Parents' Guide to Phineas and Ferb: Star Wars

This special is a laugh-out-loud reimagining of the Star Wars saga. It shifts the focus away from Luke, Leia (April Winchell), and Han Solo (Ross Marquand) and onto the comic duo of neighboring Phineas and Ferb. Many of the classic scenes are there -- from the fateful meeting in the Mos Eisley cantina to their narrow escape from the garbage-compactor monster -- but each is retold from the viewpoint of Phineas and Ferb, who are said to have been just off-screen in the original movie. In some cases, the two sets of characters share a scene (Perry is on hand while Leia loads R2-D2 with the stolen Death Star plans, for instance), but most often those Star Wars events play out in the background while the infamous stepbrothers put on a show like only they can do. What with a comically inept Darth wannabe, a bitter rivalry brewing between Isabella and Han Solo, and Candace's unequivocal embrace of the Storm Troopers' conformist code, plus breakout songs at every turn, there's no end to the fun in this movie.

That said, Phineas and Ferb: Star Wars caters to viewers with at least a working knowledge of the Star Wars story and its characters, and those who come to it without that background won't find it nearly as fun. The rapid-fire jokes and jabs are so well incorporated you may have to back up a few times to catch every one, particularly when they're in musical form. Having some familiarity with the Phineas and Ferb cast also gives you better appreciation for how the characters they play in this story relate to their real-life personas, which accounts for Candace's love of all things Storm Trooper and Phineas and Ferb's satisfaction with life on Tatooine. The bottom line? If you're looking for something you will enjoy as much as (or perhaps even more than) your kids will, then this intergalactic adventure is for you.