cast. James McAvoy (the current “Professor X” in X-Men:First Class) and Emily Blunt (The Devil Wears Prada) star as he romantic leads. Michael Caine plays Juliet’s father and the incomparable Maggie Smith portrays Gnomeo’s widowed mother. Matt Lucas (Little Britain), Jason Statham, Ozzy Osborne, Stephen Merchant (the U.K. Office) and Patrick Stewart (as a statue of Shakespeare) all contribute to the cast, as well.

The DVD includes a featurette on how the film came together through Elton John’s new production company, a look at some of the voice actors, and a music video to “Crocodile Rock,” as performed by the cast of the film. The Blu-ray contains these same bonus features, as well as alternate endings, deleted scenes, and a behind the scenes feature with heavy metal god, Ozzy Osborne (who’s actually very good in the movie).

Gnomeo & Juliet is a sleeper film that deserves a larger audience. Parents and kids will like it and I’m sure everyone will find themselves humming one of the familiar songs soon after the credits have rolled.

Let’s talk about the movie, though. Adapted from the YA novel written by Mark Peter Hughes, Lemonade Mouth stars Brigit Mendler (Disney’s Good Luck Charlie) and Adam Hicks (Disney XD’s Zeke and Luther) as Olivia and Wen, two high school freshmen who become acquainted while serving detention. Together they meet Mo (Naomi Scott, featured in this fall’s Terra Nova), Stella (Hayley Kiyoko of Cartoon Network’s Scooby Doo prequels) and Charlie (Blake Michael, formerly of Cartoon Network’s Fried Dynamite). Stuck together doing cleaning chores, the five kids quickly learn that they all have a passion for music.

Before you know it they form their own band, settling on the name “Lemonade Mouth” after Stella sprays the resident school jerk with a mouth full of canned, organic lemonade, her favorite drink. The five kids play their own instruments (in the movie, anyway), write their own songs and come up with an anthem, “Determinate,” that all of their classmates start singing around the school halls. This last one is much to the chagrin of the school principal, Mr. Brenigan, played by Christopher McDonald (who will never outlive being “Shooter McGavin” in my book). Moreover, this anthem also pisses off the resident “it” band, Mudslide Crush, whose music sounds is a mix of Red Hot Chili Peppers funkiness and Scott Weiland cockiness.

Each of our heroes has their own issues at home. Olivia lives with her grandmother because her mom has died and her dad is MIA. Wen is distraught that his father is about to remarry a woman he doesn’t like. Mo’s parents do not approve of her rock and roll diversion and want her to focus on her studies. Stella is the school’s resident misfit. And Charlie is kind of mousy, turning his fears and aggressions into some fine drumming skills.

As the movie progresses, the main characters overcome their fears and shortcomings, eventually realizing that it’s not the music that makes the band special, it’s the friendships they’ve formed between the five of them. Additionally, they all learn that they are talented, have worth and that kid’s voices can create change.  As corny as this sounds, everything about Lemonade Mouth is executed superbly and there is an excellent message of empowerment at the core of the story. Lemonade Mouth seems clearly geared as a coming out movie for Mendler to be the next Disney “it” girl, yet all of the young actors do fine work.Like all Disney films, this is a safe one for the entire family and one worth watching multiple times.

since the movie originally aired and I can’t say that I’ve wanted to rip my hair out. The songwriters hired to compose the songs for this one did a great job. And what can be better than walking by your kids’ rooms and watching them lip sync to music?

The DVD has the limited bonus features. There is the option to sing along with the songs in the movie (the lyrics run along the bottom of your screen).There is also an extra scene and song that did not appear in the film. While the song is good (it also appears on the soundtrack) the scene is a waste of time and seems to have been thrown together just for the DVD. The tone and acting do not fit the film at all, so if it was actually a part of the original movie, it’s obvious why it was cut.

His character was Tim Taylor, the host of a TV home improvement show called, “Tool Time,” co-hosted by the level headed and likable Al Borland, played by the likable Richard Kern. Tim, the goofball in the tool belt, knew how to speak directly to the audience, while Al was obviously the one with the brains. They made a great team, both on and off the camera.  At home, Tim had a stable family of three sons and one heck of a patient wife, Jill. As played by the talented Patricia Richardson, Jill was the straight man to Allen, and Richardson had the depth to play more serious scenes with ease.

The three Taylor sons were Brad (Zachery Ty Bryan), Randy (Jonathan Taylor Thomas) and Mark (Taran Noah Smith). At times Tim was so immature at home that it often seemed like Jill was living with four boys. Still, Tim could be tough when he had to, and he clearly adored his family. The three boys developed a believable relationship on screen, so much so that when Thomas decided to quit the show near the end of season eight, there was something definitely missing from the Taylor household and the series itself.

What family sitcom would be complete without a wacky neighbor, and the Taylors had one in Wilson, who lived next door. Wilson was a wise sage who usually showed himself with his face obscured by the white picket fence that separated the yards, a plant or some other strategic prop. This running gag often left the audience wondering whether we’d ever see his full face. Finally, in the series finale, we got to see all of Earl Hindman, the actor who portrayed the character.

Home Improvement lives on in syndication. Turn on TV Land or your local independent channel ad you’re likely to find it airing once a week or at a designated half hour each weeknight. This may be one reason it seems so surprising that it’s been 20 years since the show first aired. Each season has previously been released on DVD and now Buena Vista (who produced the show) has compiled all eight seasons in this one collection. It’s a massive box set, housed in a clever tool box shaped container. One of the advantages of owning a series like this on DVD is that the episodes have not been edited in any way. It’s a little known fact that TV shows in syndication are trimmed to allow for more advertising time.

Each season in the 20th Anniversary Complete Collection comes with bonus features that include bloopers and deleted scenes. Additional featurettes include a live reunion hosted by Allen and Kern, a compilation of some of the show’s biggest gags and audio commentary by Home Improvement executive producers, Carmen Finestra and David McFadzean. To be honest, I’m not sure if any of these features are new as all of the discs in this collection have release dates that run from 2004-2008.

The box also comes with an all-in-one Binford tool (if you know the show, you know who Binford is), with pen, measuring tape and sticky notes. The price of the box is fairly reasonable, especially when you consider that you’re getting all eight seasons, plus the container.  The collection seems to have been released early enough for kids to start saving up their allowances in time for a Father’s Day gift this year.

Still, Home Improvement isn’t just a show for dads or guys who like tools (or guys who want to catch a glimpse of Pamela Anderson before she became Pamela Anderson). Home Improvement remains a safe family sitcom, one that everyone can sit around and watch together. These type of sitcoms are rare these days. The best seasons of Home Improvement, in my opinion, are season 2,3 and 4. This was when the show was in its prime and the distraction of movies and paychecks didn’t seem to effect the overall production. As the show carried on through the remainder of its life, the episodes became a little more inconsistent.

There are enough laughs to keep everyone entertained. We’re in  different era of television in which boundaries are being pushed and a show like Home Improvement now sees quaint. It’s the same feeling I had in the 80’s when watching I Love Lucy or The Andy Griffith Show. But in this digital age, when we aren’t resigned to watching what the networks or other channels tell us to, it’s nice to have a “quaint” show I can pop into the DVD player with my kids and laugh alongside them. Or, I can just watch on my own and laugh on my own.

The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes

Disney DX premiered The Avengers last fall with a series of vignettes that aired during commercial breaks between other shows. These vignettes, 3-5 minute scenes, were sliced from actual half hour episodes that focus on the individual heroes who comprise the Avengers, the super hero group who fight the Earth’s worst super villains.  The vignettes were teasers in the build up to the series launch. On Volume 1, those vignettes have been reassembled into the actual episodes. Thus, there is a half hour devoted to Iron Man, a half hour to Thor, the Hulk, Ant Man and Wasp, and finally, a rousing 1940′s adventure that stars Captain America. In case you’re wondering, Cap is frozen in suspended animation and reawakened in the 21st Century, just in time to join the Avengers.

By episode 5 on Volume 1, in which secret prisons that hold the worst super villains in the world break open, we know who the players are and anticipate them coming together to form the Avengers. The series takes it time bringing those principals together, allowing for an epic approach to the series. Characters cross paths, have misconceptions about each other, team up for the greater good, and ultimately realize that their combined super powers can help maintain peace and order in a chaotic world.  In addition to the previously mentioned heroes, two other members eventually round out the group. There is Hawkeye, a cocky master archer who is a former member of the government agency S.H.I.E.L.D, and there is the Black Panther, an African prince, who comes to America because he believes joining the Avengers will help mankind.

Disney/Marvel made a conscious decision to link the portrayal of Iron Man/Tony Stark to the smash films starring Robert Downey, Jr. In fact, Eric Loomis’ performance as Iron Man uses the same cocky cadence and flippant line reads as Downey in the movies.  It will be interesting to see how close the animated Thor and Captain America sound and act to their live action counterparts, coming to theaters this summer.

An intersting choice was made in the characterization of the Hulk. Instead of the monosyllabic mass of fury (“Hulk smash!”) that the general public knows him as, the Hulk in this Avengers is more intelligent (he can actually have qa conversation with his teammates) and has an understanding between good and evil. Early on, the Hulk hallucinates seeing his alter ego, the mild mannered Dr. Bruce Banner. The two halves of the Hulk’s personality converse and come to an understanding. If the Hulk will act as a hero, then he can maintain control of the body. Banner will be pushed in to the subconscious. This is a bold storytelling technique for a show aimed at kids. I think that makes The Avengers cooler than your typical action cartoon; it credits its young viewers with being bright enough to figure out some of the complex themes being dealt with in the show.

The Avengers is a fun, lively show that I would consider safe for any child familiar with the many other super hero series that populate the airwaves and DVD racks. It’s rated Y7 for violence, so if your child is sensitive to bone crunching punches and stylized action sequences, it might be better to check out the DVD’s yourself before letting them watch. For any parent that actually likes comic books, there’s plenty to keep you interested and entertained. Unlike some of the crappy animation that Marvel churned out in the 90′s, The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes is one of the best.

Volume 1 Episodes: 1. Iron man is Born 2. Thor the Mighty 3. Hulk vs. the World 4. Meet Captain America 5. The Man in the Ant Hill 6. Breakout, Pt. One 7. Breakout Pt. Two

Volume 2 Episodes: 8. Some Assembly Required 9. Living Legend 10. Everything is Wonderful 11. Panther’s Quest 12. Gamma World: Part One 13. Gamma World: Part Two