THE WIGGLES GO BANANAS

(Not Rated)
MOVIE: ***1/2 (out of 5)
BLU-RAY EXPERIENCE: *** (out of 5)

STARRING
Murray Cook as MURRAY WIGGLE
Jeff Fatt as JEFF WIGGLE
Anthony Field as ANTHONY WIGGLE
Sam Moran as SAM WIGGLE
Kylie Minogue as HERSELF

Studio: Warner Bros.
BY KEVIN CARR

WHAT IT’S ABOUT
The uber-popular Australian children’s show sensation comes out with their latest DVD celebrating animals. “The Wiggles Go Bananas” teach children about various types of animals – from traditional fun ones like tigers and bears to the native species from down under like wombats and Tasmanian devils. Using more than a dozen songs with bright-colored sets and energetic dancers, the Wiggles sing their way into kids’ hearts.

WHAT I LIKED
As the father of three young kids, I don’t know exactly how I escaped watching “The Wiggles” on television. My oldest (age eight, right now) is a bit beyond the Wiggle attraction. However, my six-year-old quickly wandered into the room when I watched this DVD. Similarly, my one-year-old son who toddles around like a drunken Irishman reacted immediately to the music and started dancing throughout the show.

Children’s shows can be really touchy for a parent. What makes it good for a preschool crowd is repetition and simplicity, which can be excruciating for a parent to watch. Just ask anyone who has sat through too many episodes of “Dora the Explorer” or “Blue’s Clues” to see what affect these can have on the grown-up mind. The cool thing about The Wiggles is that their consistent use of music is a great way to capture children’s imagination without falling into a rut.

“The Wiggles Go Bananas” is more than 95 percent song, featuring a variety of styles, from pop to beatnik jazz. It’s got the energy that makes kids dance themselves, even if you as a grown-up might find it a bit silly. After all, these videos are made for children rather than their parents.

Still, with the energy and different tunes, it’s easy to watch The Wiggles… but ultimately more fun to watch your kids move to the beat.

Pop singer Kylie Minogue (and her shoes) make a guest appearance at the beginning of the show, and that adds a bit of diversity to the singing. Still, the best part of this 45-minute special is the costumes of the different animals and their educational value. Added into the mix is a short introduction for each new species highlighted by The Wiggles, which features a look at the real animal from the zoo.

WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
Let’s face it, I’m well past the single digits in terms of age, and as much as I do enjoy the musical elements of The Wiggles, I can only take so much of preschool programming. Of course, now that my son is past his first birthday, I’m going to have to dust off the old shows and start watching them again.

Still, anything that’s not to like about The Wiggles comes from my age rather than the quality of the show.

DVD FEATURES
Two bonus episodes of “The Wiggles” television show are available in the special features menu, along with a short seven-minute episode of “Dorothy the Dinosaur.” In addition to this additional material (which totals a longer running time than the main feature itself), there’s a photo gallery and a spotlight on dog safety with Wags the Dog and a representative from Australia’s RSPCA.

WHO’S GOING TO LIKE THIS MOVIE
Kids, preferably of the preschool kind.