Too much of everything

The film was still a fun one that will make you laugh and have you leaving the theater feeling like you just stole something valuable and got away with it.

A lot of perfectly good film show their cards early, establish a unique premise and let the audience explore a topic at a leisurely pace, without much in terms of surprise. this film is not one of those films.

There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

Caillou's Holiday Movie (2003) ** (out of 4) Disappointing feature-length version of the Canadian show about the 4-year-old Caillou who learns about the true meaning of Christmas. I'm not going to sit here and play some sort of moral police, which seems to happen whenever Caillou is brought up. Some parents hate the television show yet they still sat and watched this movie. Either way, my son really loved Caillou so I'm pretty sure I've seen all of the television episodes. For the most part they were cute for what they were but all of that is missing from this film. There are many problems here but one is that it just wasn't a good idea trying to take a 10-minute TV show and expand it to 70-minutes. The film seems extremely long and there are just so many scenes that seem to be here for no other reason than the producers needed a longer movie. Most of the charm is gone and even the lessons learned aren't all that special. There are some interesting things here including Caillou learning how Christmas is celebrated in other places but this here takes up a very small portion of the running time. It also didn't help that the musical numbers are incredibly forgetful.

As it is very obvious despite his attempts at using fancy words and cute turns of phrase that the previous reviewer is a child that doesn't understand the concept of educational television for toddlers and preschoolers it may be helpful to actually have a review from a parent that has watched this movie with a toddler.Some people think that Caillou is whiny. Guess what? Children are whiny. He is a very realistic depiction of a young children and how they interact with the world. Television that depicts "perfect" children is not only not realistic but sets actual children up for damaged self-esteem and strained relationships with their parents.As for this movie, it is a fun way to welcome in the holiday season with a young child. And I say "holiday" very specifically. This is not just a movie about Christmas. There are discussions of other winter holidays and traditions, which broadens a child's world perspective. Saying that a four year old can't benefit from information about cultural diversity and should just be given chocolate is a perfect example as to why this country has become so dull, homogeneous, and unhealthy.Children thrive when challenged and presented with new information. A four year old is more than capable of appreciating learning about other people and understanding why people enjoy the traditions that they do. My daughter had just turned two the first time we watched it and she was not only enthralled by the story and the music but was interested in the information and asked questions about different cultures and traditions. This is a good thing!! There is no reason to think that children should just be forced into a box of their own culture and ideas and never exposed to those of other people. That only breeds ignorance, fear, and hatred. Expanding knowledge and understanding is how the world becomes a better place and people advance themselves. This starts at infanthood, not when an already intellectually and culturally stunted person is funneled into the school system.This movie is filled with cute songs that little ones love listening and dancing to, and that actually send a message. Yes, Caillou is wrapped up in the excitement and commercialism of Christmas. That's the point. As he learns about the different cultures and traditions of the season he gains a better appreciation. This is a lesson that all people should learn.If you don't want your children exposed to a whining child or you feel that cultural education should be limited to only your culture, perhaps you shouldn't be putting your children in front of the TV in the first place This is an excellent movie and a wonderful way to mark the countdown to Christmas with a child.Also, in response to the highly offensive commentary by the previous reviewer regarding Caillou being bald (by the way, the statement itself was absurd. It is cancer treatments that cause baldness, not the cancer)--the name "Caillou" means pebble in French. His baldness is a visual representation of this name. It is also a means of allowing more children to identify with Caillou as they are not seeing a color of hair, which can be highly alienating for young children. A little bald preschooler represents innocence and opportunity.

Caillou's Holiday Movie is based off of the seemingly harmless, but very harmless kids program Caillou. Caillou is a show aimed for kids at around age four, the same age as the title character. Caillou's Holiday Movie is the first film focusing on the four year old kid, and it should rightfully be the last. It's worse than when Arthur got his first full length movie, Arthur's Missing Pal. Well maybe not that bad.Caillou, to me, isn't the greatest influence on kids in the 21st century. For God's sake he whines about something every five minutes. He has his own show, and he sings the annoying lyrics to his own theme. How can he be so melancholy around Christmas time? Not just Christmas time, but year round the kid doesn't even count his blessing. "But mommy, I want to go noooooow!" Shut the hell up, Caillou. Or should I say it's French connotation? Bald head. Put some hair on the kid already! No offense to anyone, but he looks like an untreated Cancer patient.As the movie unfolds, it basically focuses on Caillou's anticipation and high hopes for the holiday season. To ease the excitement, and to patient the hyperactive toddler, his mom and dad get an advent color. Although this one doesn't leave behind chocolate or trinkets, it tells the stories about how other cultures celebrate their holiday season. Caillou learns that we may all live on the same planet, but our traditions are all but unique.My question is plain and simple - why the hell would you buy an advent calendar that passes on nothing but information not relating or effecting you in any way, shape, or form to a four year old kid? I get that his folks are supposed to be showing kids the importance of connecting to cultures and making note that not everyone puts up a tree and waits for a big jelly bowled gluten in a red suit to bring toys. But it's likely unless this is a kid's first memorable, Christmas of significance, he will know what an advent calendar is. I guess Caillou was so excited about delve into culture's traditions he forgot about the chocolate.Besides, aren't you just teasing the kid by passing on more useless information to him when you are trying to make him patient for Christmas? This all could have been resolved with a little piece of chocolate for 24 days. But why the hell am I doing pros and cons over an advent calendar Caillou gets that doesn't even exist? I just wasted my typing skills.The nail that seals the coffin in this special is that IT'S A DREADED MUSICAL. I don't mind musicals if it's something I can get into (ie: The Rocky Horror Picture Show and The Sound of Music), but when the songs are being song by a talentless kid with no singing experience EVER in his four years of life, than I don't like them. Why does every special need to be a damn musical now? GLEE isn't enough, we have every kids special on TV singing their hearts out. My favorite musical ever conducted in a Christmas special, besides It's Christmas, Charlie Brown, is probably Arthur's Perfect Christmas. Now that was an enjoyable special. Arthur and his friends possessed more singing talent than Caillou or any of his four year old companions.The film rarely hits a high note, and by day eight, you're begging for it to be over. I used to tolerate Caillou when I was real young, but as I've gotten older I realize the show is an annoyance all together. Whenever I turn it my dad comes down and says "That kid still ain't got no hair?" I laugh and usually change the channel, and ask myself why I made that foolish move. Caillou's Holiday Movie isn't the absolute worst thing to come out this holiday season. But it's far from the most memorable thing. I'd still rather watch Arthur's special or maybe Cyberchase's New Year special.Starring: Annie Bovaird, Merlee Shapiro, Jennifer Seguin, and Pat Fry. Directed by: Nick Rijgersberg.