by Kevin Gaussoin, Editor-in-Chief
“There’s a hundred and four days of summer vacation, and school comes along just to end it. So the annual problem for our generation is finding a good way to spend it. LIKE MAYBE…”
So begins every episode of Phineas and Ferb. Each episode contains 2 stories, so while this DVD only contains 7 episodes, you get 14 cartoons.
Phineas and Ferb stars Vincent Martella (Everybody Hates Chris) as Phineas and Thomas Sangster (Love Actually) as Ferb, and Ashley Tisdale (The Suite Life of Zack & Cody) as their sister Candace. The basic premise is, as evidenced by the lyrics from the theme song above, two boys who want to make the most of each day of summer vacation. They somehow have the ability to do anything they put their minds to, including making luxury spas, supercomputers, and cheese-based theme parks in their backyard.
One refreshing aspect of this show is its kind hearted innocence. Other shows might have racism or bullies, but Phineas and Ferb seems to go out of its way to show people going out of their way nice to each other. Phineas and Ferb’s group of friends includes Baljeet (Maulik Pancholy – 30 Rock) an Indian kid and Buford (Bobby Gaylor – Johnny Test) a kid who in any other show would be the classic mean bully rather than a friend.
Dr. Doofenshmirtz (voiced by creator Dan Povenmire) seems to be way more interested in causing conflict just because without his outlandish mischief, his best friend Perry the Platypus (Dee Bradley Baker – Spectacular Spider-Man) wouldn’t have a reason come over to stop his “evil” every day.
Likewise Candace’s two main internal drives are both sweetly innocent and well intentioned. Some days all she wants to do is tattle to mom about her brothers’ latest creation, which their mother (Caroline Rhea – Sabrina the Teenage Witch) never quite sees. The rest of Candace’s time is spent mooning over her crush Jeremy (Mitchel Musso – Hannah Montana).
Triangle-headed Phineas is at the center of a love triangle himself, as his friend Isabella (Alyson Stoner – Cheaper by the Dozen) follows him devotedly and delivers her puppy love laden catchphrase “What’cha doin’?” in almost every episode. Phineas seems oblivious to this, as he only has eyes for the unapproachable Vanessa Doofenshmirtz (Olivia Olson – Love Actually). This is the most meta-perfect unrequited crush imaginable when you realize that Sangster was the kid who played Liam Neeson’s son in Love Actually and Olson played the singer that Sangster’s character learned to play the drums to impress.
Each episode is very formulaic, but only in the best sense of that term. After only a couple of episodes, you have the formula down, and all that remains is gleefully waiting for the show to fill in the same Mad Lib with hilarity.
Each episode contains:
-The awesome theme song as well as another song inside the episode.
-”What are we gonna do today?”
-”Where’s Perry?”
-Perry the Platypus vs Dr. Doofenshmirtz
-Dr. Doofenshmirtz’s -inators
-Main adventure with the boys and possibly a side story with Candace.
-”Oh there you are, Perry.”
Special Features:
Beyond the couple of on-disc Extras listed below, Phineas and Ferb: The Perry Files also contains a digital copy disc so you can load all these episodes onto your iPad or practically any other mobile device. What’s particularly special about this release is the “Activity Pack” which contains a magnet picture frame, a sheet of stickers, a jigsaw puzzle, a postcard, and more.
- Nerves of Teal – Do you have nerves of teal? When OWCA (Organization Without a Cool Acronym) wants you! See if you have what it takes to become like Agent P in this spy recruiting video.
- Platybus Tour – Take a look inside the real life Platybus!
Overall:
The comic timing in Phineas and Ferb is just amazing. The dialog is always quick witted and the unwavering formula just works. It’s appropriate for all ages and yet still appealing to all ages as well. With sweet innocent crushes and all around innocence, this is a feel good show that almost guarantees to give you the giggles. This particular DVD release has a great set of episodes from the second season and with the inclusion of the digital copy, is a must have for travelers.
Rating: 
ComicsOnline gives Phineas and Ferb: The Perry Files 5 out of 5 anthropomorphic secret agents.
Get your copy of Phineas and Ferb: The Perry Files at Amazon now!
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