Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme

"Quirky" doesn't begin to describe this. If you're not in the mood for this, you may well find it intensely annoying, but if you relax there's much to enjoy for adults as well as kids (my 5-year-old daughter adores it). It's a veritable Who's Who of 80's pop culture (remember Pia Zadora??). In fact, the lead actor Dan Gilroy is about the only one I didn't recognize, although he does a fine job. The acting is at once broad and deadpan, with lots of wordplay and bad puns.

Fans of the cult musician/composer (and former child actor--see "The Swan" with Grace Kelly) Van Dyke Parks will take special pleasure in his whimsical score; Van Dyke even acts in this one. Director Jeff Stein ("The Kids Are Alright") has his 80s MTV video skills down (fans of the fish-eye lens will have a ball), but the story meanders to a pleasant conclusion, and if it's not your cup of tea, you can at least enjoy "spot the cameo" (look! It's Dweezil Zappa!).