'Blue's Clues' movie, a video treat

Blue is going big on the small screen. One of the top-rated shows for preschoolers, "Blue's Clues" goes direct to video and DVD for its first feature-length animated special as of Oct. 3.

"Blue's Big Musical Movie," the ambitious expansion of the Nickelodeon franchise, aims to actually teach tots about music.

For the musical beginner (and the musically challenged adults who can watch and learn alongside their toddlers), this latest search for the clues involves the familiar crew, as Steve and his buddies work together to put on a musical for the neighborhood.

In a familiar shake-up of the plan, things don't go as planned and suddenly the group is off in pursuit of the perfect musical partner.

Along the way, all sorts of skills are taught - critical thinking, cooperation, working together to achieve a common goal, not to mention how to write a song.

With a little help from no less a star than Ray Charles, the group manages to learn the fundamentals of music composition. It doesn't hurt to have the vocal talents of The Persuasions as The Notes in the background.

Featuring six new songs, this cheerful little film is not afraid to be wholeheartedly for the preschool crowd in a full-length, 78-minute feature format - a rarity these days.

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