Paramount Studios presents

Blue's Room: Snacktime Playdate (2004)

"Hi, you!"- Blue

Stars: Victoria Pontecorvo, Christiana Anbri, Jared Goldsmith, Alex Hoffman, Briana Gentillella, Traci Paige Johnson, LaNae Allen, Kelly Nigh, Nicole Gibson, Seth O'Hickory
Director: various

MPAA Rating: Not Rated for (nothing objectionable)
Run Time: 01h:40m:08s
Release Date: 2004-08-10
Genre: family

Style Grade	Substance Grade	Image Transfer Grade	Audio Transfer Grade	Extras Grade
B+	B+	B+	B+	B-

 

DVD Review

Following the triumph of her first ever all-talking appearance in her alternative playroom universe, America's favorite blue puppy's debut full-length DVD installment of Blue's Room: Snacktime Playdate marks the latest release of Nick Jr/Paramount Studios latest breakout hit.

Once our friendly host hands out greetings and salutations, she suggests spinning the Playdate Spinner to determine the day's big activity. With a little help from her faithful, viewing at home, blowing in the direction of their television screens, it's time for a Snacktime Playdate! As giggling cupcakes sway in and out of view, a bevy of fun activities lead up to the meal: Polka Dot playing hide-and-seek with puzzle pieces up for grabs once Blue and you locate his whereabouts; Dictionary helping with the meaning behind a descriptive word utilized for food that she's never heard before; and, with a little help from Dress Up Chest, getting herself and those at home suited up for a live performance of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, a popular children's book (be practicing your "squeak, squeak", kids).

Three additional episodes take us back to the more familiar confines of Blue's regular pad: Blue's Wishes is a show-length wonder in which a wand named Wish grants any command Joe requests. Shrinking dog and owner down to toy train size for a fun choo-choo ride around the track? No problem! Bringing a beautiful horse out of the pages of a storybook into the backyard? Command granted!

It's flashback time in the next two shows. Blue's Café finds ol' pal Steverino putting on a bowtie to play waiter and prepping Blue's home-based restaurant. Let's see—chairs in place, tablecloth readied, silverware neatly wrapped, menu offerings printed—oh, wait, there's no dessert is mentioned! Handy-dandy note-a-book time as we clue our way toward the scrumptious mystery sweet treat.

One last half hour of playtime comes courtesy of The Grow Show where Blue wants to participate, but you and Steve have go paw-print hunting to guess her game of choice (she's not talking).

If you're youngster's not picky about the contrast and lack of widescreen, should you be? Another nice transfer of this consistently pretty looking show.

Rating for Style: B+
Rating for Substance: B+

 

Image Transfer

	One
Aspect Ratio	1.33:1 - Full Frame
Original Aspect Ratio	yes
Anamorphic	no

Image Transfer Grade: B+
 

Audio Transfer

	Language	Remote Access
DS 2.0	English	yes

Audio Transfer Grade: B+ 

Disc Extras

Full Motion menu with music
Subtitles/Captions in English with remote access
Packaging: Keep Case
Picture Disc
1 Disc
1-Sided disc(s)
Layers: single

Extra Extras:

1. Blue's "Snacktime Playdate" Game
2. Blue's Room Spots
3. Nick Jr. Baby "Curious Buddies" Sneak Peek
4. Sneak Previews Of Various Paramount Kid Vids

Extras Review: Handy-dandy perks on this volume include a companion graphics-based Snacktime game in which parents and child can participate with the pup by answering food-related queries; Blue's Room Spots spotlights lucky kids interacting with Blue and her cohorts chit-chatting about everything from fave rooms to just being silly for the pure joy of it; an extended feature with clips from Nick Jr.'s forthcoming Curious Buddies series and previews of Paramount kid vids running the gamut from upcoming Dora the Explorer volumes to classic Peanuts television specials.

Extras Grade: B-
 

Final Comments

Blue talks, and talks, and talks. Your kids will hit repeat, repeat, repeat, and I wouldn't be surprised if, when nobody else is around, you might indulge in a Snacktime Playdate with the crown pup of Nick Jr. yourself.

Jeff Rosado 2004-08-10