I was no expert on Phineas and Ferb but I quickly had a crash course thanks to The Perry Files. If you haven’t seen any of Disney’s adventures starring these two half-brothers, then you can’t begin to understand their hijinks, involving various contraptions and their exploits. Our two younguns regularly clash with their fifteen-year-old sister Candace, and their pet platypus, Perry, clashes with the evil scientist Dr. Doofensmirtz. So, as you can see, half of this is ridiculous, and the other half is… ridiculous and funny.
In seven episodes contained in this volume, we watch Doofensmirtz try to wrack the city with some wicked plot while Agent P (Perry), working as a member of the all-animal O.W.C.A. (Organization Without a Cool Acronym), tries to stop him. Usually, there’s plenty of stupidity to go around, but somehow, Perry or the boys will figure out a way to make things right again. It’s a perkier, smarter version of Jake and the Neverland Pirates: you might sometimes feel sorry for the antagonists, Candace or Doofensmirtz, but in the end, there’s no serious maiming that occurs.
Phineas and Ferb has some catchy musical tunes throughout, and the animation is distinctive. As far as Disney goes, it’s a bit wittier, a bit edgier, and definitely wild, imaginative fun. Is this as improbable as Jimmy Neutron or Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs? Of course! But the sense of humor will probably have older kids, and even adults, laughing along, more than some of the kiddie fare available elsewhere.
Seriously, where else are you going to have a platypus saving the day? You can find out if you’re “animal” enough for the OWCA in the bonus “Nerves of Teal” and take a tour of Perry’s Platybus. The activity pack will be additional material that fans will enjoy messing around with, and parents will like the two-plus hours of running time contained on one disc. Maybe it really is fun for the whole family!
