Rating: 
Summary: Good film, bad packaging
Review: Please read this review to the end, because it discusses several important highs AND lows about this DVD package. It'd be unfortunate & unbalanced, if you only got half the picture.1) The main DVD (1 of 2) has the widescreen version of the film on one side, and the TV-square version on the other side. This format makes SO much sense, and is good value for the customer. 2) Disney, which usually overloads their VHS video and DVDs with ads, and shovels them at you BEFORE the main feature, has let their ads sit in the PROPER place, this time-- under "extras" in the DVD menu. There are LOTS of extras-- a kids' book built-in on the DVD case, and some slightly puffy ad-interviews... but generally satisying despite the happy-happy-joy-joy quality of the interviews. 3) If my copy is typical, then the plastic Disney used in the DVD is substandard. My copy of the DVD has no other signs of heavy use, but already has a PAIR of fractures extending from the center of the DVD to the silvered data-bearing surface. Repeated insertion and removal from its standard pressure/friction-fit DVD case, will cause this DVD to quickly disintegrate into an unreadable coffee-cup coaster. 4) Oh yeah-- the MOVIE. *grin* It's pure Dick Van Dyke musical. I'd love to say it's Dick Van Dyke + Julie Andrews, like Mary Poppins, but it's not. However, the Julie Andrews replacement used in this film is completely acceptable, and does a job equal to Ms. Andrews' performances, and almost as pretty onscreen.
Like the Andrews films "Sound of Music" and "Mary Poppins", the childrens' performances are somewhat weak. Dick Van Dyke, however, is at the top of his game. Amazing, in someone old enough to have grey in in his hair (40 something, at this point ?) is energetic enough to do over 20 takes (by his own reporting) of the "Old Bamboo" piece, where he's required to jump over a piece of bamboo that he's holding for himself (at slightly over waist height). Good GOD, I may only know one person who can do that, even ONCE. The music is memorable, especially the "living doll" duet late in the film. The plot is predictable, and silly kids' stuff, but-- heck, this IS a kids' musical, so one can't expect a Dustin Hoffman acting level, with a Michael Moore punch and a Silence-of-the-Lambs plotline. 5) Do you REALLY want to buy a Disney film, this year ? I don't. It'd send the wrong message to them, after they've withheld distribution (through their daughter-company Miramax) on the latest Michael Moore film (Fahrenheit 9/11). Their excuse is, it'd endanger the million-dollar tax breaks they get from Bush's brother, Florida Governor Jeb Bush. So, they're copping out on their contractual obligation to distribute the film that got Cannes Film Festival's top award. That ain't right. If they'd had objections, the time to raise them was when the contract wasn't yet signed. Don't support these guys. Not this year.
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