The Care Bears Big Wish Movie

It's the Care Bears in their newest CGI movie, "Big Wish Movie." Think it's lame? Think it's cheesy? You couldn't be more wrong! This movie has a bit of something for everyone --- top-notch vocal performances and songs, great humor, a well-written story and some neat new characters.

The basic premise of the movie is that Wish Bear loves helping her friends by making wishes on her wishing star, Twinkers. However, some of the Care Bears are concerned that her wishes are creating problems rather than helping things out. Wish Bear, upset, makes a wish for some new friends that like wishing as much as she does --- and prepare to be shocked and amazed by the results! There are lots of great jokes in this movie and even a nice reference to the previous CGI Care Bears feature, "Journey to Joke-a-Lot." Viewers will also probably be pleased that there are a lot more Care Bears shown and speaking in this one than in "Journey to Joke-a-Lot." There are a total of five songs in the movie. Each are fun and different from the simple opening theme (which features a chorus repeating "Care Bears in a Big Wish" many times --- very simple, but works with the music) to the drop-down riotous "Get a Lot." And the "Power of Wishing" song played during the closing credits feels like a fun blast from the past.

Some have complained that the animation is cheesy, but I rather like it. It's 3D, colorful and fun to watch.

The DVD production of this movie is well up to the great standard that the movie set. The menus feature many of the 3D scenes from the movie, including the Care-a-Lot conference room and Wish Bear narrates all the menus. There a few neat games and the Care-o-Meter is woven into the DVD, so each time you complete a "Caring Activity," you're one step closer to unlocking some additional bonus features.

My children absolutely adore this film. The music is well-written for a kids' film, the storyline is meaningful, and, i hate to say it, it's just really cute. (I feel so cheap for having said it.) One question for anyone else who owns it on DVD already...Has anyone else noticed a defect during the song "In Care-A-Lot"? Both the rental copy at Blockbuster AND the one i purchased pixillate and freak out during that song, the same way in the same spot. I'd like to know if anyone else has had this issue? Still a great flick. I just have to skip the end of that scene where the disc goes berserk. Let me know! I'll try to contact nelvana/lions gate and see what they have to say, too.

I will be honest in saying I do prefer the 80s Care Bears incarnations over the recent CGI-animated ones. But while I liked Oopsy Does It, had mixed views on Giving Festival and Care Bears to the Rescue and hated Journey to Joke-a-Lot, I found myself really enjoying Big Wish Movie. The dialogue is on the corny and saccharine side, and some of the character designs could have been more fluid and less bloated(even if not as problematic as Journey to Joke-a-Lot. However, the colours and backgrounds are full of vibrant colour, the score is whimsical and the songs are surprisingly good with the best being the hilarious Get a Lot and the touching I Wish. The story has heart, and is charming with good moralising. The characters are cute, and the voice work while not outstanding is solid. All in all, the best of the CGI Care Bears movies if not as good as the outings from the 80s. 8/10 Bethany Cox