Strawberry Shortcake: Rockaberry Roll (NR, 2008)

STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE: ROCKABERRY ROLL is told in flashback, as Strawberry Shortcake (voiced by Sarah Heinke) and her talking cat Custard remember two episodes in which the animated star's band, Strawberry Jam, met challenges and overcame them. In the first, Strawberry Shortcake forms the band with a group of friends who must first learn to work together before they can make beautiful music and win at an American Idol-style judged competition. Snippets on wind, percussion, and string instruments show up in the dialog, helping to up the informational value of the first segment. In the second, a new band member has to learn the virtues of practice and dealing with frustration in order to play as well as the rest of her band mates.

It seems a little sad to see Strawberry Shortcake and her friends, best known for adventures where they visit Ice Cream Island and care for Honey Pie Pony, are now vamping for the judges and hoping not to be eliminated by the talent show judges (the Simon Cowell role is played by Strawberry Shortcake's own cat). When Huckleberry Pie begins his rap over the band's final song, it's really time to kiss old-fashioned Strawberry Shortcake goodbye.

However, even with the updated surroundings and situation, Strawberry Shortcake remains at heart a generous, kind role model who tries to encourage her friends and make the best of bad situations. Pervasive imagery of ponies, butterflies, kittens, and puppies -- not to mention adorable Strawberry Shortcake and her friends -- will lend appeal for little girls aged 3-6, but the thin plot and lack of strong boy characters prevent it from speaking to a wider audience.

Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
Director: Karen Hyden
Cast: Rachel Ware, Samantha Triba, Sarah Heinke
Genre: Family and Kids
Run time: 45 minutes
Theatrical release: August 19, 2008
DVD release: August 12, 2008
MPAA Rating: NR