Got kids? Need some discs to keep them under control? Okay. We got you covered…
The Adventures of Pete & Pete: Season 1. One of the quirkier shows for kids out there, this Nickelodeon title struck a chord with a lot of folks. It started out as one-minute shorts, then graduated to specials and then finally a series. On this Paramount set, you get the first eight episodes, plus four specials, and a couple of shorts. All this on two discs. There’s audio commentary on two episodes and a special, and a music station of seven songs from the series. If nothing else, this is worth checking out to see what series could attract Michael Stipe, Steve Buscemi and Hunter S. Thompson to make appearances. Streeted 5/17. (US)(UK)(CAN)
Clarissa Explains It All: Season 1. This Nickelodeon series marked the arrival of Melissa Joan Hart on the small screen and all thirteen first season episodes are here on two discs. Basically, it’s the story of Hart’s character, a junior high student, and her family. And all the hijinks that come along with being that age and rambunctious and energetic, a concept that wears me out just typing it out here. Anyway, it’s good for kids of that same age, or for bigger kids if you’re just feeling nostalgic. This Paramount set comes with only some Nick TV spots from that era of the network along with Hart’s segment from Cribs, a show from MTV. Streeted 5/17. (US)(UK)(CAN)
Pooh’s Heffalump Movie. The latest Pooh movie hit cinemas and managed to make its money back worldwide…I’m sure this DVD release will be the icing on the cake. Still, it’s short, the Messages are billboard-sized and your kids already like Pooh, so this Disney release can’t be faulted too much. Single digit kids will dig the hell out of it. And once you’ve got it home, there’s the ability to sing along with the songs, a hide and seek game, what amounts to a making-of featurette, and some DVD-ROM stuff: coloring pages and a recipe. Streeted 5/24. (US)(UK)(CAN)
Racing Stripes. Well, if your kid likes animals (and I don’t know any kid that doesn’t), this movie might work for them. It’s especially designed for kids in the single digit range, and the farther you get away from that the more it will probably make you want to tear your hair out. Still, it’s hard to get too upset with a film that has tolerance among its messages. Too bad it delivers it with a mallet like we’ve already seen this batch. A cute mallet, yes, but still…a mallet. Anyway, this Warner Brothers release comes with an alternate ending, outtakes, a featurette on making the animals talk, deleted scenes, a game, and a director’s commentary. See the official site. Streeted 5/10. (US)(UK)(CAN)
