Customer Reviews

Bob the Builder - Can We Fix It?

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Bob - Bob the industrious, Bob the eternally optimistic, Bob the ever cheerful builder. Beloved of children on both sides of the Atlantic (including my daughter the industrious, eternally optimistic, generally cheerful toddler). How could anyone not like Bob?

Granted, the tales of Bob do not possess the quirkiness or intellectually layered complexity of Sesame Street (you parents know what I mean - can you spot the William Tell reference in the "1,2,3" video?). However, he also lacks - thank the Lord - the chirpy droning musical numbers of Barney. No, Bob is earnest, forthright, and eminently good-natured. Friendship, craftsmanship, creativity, cooperation, and pride in what you do are all important elements in the world of Bob.

To be truthful, I actually find myself wondering some things about future episodes myself. Will Bob and Wendy ever declare their love for one another? Just how diversified is Farmer Pickles' agricultural operation? How does a truck crane develop acrophobia, and is it treatable? Just what is Bob's last name?

Take it from me, a father who has committed the three Bob tapes in our house to memory from repetitive viewing in the company of an ardent Bob admirer, Bob is a wholesome, gentle entertainment that should give no parent doubts or qualms.

Having recently visited my family in England we were curious to see Bob the Builder as he was everywhere! My son who is two, was instantly mesmerized - so much so that we "had" to buy the video whilst we were there. The theme tune is so catchy you child will be singing along in no time, the animation is superb and the characters endearing. Alas, we could not bring the video back as it will not play here, so for now we have "Bob's Birthday" on cassette tape and eagerly await our American VHS of "Bob the Builder". This is a must for any child!!

My 2-1/2 year old boy/girl twins both love Bob and his crew. We own "Can We Fix It" and "Pets in A Pickle." While my kids like both videos, this is the one my daughter requests most often. We ran across the series on Nick Jr., and my son was immediately fascinated because of the construction vehicles. But now it's my daughter (a girly-girl in the making) who wants the video...EVERYDAY! It's great for her to see Wendy up on the ladder fixing a gutter for poor Farmer Pickle. Now, whenever they see construction vehicles on the road, they say "that's Scoop" or "that's like Muck," etc.

My toddler loves Bob the Builder. He loves the theme song, the characters, and the not-so-scary "villains." The characters face real fears (fear of the dark, fear of heights, fear of the unknown) and are often shown overcoming them with a little help. My husband's favorite part of the video is (almost) everyone's "can-do" attitude -- it helps when something is broken, when it's time to pick up toys, etc. "Can we pick up? Yes we can!" Even the one character (Lofty the crane, who's afraid of heights...) who isn't so sure about his ability to get the job done is shown getting his part of the job done with a little help. The tone is gentle and kind.

It's an irresistible combination - a catchy tune for both grownups and kids to sing along to, and a theme that teaches viewers that anything can be done, with a bit of creativity, hard work and fun. Bob the Builder has become my children's constant companion and his theme (Can we fix it? YES WE CAN!) is the family song. The tireless optimism and the innocent "we can do anything" attitude is just the thing for a world where even children's characters have become cynical.

Bob is our household hero. My son, who is 2 and a half, loves Bob and his crew... and their various adventures on this DVD. I even sing an altered version of the theme song when brushing teeth... it works wonders for cooperation. What we like best about Bob is that he is a great role model (even if he's made of some clay goop)... he's patient, kind, encouraging, and he has a great work ethic. What more could a parent ask for from a TV personality? And Wendy is a great side kick. She'd make a fabulous best friend... and I have to wonder, with the previous reviewer, whether or not Bob is ever going to get it together and state his intentions. Of course, my two-year-old does not care about this at all, which is probably a good thing.

Besides the fact that the cool British voices have been replaced by regular Americans, the only thing that bugs me, as a parent, is Lofty's lack of self-esteem. No matter how much praise and encouragement he receives in one episode, he's back to snivelling insecurity in the next ("can we fix it?... uh, I think so... maybe"). Maybe at some point, Lofty will be allowed to learn and grow from his experiences and not be so negative (I really don't think this 'problem' of Lofty's is necessary). My son, who is a sensitive little guy, always wants me to scan through the insecure bits. He loves Lofty (he has the Brio character) and hates to see him upset. Fortunately, DVD makes this very easy to do (of course, it means I have to be with him to watch it but that's okay).

The "Bob" shows outshine most other children's videos and "Can We Fix It?" is certainly worth adding to your child's collection.

My son is almost 3 and LOVES Bob. He sings the songs and he knows all the characters. This video allows him to see them anytime he wants and he sits there through the entire video mesmerized talking to Bob and Wendy when they say "can we fix it" my son yells "Yes we can"!

I'll keep this short and sweet. If you want to see your kids roll on the floor holding their bellies in laughter then purchase this video! The Bob's Barnraising and Mucky Muck episodes have delightfully funny stuck in the mud humor with spinning wheels in the mud, and of course mud flying everywhere. There is a down and dirty playful mud "fight" between Spud, Dizzy, and Muck. Lastly, they all get a very soapy, tickilish scrub brush bath in the end! Muddy good fun and lots of laughter for all!

I have no idea what is so apealing about this video but my four year old son began begging me to buy it when he first saw the tape on a store shelf, as soon as we agreed to buy the tape he began chanting "Bob the Builder". He has re-run this video at every opportunity for the last three days, and in his words "I can't wait to get another Bob the Builder".

A wonderful compilation of programs. For those who know the original English version, bear in mind that this version has the American accents.