Customer Reviews

Caillou's Holiday Movie

5 star:		(57)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Looking at "Caillou's Holiday Movie," it's obvious that the staff of the show was going for someting a little different. Stories in the show itself are only an average of five minutes long, but this is a full ninety-minute presentation.

The writers and animators seem to have been successful and the result is a great story with beautiful musical interludes that kids will enjoy watching. There's a lot to be learned about holiday traditions from around the world, much of it coming from a twelve days of Christmas calendar that Caillou receives as present from Daddy. Although there are no puppet segments, most of the best characters are present in the story, including some favorite guest characters that are nice references to past stories. Fans of Rosie will also enjoy the movie and the special way in which she surprises everyone in Caillou's family.

If buying the DVD, note that while the story is good, the special features really aren't much to cheer about. The Caillou interview bonus doesn't actually relate to the movie, but is actually more of a cute filler segment in which Sarah attempts an interview with Caillou for her school, but can't get straight answers out of Caillou and then experiences technical difficulties. The "singalongs" are simply cut from the movie, they don't even have lyrics at the bottom of the screen or close-captioning to follow along. Finally, the promotion of "six Caillou challenges" is somewhat miselading. There are a two games including, each with three levels, for a total of six "challenges."

This DVD came with bonus extras (games, etc) but I am only reviewing the movie as that is what I have watched; 12 times since we opened it 2 days ago to be exact. My son loves Caillou. So it was natural that he would enjoy this movie. As a matter of fact, he loves it and has become quite the remote control/TV/DVD hog since having this movie. The other reviewer is correct as the movie is all animation without the puppet segments. But you know what I prefer it that way. My son always mistook Rexy and the other puppets as interruptions and they never held his attention for too long. The movie has very beautiful songs and truly gets in the spirit of Christmas, giving, love, family, friendship, etc. I do not want to spoil the movie for others but it is kid friendly packed with morals. Now I am a sociologist so I may be just a bit biased but I absolutely loooove how the creators added how other cultures in the world celebrate Christmas not just the U.S. (Puerto Rico, Germany, Austria, Mexico etc.) They also gave a bit of historical background (How the Christmas tree came about, etc) This is a nice touch for anyone who shares a different background or just would like their children to know how other little children celebrate Christmas! This is the best Caillou ever. Feliz Navidad!

When winter comes to Caillou's house, this curious 4 year old tackles all kinds of big boy activities like helping Daddy shovel snow, making holiday presents for his family and even discovering how other little boys and girls around the world celebrate the season.

This DVD is over 90 minutes long featuring 8 new songs.

Special features include:

*animated interview with Caillou
*2 holiday songs
*'Twas the Night Before Christmas Story
*Six Caillou challenges

Languages: English, French, and Spanish

I admit, I'm not a big fan of Caillou as an adult. I think the illustrations are simplistic and flat, and Caillou is usually a whiny brat. So, it was with a little trepidation that I bought this holiday DVD last year. I have to say, though, that it's a fine holiday movie and much more engaging than the show. Caillou doesn't whine, but appears curious and thoughful.

My son doesn't use the Bonus material, but really enjoys Caillou's first feature-length holiday movie.

My 2-year old loves Caillou. Add in snow, songs, decorations, holiday cheer, sledding, Santa and gifts and you've got a winner! She is learning the catchy new Caillou songs that I even enjoy. One of the best things is the movie is all Caillou..none of the Rexy/Teddy segments they have on the PBS show.

From an educational standpoint, the kids will learn holiday customs from around the world. Hopefully they will also catch onto the giving and sharing theme emphasized throughout the hour and ten minute movie.

This is a fun, festive movie with Caillou and his family and friends. Even the older kids should enjoy it!

My boys are age 3 and 4. The four year old's eyes sparkled and the three year old just smiled as they watched. Kids grow up so fast....its nice to see them enjoy something that is calm and sweet. Its a nice movie. Caillou did not whine and ask so many stupid questions.

The Caillou Holiday Movie is not only over an hour of Caillou fun (my kids are Caillou fans) but is a terrific holiday story filled with good laughs and lots of charm. The fun that Caillou and his pals get into over the holidays is exactly what my kids want to do over the holidays, tobogganing, parties and lots of yummy things to eat! Caillou's Holiday Movie is simple, charming fun.

Thank you CINAR for doing such a great job on this production. Caillou, as others have noted, is really not as whiney in this movie as he is in the TV shows. That is a super change. Caillou is a thoughtful, generous, loving little man in this movie and a great model for our 3 year old son who adores him. The movie includes many of the people that Caillou has met over the series on television.
In this movie Caillou comes across as a little bit older (don't worry he's still 4) in his behavior. It enabled us to use Caillou's behavior as an example of how our son should behave, rather than what he shouldn't do as happens a lot on the TV show.
My wife and I noticed the change in Caillou's voice but it did not detract from our son's enjoyment. Rosie is very cute and is on her way to being potty trained. Poor Gilbert gets locked behind every door in the house until Rosie rescues him.
Gone and NOT MISSED are the non animated vignettes. We don't mind the scenes with Rexy, Gilbert, and Teddy so much but the other scenes with the live children seem like they are just fillers.
This is a MUST for all Caillou fans, and if you don't like the whiney TV Cailloo you WILL like this one :)
Happy Christmas Everyone!!!

My 3-year old (and even my 1-year old) loved this movie. We loved seeing some previous characters get reintroduced (the fireman friend, the nursing home residents, Jonah). Caillou's voice is noticeably different (the original voice-actor died in a car accident last year) but it's not bothersome. My child loved learning, along with Caillou, about the various ways Christmas is celebrated. My kids danced at each song. Even though it's Spring here, my child wanted to get the Christmas tree out. She hit "replay" as soon as it was over. Fun was had by all.

No more whiny calliou, it seems that calliou changed his style, or maybe there is a new one, but when I watched it with my baby brother, who normally doesn't watch very much calliou, he LOVED it.the songs are actually sung in the SAME voice as in the movie, which is done adorably! i ended up watching it with him at least 20 times! which my mom loved, because it gave her, and I time off! Congradulation to the person who does calliou, u have a wonderful singing voice!

This is a great movie for young kids.

You don't have to worry about the abominable snowman, reindeer making Rudolph cry, Frosty melting, the Winter Warlock, the little drummer boy's parents being butchered, or those other lovely children's animation moments of harm, fear, and sadness.

The songs are catchy (did I just admit that, but to my defense, this movie has been played about 20 times since I've bought it for the kids).

They should just call it Caillou's Christmas Movie, because it is about Christmas. The cover image and title may make it seem less denominative -- yes, one of Caillou's friends is Jewish, and Caillou does visit him and they spin a dreidel, but that hardly alters the fact that this is a Christmas movie.