DVD REVIEW: Phineas and Ferb: Mission Marvel

[JessHorsley]

Two of Disney's Coolest Properties Join Forces...

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Let's be honest - if you've ever seen the popular cartoon Phineas and Ferb and you didn't enjoy it, you either didn't get the jokes or you've no sense of humor. It's got some of the best dry humor of any kid's show on television, utilizes a wide variety of character types and injects some of the most entertaining plot devices in order to entertain both children and adults. If there's one cartoon I have to watch with my 4 year old, it's Phineas and Ferb.

Imagine my surprise when we found out Marvel would be coming to Danville and Phineas and Ferb would help battle some of the worst evil-doers Marvel has to offer with the assistance of Thor, Hulk, Iron Man and Spider-man! Enter Phineas and Ferb: Mission Marvel.

The DVD includes the feature-length title episode, which finds Dr. Doofenshmirtz blasting Phineas and Ferb's space station with a "Power-Drain-Innator" which ricochets and hits the Marvel superheroes, draining their powers. Thus, it's up to Phineas and Ferb as well as their sister Candace and their friends Isabella, Baljeet, Buford and Perry the Platapus (Agent P!) to help restore the superheroes' powers and save Danville from four of Marvel's worst super villains - M.O.D.O.K., Red Skull, Whiplash and Venom - all the while avoiding discovery by Mom too!

Combining everyone's favorite Marvel superheroes and super villains with the fine cast of characters from Phineas and Ferb and their misadventures makes for a hilarious jaunt through the combined universes for both kids and adult fans alike. S.H.I.E.L.D Director Nick Fury shows up and of course Major Monogram, director of O.W.C.A., of course shows him up wearing two eye patches ("Two is better than one."). Likewise, Phineas and Ferb have their own suit of Iron Man-like armor which they use to combat evil...when it's not raining. Of course, Agent P becomes a masked superhero in order to battle the Marvel villains as well and there's no telling who's really under the mask...until they unmask him but it's not who you think!

This is the type of crossover most Marvel comic writers wish they could write as it does justice to both properties while fulfilling the true purpose of any crossover: helping fans imagine their favorite characters in a new way while never losing the character's identities. Between the hilarious banter by Dr. Doofenshmirtz to the frustrated four Marvel super villains; the quips by Spider-man and Buford, Baljeet becoming Hulkjeet and bullying Buford, and various other laugh-out-loud moments, the show always entertaining as well as stays true to the style, nature and attitudes of both properties.

The standard definition animated video is clear and tight, featuring the regular animation style featured on the Phineas and Ferb cartoon. The audio is likewise the standard Dolby Digital 2.0. Besides the feature-length Mission: Marvel cartoon, there are also two double episodes - "Sidetracked" and "Primal Perry" - and four regular episodes - "Fly on The Wall," "Backyard Hodge Podge," "Knot My Problem" and "Mind Share."

With over 2 hours of adventure and excitement in all, the Phineas and Ferb: Mission Marvel DVD brings together two great properties and ensures entertainment for kids and fans of all ages. With all of the wit and dry humor of Phineas and Ferb combined with the adventure and action of your favorite Marvel superheros, Phineas and Ferb: Mission Marvel is not to be missed.

The Phineas and Ferb: Mission Marvel DVD is available now wherever fine home video is sold.

- Jess C. Horsley