Featured DVD Review: Strawberry Shortcake: Fun Under the Sun

May 16, 2014

Strawberry Shortcake: Fun Under the Sun - Buy from Amazon

Strawberry Shortcake has been around for decades and the latest incarnation of franchise has been going strong for a little while now. The latest DVD release, Fun Under the Sun, came out last week but the screener arrived a little late. What is it about? And how does it compare to other DVDs from the franchise?

The Movie

The film begins at the end of summer with the various residents of Berry Bitty City calling each other and complaining about how busy the summer has been. Blueberry Muffin overhears Strawberry Shortcake talking about going on a vacation to an island resort called Beyond the Berry Breeze and taking all of her friends. She goes to Raspberry Torte to look for a swimsuit and when Raspberry Torte asks her why she is shopping for a swimsuit when fall is just around the corner, she cracks and tells her about the vacation Strawberry Shortcake is planning. The two excitedly go off to Lemon Meringue to get a summer makeover and spill the beans. Soon everyone in town knows about the super vacation Strawberry Shortcake is planning. They are all excited, but don't want to spoil the big surprise, so they try to learn everything they can about the vacation while not getting caught.

Unfortunately there's a hitch, there is no vacation. Strawberry Shortcake wasn't planning a vacation; she was entering a contest where she has to describe her dream vacation. Now Blueberry Muffin has to tell the rest of the gang she was mistaken, but she can't do it. Instead, she tries to convince her friends that they can't go on the vacation, because the vacation would be horrible. That doesn't work, because her friends are determined to make the vacation work, no matter how much effort it takes. Eventually Blueberry Muffin talks to Strawberry Shortcake and tells her what happened.

Fortunately, everyone forgives Blueberry Muffin and they decide to put that never quit attitude to work writing the best essay... and not just an essay, but a song. Will it work? Will they win the contest?

This is a fun movie for young children who are fans of the Strawberry Shortcake franchise. It has the same strengths as other DVD releases in this iteration of the franchise. The animation is bright and colorful. It characters are cheerful and the voice-acting has a lot of energy. It has good lessons to learn, this time about owning up to mistakes, working together, and making the best out of a bad situation. It is a little short for a movie, but it also only costs $8 on Amazon.com, so it is still a good price for how much entertainment it contains.

The Extras

There is a music video for the song, "It's a Beautiful Lovely Wonderful Day" and some printable coloring pages.

The Verdict

Strawberry Shortcake: Fun Under the Sun is worth picking up if your kids are fans of the franchise. It isn't a long movie, but it is also a very inexpensive DVD.


- Submitted by:

Filed under: Video Review