This is one of those recommendations where a parent’s overwhelming sense of nostalgia will likely trump the actual entertainment value for the kids.
But hey, we’re the ones paying the Netflix bills, right? So treat the family to “School House Rock! Special 30th Anniversary Edition,” collecting all 46 of the original animated educational songs that graced ABC on Saturday mornings.
If you buy this edition at a store, you’ll also get the unforgettable, near-viral lyrics to those catchy songs, including “Lolly, Lolly, Lolly Get Your Adverbs Here!”
The special edition includes a new song produced after the Florida presidential election fiasco, called “I’m Gonna Send Your Vote to College.” Let’s hope the official “electors” watch it before 2008.
The cartoons succeeded as children’s television always does, through good writing that refuses to condescend: “He cured the infection/with one small injection/while Reginal uttered some interjections … Hey! That smarts!”
There’s no hope for you getting “I’m Just a Bill” out of your thoughts. But at least you and the kids will know how to turn that “sad little scrap of paper” into a real, live law of the land.
Each Tuesday, Michael Booth uncovers a movie gem for rewarding family entertainment. Reach him at mbooth@denverpost.com or the “Screen Team” blog at denverpostbloghouse .com.
School House Rock! Special 30th Anniversary Edition | Rated: G
Most appealing: Children 5 or older
