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Spookley the Square Pumpkin
Lionsgate Home Entertainment // G // September 6, 2005
List Price: $14.98 [Buy now and save at Amazon]
The Movie
Since the publication of Hans Christian Andersen's classic 1843 fairy tale "The Ugly Duckling" (and most likely before that), the underdog character has been a prominent figure of children's literature. There have been countless stories in which a character who doesn't fit in with his peers must face some daunting task in order to achieve acceptance. "The Legend of Spookley the Square Pumpkin" by Joe Troiano is such as story which has been adapted into an animated film entitled simply Spookley the Square Pumpkin.
The story of Spookley the Square Pumpkin takes place in the pumpkin patch at Holiday Hill Farm. There, a square pumpkin named Spookley (voiced by Sonja Ball) is discovered by the other pumpkins. Seeing his round brethren, Spookley immediately realizes that he doesn't fit in. The mean-spirited comments from pumpkins Big Tom (voiced by Michel Perron) and Little Tom (voiced by Rick Jones) don't help Spookley's mood. Friendly scarecrow Jack (voiced by Craig Francis), who oversees the pumpkin patch, decides that Spookley should be given a chance to prove himself, and therefore he can participate in the "Jack A Lympics". The winner of this contest is deemed the "Pick of the Patch" and wins a crown made of candy corn. Hearing of the candy corn crown, three candy-loving spiders, Edgar (voiced by Rick Jones), Allan (voiced by Terrence Scammel) and Poe (voiced by Bruce Dinsmore), decide to help Spookley prepare for the competition. Does a square pumpkin stand a chance competing in games designed for the common round pumpkin? And will excelling in the games be enough for the others to accept Spookley?
Spookley the Square Pumpkin is a frustrating little movie which is too simple and too convoluted all at once. The main premise of the story is far from original, save for the fact that the main character is a pumpkin. Spookley's physical difference from those around him reminds us of many other characters from similar stories, such as the aforementioned "The Ugly Duckling". The tale includes the usual assortment of bullies and supporters who torment and help the main character. The story does take a somewhat surprising twist during the "Jack A Lympics", but the ending is quite predictable.
The inclusion of Joe Troiano's original book on the DVD as a read-a-long may have been a mistake, as viewers can compare the simplicity of that tale with the drawn-out nature of the movie. While the book's story is just as cliched as the movie's, it is straight-forward and quite sweet. The movie throws in many extra characters and situations and it's clear to see that this was done with the intention of not only fleshing out the story, but also padding the running time. Even with these additions, the story is quite bland and one-dimensional. The characters are quite bland and we're never given a good reason to care about Spookley, other than the notion that we should cheer for the underdog.
The look of Spookley the Square Pumpkin doesn' t help matters. The movie is 3-D computer animation, but it pales in comparison to product such as that from Pixar. The most noticeable aspect of the animation is the lack of detail. All of the characters are quite flat and plastic-looking, save for Jack's face, which has a nice burlap texture. Otherwise, everyone is very sterile and artificial looking. The animation is in no way dynamic or pleasing to the eye. Combine this with the lackluster story, and you've got one pumpkin which should be left on the porch to rot.
Video
Spookley the Square Pumpkin comes to DVD courtesy of Lions Gate Home Entertainment. The movie is presented in a full-frame (1.33:1) aspect ratio. The picture is fairly sharp and clear, showing no grain or defects from the source material. The colors, while somewhat drab, look fine here. The image is somewhat blurry at times and there are many moments when ghosting effects and haloes are visible on the screen.
Audio
The Spookley the Square Pumpkin DVD contains a Dolby Digital 2.0 audio track. This track offers clear dialogue and sound effects. I didn't notice any overt stereo or surround effects from this track. In short, the track is adequate, but in no way impressive.
Extras
The only extra on the Spookley the Square Pumpkin DVD is a "Read Along" version of "The Legend of Spookley the Square Pumpkin" book read by Bobby "Boris" Pickett, the singer of "Monster Mash". As noted above, this is a nice little book which is much easier to digest than the movie.
Most of us are accustomed to books undergoing drastic changes in order to become movies. This practice also occurs with children's literature. Spookley the Square Pumpkin takes an unoriginal, but somewhat charming book and transforms it into a movie which borders on being annoying.
Since the publication of Hans Christian Andersen's classic 1843 fairy tale "The Ugly Duckling" (and most likely before that), the underdog character has been a prominent figure of children's literature. There have been countless stories in which a character who doesn't fit in with his peers must face some daunting task in order to achieve acceptance. "The Legend of Spookley the Square Pumpkin" by Joe Troiano is such as story which has been adapted into an animated film entitled simply Spookley the Square Pumpkin.
The story of Spookley the Square Pumpkin takes place in the pumpkin patch at Holiday Hill Farm. There, a square pumpkin named Spookley (voiced by Sonja Ball) is discovered by the other pumpkins. Seeing his round brethren, Spookley immediately realizes that he doesn't fit in. The mean-spirited comments from pumpkins Big Tom (voiced by Michel Perron) and Little Tom (voiced by Rick Jones) don't help Spookley's mood. Friendly scarecrow Jack (voiced by Craig Francis), who oversees the pumpkin patch, decides that Spookley should be given a chance to prove himself, and therefore he can participate in the "Jack A Lympics". The winner of this contest is deemed the "Pick of the Patch" and wins a crown made of candy corn. Hearing of the candy corn crown, three candy-loving spiders, Edgar (voiced by Rick Jones), Allan (voiced by Terrence Scammel) and Poe (voiced by Bruce Dinsmore), decide to help Spookley prepare for the competition. Does a square pumpkin stand a chance competing in games designed for the common round pumpkin? And will excelling in the games be enough for the others to accept Spookley?
Spookley the Square Pumpkin is a frustrating little movie which is too simple and too convoluted all at once. The main premise of the story is far from original, save for the fact that the main character is a pumpkin. Spookley's physical difference from those around him reminds us of many other characters from similar stories, such as the aforementioned "The Ugly Duckling". The tale includes the usual assortment of bullies and supporters who torment and help the main character. The story does take a somewhat surprising twist during the "Jack A Lympics", but the ending is quite predictable.
The inclusion of Joe Troiano's original book on the DVD as a read-a-long may have been a mistake, as viewers can compare the simplicity of that tale with the drawn-out nature of the movie. While the book's story is just as cliched as the movie's, it is straight-forward and quite sweet. The movie throws in many extra characters and situations and it's clear to see that this was done with the intention of not only fleshing out the story, but also padding the running time. Even with these additions, the story is quite bland and one-dimensional. The characters are quite bland and we're never given a good reason to care about Spookley, other than the notion that we should cheer for the underdog.
The look of Spookley the Square Pumpkin doesn' t help matters. The movie is 3-D computer animation, but it pales in comparison to product such as that from Pixar. The most noticeable aspect of the animation is the lack of detail. All of the characters are quite flat and plastic-looking, save for Jack's face, which has a nice burlap texture. Otherwise, everyone is very sterile and artificial looking. The animation is in no way dynamic or pleasing to the eye. Combine this with the lackluster story, and you've got one pumpkin which should be left on the porch to rot.
Video
Spookley the Square Pumpkin comes to DVD courtesy of Lions Gate Home Entertainment. The movie is presented in a full-frame (1.33:1) aspect ratio. The picture is fairly sharp and clear, showing no grain or defects from the source material. The colors, while somewhat drab, look fine here. The image is somewhat blurry at times and there are many moments when ghosting effects and haloes are visible on the screen.
Audio
The Spookley the Square Pumpkin DVD contains a Dolby Digital 2.0 audio track. This track offers clear dialogue and sound effects. I didn't notice any overt stereo or surround effects from this track. In short, the track is adequate, but in no way impressive.
Extras
The only extra on the Spookley the Square Pumpkin DVD is a "Read Along" version of "The Legend of Spookley the Square Pumpkin" book read by Bobby "Boris" Pickett, the singer of "Monster Mash". As noted above, this is a nice little book which is much easier to digest than the movie.
Most of us are accustomed to books undergoing drastic changes in order to become movies. This practice also occurs with children's literature. Spookley the Square Pumpkin takes an unoriginal, but somewhat charming book and transforms it into a movie which borders on being annoying.
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