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Doogal
 Ok, stay with me on this one: Legend tells of three magic diamonds, which, in the wrong hands, can be united to create a force powerful enough to freeze the sun! When an evil sorcerer, Zeebad (voiced by Jon Stewart), escapes from his ancient prison, he vows to exact revenge by deep-freezing the earth forever.
Enter four unlikely heroes, led by candy-loving pooch Doogal (Kenan Thompson), who are determined to band together, foil Zeebad’s villainous plot, and save the world. There’s Dylan, a laid-back, guitar-playing bunny (Jimmy Fallon); Brian, a shy little snail (William H. Macy), and Ermintrude, an opera-singing cow (Whoopi Goldberg). To find the diamonds before Zeebad, the foursome must climb icy mountains, navigate fiery pits of molten lava, sail across vast oceans, and pass through a booby-trapped temple guarded by an army of ninja skeleton warriors. Along the way, they discover their most powerful weapon: their friendship. Integral to the story is Florence, a charming, down-to-earth little girl who loves to bake Doogal his favorite cakes. But even imprisoned in a chamber of ice, look out! She’s feisty and a force to be reckoned with, and her strength and courage must shine through if she’s going to survive and save her friends. This movie is based on a popular BBC children’s television series, originally shown in the U.K. between 1964 and 1967, in 5-minute episodes before the news each evening. The series has since been shown on more than 98 TV stations world wide and translated into 28 languages. A movie entitled “The Magic Roundabout” was released in the U.K. last year to much fanfare (although some say it bears little resemblance to the TV series). Now in the U.S. with the name “Doogal” and different voices, this is an inventive movie for kids and adults. PRE-SCHOOLER (ages 2-5): Little ones will love the colorful, funny, and noisy adventures of these characters. And they might just pick up on the messages of friendship and courage, too. While 2- and 3-year-olds might get antsy, this is a wonderful movie for kids 4 and up. GRADE-SCHOOLER (ages 6-10): This movie has plenty of fast action and fun characters to keep grade-schoolers happy, and also some powerful messages about love and friendship -- and their ability to help people (and animals!) overcome any predicament. Another great message for kids this age: Don’t be fooled by the way people look on the outside. TWEEN/TEEN (ages 11+): This is a great movie to see together as a family, because it has something for everyone. The characters aren’t one-dimensional, which is a pleasant departure from the norm for kids' movies. And there are plenty of grown-up jokes gleaned from movies like Lord of the Rings, The Matrix, and Pulp Fiction. ________________________ Jane Louise Boursaw is a freelance writer specializing in the television and movie industry. Her syndicated column, "Reel Life With Jane," is published in papers throughout the country. Email her at jboursaw@charter.net. |
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