TV Show Review: Full House - Season 7

Stars: 5 out of 5
Pros: A great show continues to entertain.

Cons: Cheesy and corny at times as always.

The Bottom Line:

A family sitcom

With plenty of laughs and heart

Still with cheese and corn

"I Laughed.  I Cried.  But Mostly I Laughed."

For six seasons, we've watched the Tanner family laugh, love, and learn together on the sitcom Full House. Patriarch Danny (Bob Saget) leads everyone in the best way he can, helped by the other adults, his best friend Joey (Dave Coulier), brother-in-law Jesse (John Stamos), and Jesse's wife Becky (Lori Loughlin). The kids are growing up fast. Eldest daughter D.J. (Candace Cameron) is entering year two with boyfriend Steve (Scott Weinger) and still hangs out with neighbor Kimmy Gibbler (Andrea Barber), much to everyone's dismay. Stephanie (Jodie Sweetin) is entering junior high, while Michelle (Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen) continues in elementary school. And if you are looking for the cuteness factor the show used to have, look no further then Jesse and Becky's twins Nicky and Alex (Blake & Dylan Tuomy-Wilhoit). season seven finds the entire clan back in action with lots of antics for everyone to enjoy.

Everyone continues to grow and learn. D.J. is finding facing the SAT's a nightmare in one of the highlights of the season. On the other hand, her boyfriend Steve has moved into his own apartment, a definite plus. Stephanie has to make all new friends at a new school. Meanwhile, Michelle must decide between her old best friend and her new best friend when Teddy (Tahj Mowry) moves back from Texas.

The adults face new challenges as well. Danny must make a hard decision with his fiancee. Joey has a new girlfriend who doesn't impress the family. Jesse and Becky deal with disciplining their twins. Jesse inherits his band's old stomping grounds, that is, if he can keep The Smash Club open. And the entire family gets into the act when Michelle's missing bike sets off a neighborhood crime wave.

There are also some episodes with more serious themes. Stephanie leads an anti-smoking episode. Michelle enters a soap box derby and learns that girls can do anything, too. And the whole family learns some lessons when Jesse's grandfather unexpectedly dies.

Since this is season seven, most everyone has already made a decision about the show. And those who don't like it will find nothing to change their minds here. The show is still sugary sweet with most every problem being resolved with a heart to heart talk. Not to say that there isn't laughter along the way. Who can't laugh at a cement truck dumping its load in the kitchen or Jesse's grand entrance on opening night of the Smash Club? And there's the family's attempts to get revenge on Joey for an early April Fool's prank.

Since the girls have grown, they are facing challenges for their age. This means they aren't as cute as they once were. The cuteness quotient is now handled by Nicky and Alex, who do a great job of it. Instead, the writers find new topics to handle the keep the show interesting. Having watched the entire series to this point in the last year, I didn't find myself thinking "Here comes this topic again." And with so many episodes already under their belt, that's saying something.

I think it would be a surprise if I said the actors are struggling with their characters. They aren't. It's quite obvious that everyone is comfortable in their second skin. Now this isn't to say the acting is bad. Everyone still gives it their all every week. And yes, I am including Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen in that assessment, even if they are still the weak links of the cast. Famous cameos this season include Vanna White and Little Richard.

This set is identical to the last few season sets we've gotten. The 24 episodes are presented on 4 discs with absolutely no bonus features.

I realize this show is not everyone's cup of tea. It's aimed squarely at families and specifically kids. But those who enjoy those types of shows will continue to enjoy this fun family sit com with season seven of Full House.

Season 7 Episodes:

1. It Was a Dark and Stormy Night

2. The Apartment

3. Wrong-Way Tanner

4. Tough Love

5. Fast Friends

6. Smash Club: The Next Generation

7. High Anxiety

8. Another Opening, Another No Show

9. The Day of the Rhino

10. The Prying Game

11. The Bicycle Thief

12. Support Your Local Parents

13. The Perfect Couple

14. Is it True about Stephanie?

15. The Test

16. Joey's Funny Valentine

17. The Last Dance

18. Kissing Cousins

19. Love on the Rocks

20. Michelle a la Cart

21. Be Your Own Best Friend

22. A Date with Fate

23. Too Little Richard Too Late

24. A House Divided

Music Review: The Altar and the Door by Casting Crowns

Stars: 5 out of 5
Pros: So many powerful tracks
Cons: The worship tracks are still weak
The Bottom Line:
Challenges, encourages
With many powerful songs
Possibly their best




Casting Crowns Challenges Us to Leave the Land Between the Altar and the Door

When soft rock band Casting Crowns appeared on the Christian music scene in 2003, they quickly caught everyone's attention. Since their debut, they have been a top selling act. Their third release was at the top of my "to buy" list for this year. And The Altar and the Door was worth every penny I spent.

What amazes me about this group is their success despite breaking some rules. One of their members plays the violin. And, while most of the songs feature the standard rock band instruments, you definitely notice it in several songs per disc. Lead singer Mark Hall is backed by two women. And sometimes the women take center stage for a verse or two. And their lyrics are blunt. They call the church out on what they think it ought to be doing. And there's no hiding it at all.

For example, there's the disc opener, "What This World Needs." This rocker has a catchy melody and fun hooks. Yet behind all the fun, it gets right in your face, all but shouting the reminder the world needs Jesus more then the church to be 100% perfect. It's a brutal reminder that God cares more for the heart then the mind or the clothes. And yet, all too often, we focus on those two instead of what we should really be focusing on. And the spoken bridge really drives the point home.

The theme continues with the next track, "Every Man." The verses point out the people around us who are searching for hope and help. And the chorus is a powerful version of their plea. It's a mid-tempo song, but the drums drive it and really bring the point home.

The title of the disc comes from the idea that there is a disconnect in Christians between knowing and doing. The altar represents out time in the word or at church when we are convicted of how we should live. But, by the time we get out of the door, we have forgotten just how we should be living.

Obviously, that's the major theme of the title track. It's another fun, upbeat song that will have you smiling and tapping along. Then suddenly the words will hit you hard. And it so perfectly captures the struggle between the true repentance we feel and actually following through when we enter the real world again.

"Somewhere in the Middle" is actually the song that first used the phrase "altar and the door." (The title track was the last one written for the disc.) It's a slower piano based song that discusses the problems of being comfortable with our luke warm lives, ignoring how God really wants us to live. It's a call to leave the safe behind and live recklessly for God.

"Prayer for a Friend" is an old song from Mark Hall. It's a beautiful ballad that really showcases the violin I mentioned earlier. And the prayer for God to help a friend see the problems his current path is taking is powerful.

The one problem I have always had with Casting Crowns is their worship tracks. Maybe it's because their other songs are so powerful and challenging, but I find the pure worship tracks to be forgettable and rather bland. Maybe if they just did a worship CD, I could really focus on these songs. Anyway, "I Know You're There" and "All Because of Jesus" follow that trend. The songs are perfectly fine, they just don't grab me the way everything else does. An interesting note, however. "I Know You're There" is the first time that the females of the group do all the lead vocals on a song.

But we haven't yet talked about my two favorite songs on the disc. And they are right next to each other, packing a one two punch.

Up first is "Slow Fade." Written specifically as a challenge to the men of the church, it could equally apply to everyone. It is a very pointed call to guard your heart at all times because the path to collapse takes many slow steps. After all, "People never crumble in a day." It's a slower track. The verses are very quiet, but the chorus really wakes things up and pulls you into the song. And the melody, while not exactly catchy is very haunting. To top things off, Mark Hall's young daughter closes the song with the chorus "Be Careful Little Eyes What You See." While her voice isn't perfect (she is a child after all), it makes the song that much more powerful. It literally gives me goose bumps.

Following next in the play list is "East to West." No surprise, this song is about forgiveness. This is a quiet piano ballad about the struggle to accept God's forgiveness instead of wallowing in the blame of our sin. From the honesty of admitting "Today I feel like I'm just one mistake away from You leaving me this way," it moves on to asking to be shown how far apart the east and west are. I've been here way too often, and finding someone admitting it is refreshing and powerful.

I am absolutely in love with this CD. Which is no surprise since I've tried my best to wear out Casting Crown's first two releases. The Altar and the Door will certainly be suffering that same fate for many years to come.

CD Length: 51:31

Tracks:

1. What This World Needs

2. Every Man

3. Slow Fade

4. East to West

5. The Word is Alive

6. The Altar and the Door

7. Somewhere in the Middle

8. I Know You're There

9. Prayer for a Friend

10. All Because of Jesus

Music Review: High School Musical 2 Soundtrack

Stars: 4 out of 5
Pros: More fun pop songs

Cons: Sharpay's songs

The Bottom Line:

Sharpay's songs annoy

But the rest of tracks are fun

Especially for fans

"Fabulous?"  Not Quite.

When I discovered High School Musical, I'll admit I fell for it completely. Within a couple weeks of first seeing it, I had the movie and the soundtrack. I wasn't going to let the sequel pass me by like I did the original, so I bought the High School Musical 2 soundtrack even before I saw the movie. It took quite a few listens, but I am enjoying it.

The first thing I noticed is Troy's voice. I'd heard plenty of times that Zac Efron hadn't done his character's vocals in the first movie. If I doubted, I'm a believer now. Troy sounds so different here. Now this isn't to say Zac can't sing. I think he does a great job. But it took me a little while to get used to his new voice.

The other difference is the production. This CD is teen pop and proud of it. While the first soundtrack had a more natural feel to it, this CD was obviously produced with radio play in mind. Everything is slick and polished. For my taste, it's overproduced at times, but that's a minor issue and something else I've gotten used to as I've listened to the CD.

The soundtrack starts and ends with two group songs, "What Time is it?" and "All for One." These are both fun, upbeat pop songs. The first one is about the start of summer vacation. I can easily picture the movie's fans singing it when June rolls around next year. The second is this movie's final song and tries to be "All in this Together" from the first movie. It's not, but it's not a bad song in its own right.

The other big group number is "Work This Out." As the characters try to get a handle on the loads of work they have to do, they sing this song. It's catchy and fun to sing along with.

Easily my favorite track is the Chad/Ryan duet "I Don't Dance." It's a hip hop song with touches of jazzy swing, especially on the bridge. And yes, that combo really works well. This is the song I find myself singing the most, and I really don't mind. I also find myself bopping along to it. Yes, that means I got some strange looks on the freeway coming home tonight.

Another standout is "Bet on it." This song is highly polished boy band rock. They really mix it so that Troy sounds like he's singing with others even though no one else gets vocal credits. The song does a good job of expressing everything that Troy has gone through in the movie and really does fit his mood at that point.

Troy and Gabriella get a couple nice ballad duets, and again their harmonies are excellent. Gabriella again gets a sad song with "Gotta Go My Own Way." While it is a break up song, it shows that she is a stronger person then she was in the first film. I especially like "You are the Music in Me," which Troy and Gabriella sing together. While a love ballad, it's got a nice beat and it's not overly sappy, just sappy. It starts with soft piano and builds into a full orchestra pop ballad. The song is actually on here twice, the second time being a faster dance pop version done mainly by villainess Sharpay. That version doesn't do much for me.

And that brings up my biggest complaint with the soundtrack - Sharpay. As with the character, her songs are over the top and annoying. I get what "Fabulous" is supposed to do (show how spoiled the character is), but I really don't like the song. I feel like slapping Sharpay by the time it's over. Nothing against Ashley Tisdale, who plays the character, it's the song and character I can't stand.

The one exception to this rule is the bonus track. "Humuhumunukunukuapua'a" (I think I got that right) was never actually in the movie but references are made to the song several times. It's supposed to be a song that Sharpay and Ryan have put together for a talent show. Frankly, I would have loved to see them perform this. It's very funny song about a prince turned into a fish by a curse and the woman who wants to change him back. It's got a nice Hawaiian feel to it and you can hear the ukulele.

Even though the High School Musical 2 soundtrack doesn't quite measure up to the first movie's soundtrack, there are some fun songs here that will have me pulling the disc out to listen to again.

CD Length: 38:05

Tracks:

1. What Time is it

2. Fabulous

3. Work This Out

4. You are the Music in Me

5. I Don't Dance

6. You are the Music in Me (Sharpay Version)

7. Gotta Go My Own Way

8. Bet on it

9. Everyday

10. All for One

11. Humuhumunukunukuapua'a (Bonus Track)

Movie Review: Hairspray (2007)

Stars: 3 out of 5
Pros: Mostly great acting, fun singing and dancing, good message

Cons: John Travolta's Edna, innuendo, slurs, story feels slightly chopped

The Bottom Line:

There are fun moments

Outweighed by un-fun moments

Average result

"What Gets Girls Asked Out on Dates?  It's Hairspray!"

I have always loved musicals. I realize that people spontaneously singing and dancing isn't even remotely realistic. But I don't care. Naturally, I'm thrilled to see the movie musical making a comeback.

And that's why I was interested in seeing Hairspray. But I had reservations, too. I finally broke down and watched it. In the end, it was about what I expected it to be.

Our story opens in 1962 Baltimore. Tracy Turnblad (Nikki Blonsky) is a high school student with a passion to dance. Every day, she rushes home from school with her best friend Penny Pingleton (Amanda Bynes) to watch The Corny Collins Show. On it, a group of teens dance to the latest hits.

When the show has an open casting call for a new dancer (one of the regulars is going to be gone for about nine months), Tracy wants to go audition. Her mother Edna (John Travolta) is against it. See, Tracy is a plus size girl, and Edna is an even bigger woman. Edna hides in the house because of her size and fears the rejection could crush Tracy.

Tracy does get rejected at first, but a second chance gets her a part on the show. She's an instant hit and her star power rises.

This doesn't sit well with Velma Von Tussle (Michelle Pfeiffer). Velma is in charge of the show, and uses her power to build a career for her daughter Amber (Brittany Snow).

Even more dangerous, Tracy has some ideas about the once monthly Negro Day. She thinks that instead of being the last Tuesday of the month, it should be every day. Is this a good cause? Can Tracy's new found star power help with integration? Or will the show stay segregated?

Obviously, the movie has a serious message, but it is never preachy. It never forgets its first mission is to entertain us. And it is very entertaining.

The movie is filled with songs. In fact, I bet there is as much if not more singing then dialog in the film. All the songs feel like 60's pop. Most of them are light and bouncy. I found myself nodding my head and tapping my feet quite often during the film.

Along with the singing comes the choreography, which is also great. Several of the songs take place on the set of The Corny Collins Show, but even then, they find ways to expand the dance beyond the stage. And the songs that aren't part of the show feature some great locations and dancing.

Then comes the acting. As you'd expect from an all star cast, the acting is great with one exception. In addition to the stars already named, we've got James Marsden as Corny Collins, Queen Latifah as the hostess of Negro Day, Zac Efron as Tracy's crush Link Larkin, and Christopher Walken as Tracy's dad. And we can't forget the cameos by Jerry Stiller and Ricki Lake who starred in the original. Nikki Blonsky is absolutely perfect as Tracy. She's got the right mix of optimism, perkiness, and realism to pull off the part. Amanda Bynes is funny as her friend. She makes the most of a small part and almost steals a scene or two.

So what was the bad? Let's start with the one cast member who didn't do a good job. I know it's a tradition of this musical that Edna is played by a cross dressing man. But I'm sorry, I just never bought John Travolta as a woman. He tried too hard to be feminine. Or maybe he was going for over the top. Either way, every time he was on screen he was annoying. Like fingernails on chalkboard annoying.

Then there's the hypocrite. One of the characters is a bigoted Bible thumper. Fortunately, she's a minor character, but you can bet how well that went over with this Christian.

Additionally, the movie skips around just a little too much. I actually felt like the movie could have been a little longer. Throw in a couple added scenes to better develop the characters and story. I know today's audiences don't have the patience to sit down and watch the epic musicals of yesteryear, but just under two hours is too short for a musical. I'd suggest they cut a song to add to the story, but I'm not sure which one should have gone. Either way, I felt like a piece of the story was missing.

Finally, there are the sexual innuendos and racial slurs. I'm willing to let the movie off on the racial slurs since they are perfectly acceptable for the time. But the innuendos really bothered me. Why? Because they felt out of place, especially when said on the squeaky clean TV show. The movie definitely would have been stronger if they'd been taken out.

In the end, Hairspray is a mixed basket. Its fun with mostly great acting, but the flaws are fairly serious.

Music Review: Yankee Doodle Mickey

Stars: 4 out of 5
Pros: 10 great patriotic songs

Cons: Very short

The Bottom Line:

Good first collection

Of patriotic music

Kids will enjoy it

A Patriotic Collection for Your Kids.  Gorsh!

There are times I wonder what I am thinking when I buy stuff. Or even if I am thinking. Take Yankee Doodle Mickey for instance. It's a collection of patriotic songs put out by Disney. Yes, I like patriotic music. Yes, I like Disney. But I am not a kid, and I don't have any kids. Yet somehow, I wound up with this disc. And you know what? It's not really that bad.

The disc contains ten standards of American patriotic music. Most of the tracks are extremely short. Seven of them are under two minutes and the longest is two and a half minutes. Yet none of them are truncated. They may be short, but I don't feel like I'm being cheated. Since the entire CD is under 20 minutes, it does seem like they could have found something to add to lengthen the CD, however.

Two of the tracks, "You're a Grand Old Flag" and "Armed Forces Medley" feature Mickey, Goofy, and Donald. A member of that trio occasionally solos but mostly they sing with the children's chorus that sings on the majority of these songs. These two songs also feature the only bits of dialogue, and they're pretty small, especially on the first song. These characters introduce the branches of the armed forces in the medley before everyone sings their anthem, which is a nice touch to help kids put the song with the branch.

The other eight tracks are only singing. Most feature a kid's chorus and an orchestra. These are straight up, simple arrangements. Nothing fancy to catch your ear, but they are fun none the less.

There are two exceptions to the rule. A male chorus does "The Battle Hymn of the Republic." That choice works very well and the song sounds great. The trumpets in the background certainly help. They return for "America, the Beautiful" and do an awesome a cappella version. I can't help but wonderful if both these tracks are from some Disney attraction. They sound like they could be.

On the kid's tracks, one person handles the solos. Her name is Molly Ringwald. She sounds like a kid most of the time. The only exception is "This is My Country" where she sounds like an adult trying to sound like a child, which is a bit distracting. Either way, she does a fine job on her other two appearances, "God Bless America" and "Star Spangled Banner."

Frankly, there are a couple songs here I don't have on my other patriotic CDs. "You're a Grand Old Flag" is a fun, upbeat song celebrating our flag. I love the minor key of the march "When Johnny Comes Marching Home." And I have always had a weak spot for "Yankee Doodle." They do several verses here with some unnamed adult leading them. It's quite fun.

I must admit, I don't pull this one out too often. It's aimed at kids and I can't get away with listening to it very often. But when I do, I enjoy it. Yankee Doodle Mickey is a CD that kids will really enjoy and their parents won't be too annoyed hearing over and over again.

CD Length: 18:10

Tracks:

1. You're a Grand Old Flag

2. This is My Country

3. The Battle Hymn of the Republic

4. America

5. God Bless America

6. Armed Forces Medley

7. When Johnny Comes Marching Home

8. Yankee Doodle

9. America, the Beautiful

10. Star Spangled Banner

Book Review: Dead Ex by Harley Jane Kozak (Wollie Shelley #3)

Stars: 4 stars out of 5
Pros: Great characters and sense of humor

Cons: Plot pacing

The Bottom Line:

Professional dates

With soap opera hunks are

Backdrop for great book

Who Would Kill a Terminally Ill Man?

Greeting card designer turned professional dater Wollie Shelley appears in her third LA based mystery. Professional dater? Yep. After a stint an a failed reality series (is there any such thing?), Wollie gets another stab at television dating in Dead Ex, a fun book set in the world of soap operas.

The day after Christmas, terminally ill soap opera producer David Zetrakis is found murdered in his Los Angeles mansion. That actually means something to Wollie since she dated him for a few months many years ago. But the sense of loss she feels is nothing compared to that of her friend Joey Rafferty who had stayed friendly with David after her own breakup with the man. In fact, she was at his house just before he died.

And that's why the police zero in on Joey as their prime suspect. When they begin questioning her, they quickly realize she is hiding something. But what? As Joey begins to act more and more strangely, Wollie realizes she is going to need to step in to solve the crime.

Fortunately, Wollie has just been handed the perfect platform. She's been asked to become the dating correspondent on SoapDirt, a daily look into the world of soap operas. And her first dates are with the men of David's soap, At the End of the Day. Unfortunately, this new job doesn't sit well with Wollie's boyfriend, FBI agent Simon. But he's started acting strangely himself. Beside, Wollie has enough to figure out. Why would someone shoot a man about to die anyway? Did one of Wollie's new men commit the crime? And what is Joey hiding?

As you might guess, this is another light, fun mystery, perfectly in keeping with the first two. Author Harley Jane Kozak knows the world of soap operas well since she spent a few years acting on them. This knowledge adds a dose of realism to the fun. Yet the book never once takes the setting too seriously. There are lots of funny things that happen amidst the tragedy. And Wollie's narration often offers doses of sarcasm. Her asides and observations really add to the appeal of the book.

The characters are great. The returning characters are still well developed and interesting. Wollie is fully developed and likable. You want to spend time with her. Joey obviously gets lots of page time, and her behavior is believable even while puzzling. I found myself alternating on my opinion of Simon. At times I really liked him. And at other times I wished he'd get a clue or at least give Wollie one on what was really going on in his life. Of course, my feelings were usually mirroring Wollie's at the time.

The new characters are sharp as well. Granted, some of them slip into stereotypes, but those are the ones who are in the background. The real suspects are better developed and interesting.

The plot is the only weakness in the book. It starts strong, with lots of mysterious things happening and clues that made little to no sense. In fact, I was enjoying the fact that it often seemed to mirror a soap opera's plot twists. Dating has become the theme of the series, but unlike the last book, it actually served a purpose to the overall story here. It stumbled in the second half, however. It gets bogged down with very little happening to further the story for a while. Then, when it does get to the ending, things seemed rushed. Not the actual climax, which was gripping, but the denouncement, which almost glossed over a few key plot points. They are mentioned, but in a haphazard manner.

The pacing of the plot is the only problem with Dead Ex. On the whole, I really enjoyed it. This is certain to please Wollie's many fans.

And if you want to read more, here are the Wollie Shelley Mysteries in order.

TV Show Review: Reba - Season 1

Stars: 5 out of 5
Pros: Funny look at some serious issues

Cons: Could trivialize those issues, Barbra Jean's hypocrisy

The Bottom Line:

Serious issues

Background for funny sitcom

Still well worth watching

A Family Sitcom for Today's Family

I must admit, I almost let Reba - season one pass me by. A comedy starring Reba McEntire? How good could it be? Okay, so I'm not a fan of the country music singer, but I wasn't willing to give this show a chance. Then one Friday night, I was bored and decided to watch an episode. I found myself laughing hard before the opening credits. The show immediately went on my list of must sees and I enjoyed it for its entire run.

Reba Hart's (Reba McEntire) life is not turning out the way she had planned. Instead of the trial separation from her dentist husband Brock (Christopher Rich) ending in him moving back home, she learns that he has impregnated his dental hygienist Barbra Jean (Melissa Peterman). As if that weren't bad enough, she also learns that her 17-year-old drill team captain daughter Cheyenne (Joanna Garcia) is also pregnant, courtesy of her boyfriend and the captain of the football team, Van Montgomery (Steve Howey).

Naturally, this leads to lots of upheaval. While Brock and Reba divorce so Brock can marry Barbra Jean, Cheyenne and Van get married and move in with Reba to finish their senior year of high school. And Reba needs to keep it together for her two younger kids, smart and sarcastic Kyra (Scarlett Pomers), and six-year-old Jake (Mitch Holleman).

Adultery, divorce, and teen pregnancy. Am I sure this is a comedy?

As unlikely as it seems, it is. And it really is very funny. The writers manage to find ways to turn these hard topics into fodder for laughs. Heck, even the pilot, which sets all this up so well, is chock full of jokes and one-liners.

And I think that is a secret to the show. While none of the characters come right out and say it, they seem to come from the "If I don't laugh I'll cry" school of life. Reba leads this, and she always seems to have a sarcastic comment or put down, especially if Barbra Jean is the target. Kyra, always my favorite character, already has the sarcasm I absolutely loved. Cheyenne and Van can be a bit clueless at times, but they always mean well. Barbra Jean is completely clueless most of the time. Heck, she doesn't see why she and Reba can't be friends. And they make Brock human by showing his desire to do the right thing even after all the problems he has caused. He's trying, in his own way, to make things as easy for everyone as he can.

Obviously, the characters work because the actors do a great job. As a cast, they gel from the pilot. Some of the behind the scenes things I've seen make this seem like a very close cast, and the results show on screen. Reba sets the tone. It's obvious she is enjoying herself, and her reactions to events are often priceless. Granted, she does have a hard time with the tenderer, emotional moments, but that's a minor complaint. There isn't a weak link with the rest of the cast. Even Mitch is a great actor for a six year old.

Being a sit com, some of the serious subjects dealt with come across a little too softly. Consequences that might occur in real life are brought up, but all problems are solved in 22 minutes with laughs, jokes, and a hug or two. I will admit at times that does bug me. But it is the nature of the format.

While the show calls itself a family sit com, this isn't a show I would let my kids watch by themselves. There are occasional off color jokes. Plus, the subject matter is very mature. This is something I'd watch with older kids and use as a tool to open discussion of various issues brought up on the show.

My other complaint about this season is Barbra Jean. Here, they really play up her church attendance and Christianity. And yet she doesn't seem to get the fact that she's an adulterer. Fortunately, this hypocrisy is played down in later seasons.

The first season consisted of 22 episodes, and the set includes all 22 of them on three double sided discs. There are three audio commentaries by various cast and crew members, most of which don't tell you too much but are fun to listen to. There are a couple deleted scenes included as well. The majority of the special features are on the final disc. The "On the Scene with Barbra Jean" featurette is rather stupid, but the one about creating the show and the conversation between Reba McEntire and Melissa Peterman was worth watching. And you've got to love bloopers.

If you let this sit com go without watching, give it a chance. In Reba - season one you'll find great characters and funny situations that will have you laughing before you know what hit you.

Season 1 Episodes:

1. Pilot

2. The Honeymoon's Over or Now What?

3. Someone's at the Gyno with Reba

4. You Make Me Sick

5. The Steaks are High

6. The Man and the Moon

7. Tea and Antipathy

8. Don't Know Much About History

9. Every Picture Tells a Story

10. When Good Credit Goes Bad

11. Meet the Parents

12. A Mid-Semester Night's Dream

13. Brock's Swan Song

14. The Story of a Divorce

15. You May Kick the Bride

16. Vanny Dearest

17. He's Having a Baby

18. She Works Hard for Their Money

19. Labor of Love

20. The King and I

21. Up a Treehouse Without a Paddle

22. It Ain't Over Till the Redhead Sings

Music Review: Declaration by Steven Curtis Chapman

Stars: 5 out of 5
Pros: Honesty and fun mixed into one

Cons: The opening song is very dated.

The Bottom Line:

So many great songs

One song's reverence doesn't work

But that's only flaw

I Have a Declaration.  I Still Love This CD

Steven Curtis Chapman is a household name in Christian music circles. Since he first appeared on the scene in the late 80's, his projects have been greeted with enthusiasm and awards year after year. Heck the running joke at the Dove Awards (the Christian equivalent of the Grammys) is that they should just rename them the Stevies since he wins so many of them.

And there's a reason he's so popular. His releases are great. I rush out and buy them as they come out, Declaration being no exception. And even though this is his eleventh studio album, it's wonderful.

Steven is an interesting mix as an artist. Some of these songs rock. Then there are the slower, quieter ballads that would feel more at home in the adult contemporary market. Yet he is able to easily flow through all of these styles and make the disc seem like a whole unit.

The CD starts out rocking with the anthem "Live Out Loud." It's a fast, catchy song that just begs you to sing along. Which is appropriate since the song is talking about not holding back but sharing the hope we have in God. Yet the song does have a major strike against it. In an effort to include a pop culture reference, the first verse analogy is about winning money from Regis on "Who Wants to be a Millionaire." Even when the disc came out in 2001, I knew this song would be dated fast. Don't get me wrong, I still love it, just after that first verse is finished.

Another rocking track is "See the Glory." The electric guitar is heavy here, and the song moves. I always smile listening to this one. The idea behind the song is that, as Christians, we are too quick to settle for the mediocre we know instead of all the incredible stuff God wants to offer us. At the time the CD came out, it was nicknamed the Gameboy song. Why? Well, one of the lyrics is "I'm playing Gameboy standing in the middle of the Grand Canyon." He takes that idea and plays with it at various times in the music as well. My favorite of these is after the bridge where he starts playing the melody with a tinny Gameboy sound to it before dissolving into a full orchestra sound. It's a neat effect and helps drive the point of the song home.

Thanks to the biography Through Gates of Splendor, many Christians are familiar with the story of the 5 missionaries who gave their lives trying to reach an isolated tribe with the gospel back in the 60's. Heck, the story was even turned into the movie End of the Spear last year. While writing for this album, Steven had the chance to meet one of the missionary's sons and Mincaye, one of the killers who has now turned to God. The impact that meeting had led him to write the song "No Greater Love," a song about sacrifical love. This is a guitar driven ballad. It works without knowing the story but is even more powerful if you have the story in mind. The song fades into Mincaye doing a praise chant in his own language. A translation is provided in the linear notes. Over all, it makes a powerful song.

Several of Steven Curtis Chapman's friends faced trials while he was working on this project. His attempts to deal with the pain lead to several great songs on the disc. The first is the mid-tempo "This Day." The second track on the disc, it reminds us that the God we praised yesterday when everything was going well is the same God who is there for us during the hard times of today. It's very acoustic guitar heavy and is perfect for the adult contemporary audience.

My favorite song on the disc is "God is God." At first glance, the chorus is obvious. "God is God and I am not." But when you really listen to the verses, you get the big picture. This song represents the faith in God when you have hit rock bottom. Like the Biblical Job eventually learned, it's a declaration that we will never understand God or the pain He has allowed into our lives, but we can still trust and worship Him. It's a powerful song when you truly listen to it.

"Bring it on" is appropriately rocky. It takes trials head on, almost daring them to come. And, well it's not because Steven is looking forward to them, it is because he knows God has a purpose in everything. It's a very mature attitude I don't always have myself. The song uses electric guitar and keyboard effectively. The driving rhythm really drives the chorus home.

The disc ends with two quiet ballads. The first is "Carry You to Jesus" a promise to be there for a friend during the pain even if he doesn't know what to say. It's a moving confession of inadequacy.

Finally comes "Savior." Easily the slowest song on the disc, it is also hauntingly beautiful. Strings overshadow the guitar quite often as Steven sings of his need for a Savior. It's a nice quiet way to close out another great set of songs from a great artist.

The six years since the disc came out haven't dampened my love of Declaration. There is a great mix of the fun and the series, the rocky and the slow. Steven Curtis Chapman brings it all together beautifully. This is a disc you need in your Christian music collection.

CD Length: 56:52

Tracks:

1. Live Out Loud

2. This Day

3. Jesus is Life

4. No Greater Love

5. God is God

6. See the Glory

7. Bring it on

8. When Love Takes You in

9. Magnificent Obsession

10. Declaration of Dependence

11. God Follower

12. Carry You to Jesus

13. Savior

Book Review: My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett (Father's Dragon #1)

Stars: 5 out of 5
Pros: Perfect transition book that is funny to boot

Cons: Illustrations are a tad dated

The Bottom Line:

Imaginative

And fun adventure story

Perfect transition

"Bum Cack! Bum Cack!  We Dreed our Nagon!"

I was in first grade when I was first introduced to this Newberry Honor book starring Elmer Elevator. I remember the entire class being hooked on his adventures in My Father's Dragon. And the story is just as fun now as it was then.

One night, Elmer, usually referred to as "My Father" since he is the narrator's dad, rescues a stray cat. The two soon become friends, and the cat tells him of a baby dragon that was captured and enslaved by the residents of Wild Island. Elmer immediately begins to plan a rescue attempt, even though no one has ever left Wild Island alive. Armed only with gum, lollipops, magnifying glasses, hair ribbons, a toothbrush, and other such items, he sets out. But will this be enough to face lions, tigers, a rhinoceros, gorillas, crocodiles, and a mouse with a speech problem?

This book is targeted at the 4 to 8 year old range, and it's perfect for them. It's just under 70 pages long. Each of the 10 chapters are around 5 or 6 pages, so there are plenty of places to break if you don't want to read the story straight through. The book works well as a read aloud, obviously, since that's how I first heard it. But it could also work for beginning readers ready to transition from easy readers to chapter books. Most of the vocabulary is relatively simple, the exception being some of the animals and the neighboring island of Tangerina.

The book was illustrated by the author's step mother. Each two page spread features a picture of some size, some small and some quite large. They are black and white, beautifully detailed, and add charm to the funny events of the book.

And don't let anyone steer you wrong, this book is very funny. Of course, how can it help but be when you have a boy facing a lion with a hairbrush. Even as an adult, I love the humor and wild adventures that Elmer has. They are guaranteed to make you smile, and a laugh or two along the way wouldn't surprise me.

Honestly, I am surprised when I reread this as an adult just how short and simple the book really is. I think of it as being much longer and more complicated then it really is. Which means it is perfect for capturing the imagination of its target audience.

The book was originally written in 1948. The story itself is not dated at all and those 60 years won't mean a thing to today's kids. The drawings do look a little dated in places, but most kids won't notice.

It's always nice when a nostalgic part of your childhood is as much fun as you remember it being. That's certainly the case with My Father's Dragon. Hopefully this book will be around for generations of kids to enjoy for decades to come.

Movie Review: Vertigo

Stars: 2 out of 5
Pros: The first half is interesting

Cons: The second half is bad, bad, bad

The Bottom Line:

The best Hitchcock film?

Doesn't remotely come close

He made better films

The Dullest Thriller I've Ever Seen

I have only seen a couple of Hitchcock's films, and frankly, I've been less then impressed. They've been overrated and just plain weird. Recently, I've decided I need to give him another chance, so I set out to watch a few more Hitchcock films. Since Vertigo is so praised, I thought I'd start there. Boy was I disappointed.

The story revolves around Scottie (James Stewart), a police officer forced to retire due to injuries and his dizzying fear of heights. His old friend Gavin (Tom Helmore) needs his services, however. Gavin's wife Madeleine (Kim Novak) appears to be going crazy. She wanders around town but has no recollection of where she went or why she went there. What really worries Gavin is that Madeleine is at the same age her great-grandmother committed suicide by jumping to her death.

Scottie eventually agrees to the job, but doesn't put much stalk in the theory that Madeleine is possessed. At least at first he doesn't. Is she really possessed? Can Scottie save her life?

And does the audience care? I certainly didn't.

The biggest problem with the movie is the story. It starts out okay, just moves very slowly. I was drawn into the early story wondering what was really happening to Madeleine. That is, when the plot moved forward. I mean, we get shot after shot of Scottie following Madeleine around San Francisco. We get it already! We don't need to see every turn they make through the city. Just get them to their destination! Still, the first half earns the film its second star.

But then the second half comes and things go down hill. It's obvious to us early on what is happening, so we get bored waiting for the characters to catch up. And the climax? There isn't one. The story ends with a whimper.

And then there's the fact that this is supposed to be a thriller. I have a fear of heights myself, so I thought this one would get to me. Never once was I scared. As I've already said, the pace was slow for most of the film, so I wasn't even on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next. I was just waiting for it to end.

Compounding the problem is the acting. The performances start out fine. But the curse of the second half gets them, too. As the story gets weirder, the performances get more and more laughable. I'm sure that's partially because the characters start doing unbelievable things. But the actors begin to be so over the top it threw me out of the film.

For me to enjoy a story, I have to at least like a character. While there were some I started out liking, by the end I hated them all. That certainly doesn't help.

Now some praise the movie on its technical merits. And there are some weird camera angles used to great effect. But camera angles do not a great movie make.

Some also talk about how the film mirrors Hitchcock's own obsessions. That is all well and good, but it's not the reason I go to a film. I go to a film to be entertained, not to watch a director have very expensive therapy.

I'm beginning to see why I haven't seen that many Hitchcock films before. If Vertigo is an example of what I have to look forward to, I won't be watching many more.