Barney's Great Adventure

Something must be seriously wrong with me because I didn't hate the new Barney movie. It's a lot less grating than the TV series, and the preschool-friendly antics actually had me giggling more than once. Three children spending a week at their grandparents' farm conjure up Barney and discover a magical giant egg. When they lose the egg, they spend the rest of the film chasing it through colorful, wacky scenes packed with music and dancing.

Whereas the children on the TV show are painfully precocious, the three in Barney's Great Adventure are well-behaved, even likable. Little boys might reject the plot for its squeaky-clean positivity, but frequent audience participation and sing-alongs should keep most tots engaged and entertained. There's not much to excite parents here -- Barney still talks down to the kids and lacks the multiple levels that made Sesame Street so brilliant -- but they won't be nauseated, either. Plus, Barney taught me lots about teamwork, using my imagination, and making the best out of a bad situation (like being assigned to review this film). At the Harbour Mall, Holiday and Showcase cinemas.

-- Dan Tobin