Happy Feet Two

As fans of Happy Feet, every time we watch the movie we can’t help but wonder what happened to Mumble and Gloria. We know that they would probably end up together but what did their future hold? Well, now we know.

Mumble, The Master of Tap, has a problem. His tiny son, Erik, is choreo-phobic and lacks the talent of all the other penguins. Reluctant to dance, Erik runs away and encounters The Mighty Sven – a penguin who can fly! Mumble has no hope of competing with this charismatic new role model.

Things go from bad to worse for Mumble when the world is shaken by powerful forces. Erik learns of his father’s guts and grit as Mumble brings together the penguin nations and all manner of fabulous creatures – from tiny Krills to giant Elephant Seals – to put things right.

I have to say that I’m a little surprised by all the negative reviews that Happy Feet Two has been getting on Amazon.com. Yes, it’s not the most compelling story but my family found it to be very entertaining nonetheless. The movie opens with a great dance number to Rhythm Nation and continued to showcase other toe-tapping songs throughout the film. The kids loved the music and I enjoyed hearing some of my old-time favorites.

However, what makes this sequel different from the original is the emphasis they placed on some serious subjects like father-son relationships and saving our environment. My kids could relate to Erik in that they sometimes feel that their father doesn’t always understand them. In this movie they saw how Mumble and Erik overcame their differences to form a bond that was stronger than ever. It gave them the understanding that even though they may not always agree, their Dad will always be there to love and protect them. And of course, no one could miss the not-so-subtle message that we need to protect the environment and the creatures that live in it.

Music, dancing, entertaining characters, and a strong social message . . . Happy Feet Two is a great family film.

Purchase your copy of Happy Feet Two at Amazon.com for $15.49.

This post was written for Warner Bros. Pictures who provided the complimentary copy in exchange for our honest review.

Disney Junior 24-hour Programming Launces in the US on March 23rd

Disney Junior, a 24-hour basic cable/satellite channel expressly for kids age 2-7 and their parents/caregivers, will launch FRIDAY, MARCH 23 (12:00 midnight, ET/PT) in the U.S., joining 28 other Disney Junior channels around the world. The announcement was made today at the Television Critics Association Press Tour in Pasadena, California, by Gary Marsh, President and Chief Creative Officer, Disney Channels Worldwide. Disney Junior was introduced as a daily programming block on Disney Channel in February 2010 and, year to year, its ratings are up 26% among Kids 2-5 and 36% among Boys 2-5.

The popular Disney Junior daily programming block will continue on Disney Channel while the new 24 hour channel will fulfill parents’ demands for quintessentially Disney programming throughout the day. The Disney Junior channel will be available via major cable and satellite providers Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Cablevision, Bright House Networks and Verizon, among others. Additional information regarding Disney Junior is available at DisneyJuniorTheChannel.com.

Marsh said: “This marks the beginning of a sea change in the ‘preschool plus’ television landscape. The response to our Disney Junior programming block has been extremely positive from both our affiliate partners and our viewers’ parents. On March 23, when it launches as a stand-alone channel, our audience will have the opportunity to experience an engaging, learning-focused and uniquely Disney destination on a 24-hour basis.”

Disney Junior invites mom and dad to join their child in the Disney experience of magical, musical and heartfelt stories and characters, while incorporating specific learning and development themes designed for kids age 2-7. A council of academic advisors comprising experts in the fields of child development, transmedia, storytelling, early education and creativity will guide Disney Junior’s learning and development curriculum.

Nancy Kanter, Senior Vice President, Original Programming and General Manager, Disney Junior Worldwide, said: “Disney Junior series each have specific curriculum experts and now, to maximize overall learning value, we are deepening our conversation to include a channel advisory council that will share research and knowledge in the world of education and bring important perspectives on innovations in early childhood learning.”

The 24 hour Disney Junior schedule will include daily telecasts of “Jake and the Never Land Pirates” (the #1 series among Boys 2-5 for 2011) and the hit series “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.” It will also introduce the animated series “Doc McStuffins” at launch, and will feature new editions of the acclaimed short-form series “A Poem Is…” and a weekend movie block, “Magical World of Disney Junior.” New interstitials featuring Disney heritage characters, including Sebastian and Flounder from “The Little Mermaid,” Mrs. Potts and Chip from “Beauty and the Beast,” and pups Lucky and Pepper “101 Dalmatians,” will also debut.

The programming schedule includes:

“Doc McStuffins” – an animated series about a six-year-old girl who communicates with and heals stuffed animals and toys in her backyard clinic. Under the consultancy of the Hollywood Health & Society division of the USC Annenberg Norman Lear Center, the series will highlight the importance of taking care of oneself and others, while showcasing the hallmarks of great Disney storytelling – fantasy and wish fulfillment. Emmy Award-winning writer/producer Chris Nee (“Little Bill” and “Deadliest Catch: Crab Fishing in Alaska”) is the creator and executive producer, and Emmy Award-winning Norton Virgien (“Rugrats”) is the director. “Doc McStuffins” is a production of the Dublin, Ireland-based Brown Bag Films (two time Academy Award nominee for “Granny O’Grimm” and “Give Up Yer Aul Sins”). DisneyJunior.com will debut a “Doc McStuffins” supersite featuring an interactive clinic where kids can assist Doc in nurturing toys back to health.

“A Poem Is…” — Laura Linney, Viola Davis, John Leguizamo, Jessica Alba, Owen Wilson and Liev Schreiber are among the narrators of the second season of the acclaimed short-form series designed to introduce young children to the beauty of a poem.

“Magical World of Disney Junior” — a weekend movie night featuring telecasts of Disney’s vast array of classic and contemporary movies, including “Beauty and the Beast,” “Bambi,” “Dumbo,” “The Princess and the Frog,” “Cars,” “Toy Story 2,” “Monsters, Inc.” and “Aladdin,” among others.

“Gaspard and Lisa” — the adventures of two best friend puppies as they experience the wonders and challenges of school and family life in their Paris neighborhood. Based on the books by Anne Gutman and Georg Hallensleben, “Gaspard and Lisa” is produced by Chorion.

“Guess How Much I Love You” — a tender animated series centered on the father-son relationship between Little Nutbrown Hare and Big Nutbrown Hare. Based on the UK picture book, Guess How Much I Love You, by Sam McBratney and Anita Jeram, the series will air exclusively on Disney Junior the Channel. “Guess How Much I Love You” is a production of the Australia-based SLR Productions.

In addition to current hits “Jake and the Never Land Pirates,” “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse,” “Little Einsteins,” “Handy Manny” and “Special Agent Oso,” the channel will also present viewer favorites from the past, “Higglytown Heroes,” “Stanley,” “JoJo’s Circus” and “Rolie Polie Olie,” among others.

Other upcoming programming includes “Sofia the First,” a television movie and series introducing a new little girl princess with stories designed to communicate positive messages and life lessons that are applicable to preschool-aged children; and “Oki’s Oasis,” the first western for preschoolers, starring actress and singer-songwriter Mandy Moore (Disney’s “Tangled”) as the voice of Oki, a kitty cat sheriff who ensures that the town of Nice and Friendly Corners remains the friendliest town in the West.

About Disney Junior:

Disney Junior reflects the emotional connection generations of consumers have to Disney storytelling and Disney characters, both classic and contemporary. It invites mom and dad to join their child in the Disney experience of magical, musical and heartfelt stories and characters, while incorporating specific learning and development themes designed for kids age 2-7. Disney Junior’s animated and live action series blend Disney’s unparalleled storytelling and characters kids love deeply with learning, including early math, language skills, healthy eating and lifestyles, and social skills. Disney Junior launched in February 2011 with a daily programming block on Disney Channel. In its first year, Disney Junior posted the network’s biggest yearly audience in the daypart in Total Viewers, Kids 2-5, Boys 2-5, Girls 2-5 and Women 18-49 and increased by double-digit margins among preschooler demographics over year-ago levels.

About Disney Channels Worldwide:

Disney Channels Worldwide is a portfolio of 100 kid-driven, family inclusive entertainment channels and/or channel feeds available in 169 countries in 35 languages, spanning Disney Channel, Disney XD, Disney Junior, Disney Cinemagic, Hungama and Radio Disney brands. Through cable, satellite and digital terrestrial television channels and a strategic partnership with Disney-ABC-ESPN Television for the third-party distribution of Disney-branded kids’ programming across the globe, Disney Channels Worldwide reaches hundreds of millions of viewers. Disney Channel properties continue to rapidly expand into new markets across the world, playing a key role in introducing the Disney brand to new consumers.

Courtesy of Disney Junior

Baby Phat Girlz

When it comes to chic fashion for girls, Baby Phat has what your daughters are looking for. This season it’s all about black, white, and red as well as bright candy colors.

Over the last decade, Baby Phat has established itself in the world of fashion as a premier metropolitan brand. Baby Phat first hit the scene when tiny tees with the clever name Baby Phat (an acronym for “pretty, hot and tempting”) were produced to electrify a Phat Farm runway show. When celebrities, supermodels and tastemakers began wearing the baby tees, a phenomenon grew, and a decision was made to launch an entire Baby Phat sportswear collection. A lifestyle brand was born.

We had a chance to check out their website and found so many cool things for the girls! What really impressed me was that their outfits were not only stylish but very conservative in nature. No low necklines, showy mid-drifts, or short shorts. Baby Phat proves that your daughter can look cool while still dressing for her age.

Check these out!

We received a fuchsia top for Kacie to review and we loved it! It’s made from 100% cotton and is super soft and comfortable. The lace trims gives it added style and I really liked how the criss-cross bodice is stitched together to stay closed. She has some other tops with a similar design but I’ve had to sew the flaps together so that they didn’t open up while she was wearing it.

We also like how versatile this top is. She can wear it alone during the Summer months or over another shirt for cooler nights. And who doesn’t love a little bling?

However, the best part is that Kacie loves it! Because let’s be honest, if she didn’t love it would just end up on the bottom of her closet. Baby Phat is a hit with my fashion conscience girls!

This post was written for Baby Phat who provided the complimentary item in exchange for our honest review.

Aloha Friday #217

Welcome to this week’s edition of Aloha Friday. In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that we take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So I thought that on Fridays I would take it easy on posting, too.

Therefore, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response. If you’d like to participate, just post your own question on your blog and leave your link below. Don’t forget to visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!

So my question is . .

Who’s the funniest person you know?

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