Rockin' with Roseanne: Calling All Kids! (NR, 2006)

Starring comedian Roseanne Barr, this collection of music videos begins with "No Monsters Allowed," in which Barr plays a kid who bravely faces down three monsters. The second video involves two sock puppets that get in a blame game match -- "Did not, did too" -- and one threatens to tattle to their parents. Next up is a cell animation video titled "Calling All Kids," featuring a politician character at a sort of political convention of kids. It's a decently rousing gospel song and the end of the video boasts a fantastically wonky version of earth floating out in space, but, as one of the lines in the song says, "Sometimes things just don't feel right/no matter what you do." The next animated video is the best of the batch: "Peanut Butter and Jellyfish." It's a weird and thoroughly fun song about Fred the Sea Monster who wants to eat, you guessed it, peanut butter and jellyfish at the Clam Café.

Anyone who heard Roseanne Barr's horrible shrieking of the national anthem at the opening of the San Diego Padres game in 1990 would shudder at the thought of sitting through ROCKIN' WITH ROSEANNE, a 40-minute collection of music videos featuring her crass voice. But she doesn't sound that bad this time around. She still sounds awful, but she manages to hit her notes and rarely lets loose a shriek. The question becomes whether one can tolerate her nasally tone.

There are 12 music videos in all. A good portion of the songs were written by John Argent and Mike Himmelstein. They cover a variety of styles and Roseanne appears to be enjoying herself while performing them. But while the videos offer a wide range of music, sets, costumes, and animation styles, it's not enough to compensate for the inanity of it all, nor does it compensate for Roseanne's voice. Perhaps the last line of the movie credits says it all: "Credits compiled by two unfortunate souls."

Studio: Anchor Bay Entertainment
Director: Jeff Machala
Cast: Roseanne Barr
Genre: Family and Kids
Run time: 40 minutes
Theatrical release: February 7, 2006
DVD release: February 7, 2006
MPAA Rating: NR