Written by: Kassidy at 4:14 pm
I was born in the late 70s. Therefore, I did not have the chance to watch Josie and the Pussycats when it first aired in 1970. I did happen to catch a few episodes in reruns, but I was more interested in Scooby Doo. Since I had the chance to review this DVD, which was released by Warner Brothers on September 18, 2007, I can see why I wasn’t as thrilled with this show, considering how similar it actually is to Scooby Doo.
Josie and the Pussycats – The Complete Series comes in a two disc set. The first disc has eight episodes on one side. The second disc also has eight episodes. It is two sided so you can watch four on one side and four on the other. There is also a 22-minute long documentary feature on the creator of Josie and the Pussycats, the late, great Dan DeCarlo. The feature is called “The Irresistible Charm of Dan DeCarlo”. This feature makes this DVD set worthwhile, unless you are a fan of Josie and the Pussycats. Then you will want it for the episodes. Other then that, this set lacks bonus features.
It is not that I necessarily dislike Josie and the Pussycats. It is just that I find it to be the mostly-girls version of Scooby Doo. Even the characters resemble Scooby Doo characters. For example, Alexander Cabot III, a dead-ringer for Shaggy though he has slightly better fashion sense, is also voiced by the voice of Shaggy, Casey Kasem. Josie (voiced by Janet Waldo and sung by Cathy Dougher) looks like a short haired Daphne. Alan (Jerry Dexter) looks so much like a “pumped up” version of Fred from Scooby Doo I thought he was Fred, on steroids!
Just like the Scooby Doo gang, the Josie gang goes around solving mysteries. They have to do so in time to get to their next performance though because Josie is the leader of her all-girl band, Josie and the Pussycats. You might get annoyed by the repetitious (I hate Josie – I’d be a better lead singer) Alexandra Cabot (Sherry Alberoni), the sister of the Josie band’s bumbling manager, Alexander. By the third episode, I was quoting along with Alexandra…that’s how much she repeats herself.
As a parent, I’d let my child watch Josie and the Pussycats. I am not sure my child would want to though. It is the type of show that seems dated and while it may be exciting for some kids, others might figure out how similar it is to Scooby and be disappointed it is a less than stellar remake of a classic cartoon. Ultimately, I advise you to let your child try this one out for themselves by renting it before buying it. You never know, they may like it.
Josie and the Pussycats – The Complete Series has no video restorations. If you like cartoons from the 1970s, then you will definitely want to check this one out. I was a little bit disappointed by the quality of the DVD, though it matches the non-restored audio. Still, it shouldn’t be that hard to hear if you have your sound turned up.
Bottom Line: Rent Josie and the Pussycats – The Complete Series before you buy it. While you may like it, your kids may not, so, use caution when attempting to buy this cartoon set.
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Technorati Tags: DVD Review, Josie and the Pussycats, Cartoon, 70s, Dan DeCarlo, Scooby Doo
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Written by Kassidy - Visit Website
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Kassidy received her degree in Journalism in 2002. She lives in the Midwest with her husband of six years, Jason, and their two little girls, Madison (5) and Emma (2.5), with one (a boy) on the way. The couple is very excited to welcome their first son next January. Passions in life for Kassidy include painting, scrapbooking, writing, being a Mommy, watching romantic comedies, and dancing.
