The Plot:
The DVD here offers five episodes of The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack series, each one consisting of two internal installments. They represent the first five shows that ever aired. Almost all revolve exclusively around the whiny little whippersnapper Flapjack, his ever loyal Beluga, and the sneaking salty dog who seems to want something more than a means of finding a mythic atoll of treats. As for titles and plotlines, here is what you will find:

"Several Leagues Under the Sea" (Bubbie and the boys are challenged to a race through the Sea of Teeth)/ "Eye Sea You" (While doing the laundry, the boys spy on Bubbie)
"Kid Nickels" (Capt. K'Nuckles loses Flapjack in a poker game)/ "The Sweet Life" (the boys try to con a Candy connoisseur out of their edible furniture)
"Several Leagues Above the Sea" (an evil inventor with a crush on Bubbie invents a flying contraption)/ "That's a Wrap" (the boys learn that a special wrapper leads to the location of Candied Island)
"Cammie Island" (when they stowaway on the wrong ship, the boys wind up on an island of monsters)/ "Shave and a Haircut...Two Friends" (Flapjack needs a trim in order to read a map. The barber ends up swiping said chart)
"Skooled" (the boys go back to school to learn direction)/ "Snarked" (Bubbie is kidnapped and the boys must rescue her).

The DVD:
Colorful, clever, and all together cracked, The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack is the kind of cartoon experience that probably won't foster a long running, multigenerational cult. Aimed directly at the wee ones who make Cartoon Network a continuous thorn in Disney/Nickelodeon's side, the sweet treat based burlesque is a great deal of sly, superficial fun. This is not some kind of subversion kid vid concoction like Ren and Stimpy, and there are other shows on the Turner-based channel that are a lot more strange and surreal. But thanks to the wonderful voice acting of Brian Doyle-Murray (as Capt. K'Nuckles) and Roz Ryan (as Bubbie), as well as the pop art parameters of the character and backdrop design, we can experience something slightly above average while not having our animation standards overly tweaked. Indeed, when The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack works, it's like a perky pleasure cruise. But there are also times when it sinks directly down to Davy Jone's locker of lameness.

Whenever creator/co-writer/voice of our hero Mark "Thurop" Van Orman goes for a message ("bragging is bad", "stealing is wrong") the show gets scuttled. Indeed, had it only been about the pure pleasure in pursuing endless helpings of sugary snacks, The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack would be a pixie stick of palpable entertainment. Whenever the boys get that peppermint piece look in their eyes, mouths watering over the thought of each individually wrapped sweet meat, the series soars into overdrive. The quest for a map is understandable, as are the questionable looks and reactions from the Stormalong citizenry. But then Bubbie comes along with her motherly mantras and advice and we recognize that the fun, at least for now, is mostly over. Since this is the opening salvo in a show that has since gone on for two whole seasons and 29 installments, one recognizes a novice creation getting its sea legs, so to speak. For what's present up front, and what it hints at for the future, Mark "Thurop" Van Orman and the gang seem prepared to increase the oddball quotient while downplaying the do-gooding and moralizing.

Of the episodes offered, "Several Leagues Under the Sea" is better than the above-ground take on the title, while "Skooled" and "Snarked" illustrate the future promise spoken about before. "Cammie Island" has possibilities that never quite get delivered, while "Eye Sea You" is the kind of sappy, syrupy pap that gives kid's cartoons a bad name. Elsewhere, "Kid Nickels" and "Shave and a Haircut..." start out strong, but loose steam when the mandatory 10 minute mark hits. Indeed, since each installment is divided in two, The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack can feel ridiculously rushed. Jokes are sometimes thrown aside too quickly, timing being the key to make them resonate beyond the standard ADD attention span. Still, this is a bright and shiny example of how talent and technique can overcome some of the familiar family entertainment formulas the genre has suffered from over the years. While it won't rewrite the rulebook or jumpstart an already viable obsession with pirates and the sea, The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack is a lot of fun...and that's all you can really ask for in a simple pen and ink premise.

The Video:
Perhaps the best thing about this DVD is Cartoon Networks decision to release the episodes in their original 1.78:1 OAR, instead of the cropped full screen versions you sometimes see when they air. Each installment is sharp and crystal clear, the colors literally popping from the TV screen. There are no visible flaws or transfer issues and this kind of flawless presentation really illustrates the artistry involved in making the show.

The Audio:
On the sound side of things, there's not much novelty here. The Dolby Digital Stereo 2.0 is respectable, but not authoritative. We are treated to clean dialogue and frequent cartoon sound effects, but there is nothing really immersive or atmospheric about the mix.

The Extras:
The only bonus features offered here are looks at the voice acting (all except Ryan are on hand to talk about the process), adventures in animation (an overview of the creative elements) and a behind the scenes on the music used in the show. Along with a profile of Flapjack father Van Orman, the material suffers from an EPK level of superficiality. While we don't expect more from such an age-specific title, a little more substance would have been nice.

Final Thoughts:
A few weeks back, I reviewed another Cartoon Network series entitled Chowder, and what I said at the time bares repeating - If you're pushing past middle-age, like yours truly, you'll probably grow tired of the constant chaos. If you are a parent with wee ones, however, you'll smile when you realize that those little ankle biters will just love this. Unlike the previous ranked title, however, The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack is definitely a lot more fun than an oddball offering about a wannabe boy chef. Therefore, this offering earns a slightly more significant score of Highly Recommended. In essence, while I could never see myself become a devotee of a little culinary cut-up named Chowder, I might check out Flapjack now and then to see if he ever makes it anywhere near Candied Island. While nowhere near the classic status claimed by a certain block britched phylum, this is one waterlogged wonder.

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