Disney Presents: ABC's Schoolhouse Rock! Earth is a faithful return to the formula that made such a splash back in those days, but this time with a focus on one specific topic. The environmental movement has become less like some fringe organization chasing murky claims, especially through respected efforts like Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth." It's as important today that kids know and understand their impact on the environment as it was for kids to pay attention in school, especially in math and science class. Schoolhouse Rock! Earth attempts to provide the call to action for a new generation that needs to get the message.
The collection includes 11 new pieces, plus a remastered version of "The Energy Blues," and a riff on "Three is a Magic Number" called "The Three Rs" performed by Mitchel Musso. Tween girls the world around may be lured into learning more about the environment through Musso, and that's not a bad thing. The musical brilliance behind the original series is here, in the form of Bob Dorough. The animation is perhaps a bit too faithful to the original. Kids are likely to view some of this as antiquated, meaning they won't engage as quickly or as deeply. Let's face it: Hannah Montana has the power to influence more kids these days than any type of Schoolhouse Rock! redux. The hope is that great songs and cute videos will make their mark and convince some kids to turn off lights, recycle, save water, and convince their parents to do the same.
Younger parents not in touch with the format of the original show may be surprised to find that this DVD is really like a collection of little music videos. Other than a persistent theme of saving the planet, there's no real thematic material that ties this together. Some of the original characters appear, like Interplanet Janet, but the newer material is very good. The highlight is a trio of polar bears that lead off by sharing with us the poor state of affairs at the North Pole. It's this kind of humor that will hook kids in, and keep them watching Schoolhouse Rock! Earth. Because it comes across a bit dated, it's likely this won't be a recurring spin in your family's DVD turntable, other than by nostalgic parents that were products of the '70s. We certainly applaud anything that can increase awareness of environmental issues, and here's hoping that Schoolhouse Rock! Earth does for conservation and ecological stewardship what the original Schoolhouse Rock! did for math and science.
