Lionsgate, color, NR, 88 min. plus supplements, Dolby Digital 2.0, fullscreen, Street: Aug. 1, $14.98; First Run: Playhouse Disney, 2004
The Doodlebops are a Canadian rock trio for the preschool set that's making waves in America with a show running on Playhouse Disney and now the release of its first two DVDs. In the program, Deedee, Rooney and Moe Doodle hang out in their studio practicing songs and dances and chatting with their manager, Mazz. Then they travel to the concert that ends every show, where excited kids and parents wait to see them perform. They really have their repetitive format down pat: the tiresome schtick of "Where's Moe?" that starts every show, the singing of their Doodlebop pledge ("We promise to share, we promise to care, all together as a team"), embarking on an outside adventure, meeting Bob the Bus Driver to get to their concert and then the concert itself. Borrowing heavily from such shows as The Wiggles, You Can't Do That On Television and Sesame Street, with hyper Kool-Aid colored costumes and peppy songs, the Doodlebops surely appeal to a very young demographic (and probably not their parents). The DVD also features the self-explanatory featurettes of four sing-alongs, four knock-knock jokes and three music videos. This DVD is not the most educational choice available, but, like The Wiggles, the singing and dancing is what will catch the children's attention. Also available is the similarly upbeat Dance & Hop With the Doodlebops.
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