DVD Review: Max and Ruby – Berry Bunny Adventures

Writers: Rosemary Wells, Kate Barris, Nicole Demerse, Bruce Robb
Director: Jamie Whitney
Cast: Samantha Morton, Billy Rosemberg, Cameron Ansell, Julie Lemieux
Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Nickelodeon
Release Date: February 26, 2008

I love Max and Ruby. Despite not speaking a lot, you can tell Max is smart. I love his little facial expressions and the gleam he gets in his eyes when he knows he’s right about something despite Ruby’s protestations.

Ruby is a bossy, but lovable big sister. She tries to explain how to do things the right way to Max, rather than let him explore in the world and learn on his own. He’s able to figure out, in the end, how to do things, and though this may make Max seem a little spoiled, things usually work out for the best in the end. This show is pure entertainment for the preschool crowd and even adults and teenagers seem to tune in to watch this Nick Jr. show.

Release Information:
The pilot for Max and Ruby aired on Nick Jr. in 2001. In October of 2002, the series premiered regularly on the network. All of the information I’ve found does not make it clear how many episodes of Max and Ruby are available. I do know there were at least three seasons of the show, though. Max and Ruby – Berry Bunny Adventures is just one of the DVDs available for the series. We’ve had the chance to review Max and Ruby – A Very Bunny Christmas, as well.

Max and Ruby – Berry Bunny Adventures is released in a collaborative effort by Nickelodeon and Paramount Home Video. The DVD for Max and Ruby – Berry Bunny Adventures is set to be released on February 26, 2008. Max and Ruby – Berry Bunny Adventures is available at Amazon for pre-order, where it’s going to cost you $14.49 USD.

The Max and Ruby – Berry Bunny Adventures Plot
Max and Ruby is a cartoon about anthropomorphic bunnies. The main characters are Max, a rambunctious toddler who is three years old, and Ruby, his intelligent, bossy sister, who is seven years old. Other characters that are frequently shown on the series include Ruby’s best friend, Louise, and Max and Ruby’s Grandma. The show is a learning experience for both Max and Ruby. It evaluates the sibling relationship that goes from competition to exasperation and back to love.

Each episode of Max and Ruby features three segments. Max and Ruby – Berry Bunny Adventures has two episodes, though the multiple segments make the show seem longer than it is. I’ve given a full synopsis for each episode, so parents can determine if their children would benefit from watching this show.

Episode #1 – Grandma’s Berry Patch – Ruby’s Bunny Scout Banner – Ruby’s Detective Agency

Max & Ruby go berry picking for Grandma. If they have enough she’ll make her special, surprise, berry recipe. Ruby picks them and Max eats them. Ruby explains they have to pick raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries. The entire time, she dreams about what the scrumptious recipe could be. Max hides some raspberries in his shirt front. Ruby takes them and puts them in the basket. At the blueberry patch, Max is too busy eating berries, so Ruby suggests he play with his dump truck. He ends up kidnapping the berries and putting them in his dump truck. Ruby has him empty them out into her basket.

As Ruby gets blackberries, Max plays with his plane racer, stealing blackberries along the way. On the way back to Grandma’s, Max steals the baskets and puts them in his concrete mixer. Luckily, grandma was going to be mixing them to make mushberry smoothies so it all works out in the end.

Ruby and Louise are making a banner for the Bunny Scout parade. Max, in his car, almost runs it over. Max pretends to have a parade with his walking duck as the girls decide what to paint on their banner. Ruby tells him the parade is just for bunny scouts. In the meantime, Max steps in a mud puddle, and splashes their banner. Ruby saves the banner by turning it into the chocolate part of a smore. Smores are very important to bunny scouts.

Max has his robots march in a parade, right towards the banner. One robot says, “Can I be your friend”. This makes Ruby and Louise realize how important friendship is to bunny scouts, so they draw a picture of friendship on their banner. Max has little chicks march in a parade formation towards the banner. This gives the girls an idea to add scenes from nature to their banner. At the bunny scout meeting right before the parade, the girls make Max their mascot since he helped so much with the banner.

Ruby gets a phone call and it’s Grandma. They’re coming to visit her. She has a surprise. Max is busy playing in the leaves so Ruby goes to get her stuffed animals, to take to grandma’s house. One of her ducks is missing, so Ruby gets on the case (Ruby’s detective agency). She tells Max they can’t go to grandma’s until Mrs. Quack is found. Max is going to be her assistant.

They look for clues with the magnifying glass. Max keeps saying ‘Grandma’, but Ruby insists they can’t go to Grandma’s until they find Mrs. Quack. Max tries to play with his dump truck and they find a feather from Mrs. Quack in the dump truck. Max heads outside and points to Grandma’s house. Ruby insists they have to look for clues. She finds Mrs. Quack’s bonnet out in the backyard. They find a ribbon on the gate that belongs to Mrs. Quack. Grandma shows up because they don’t come over. Ruby says they were trying to solve a mystery. Grandma leads Ruby to her house. She made Mrs. Quack a new sweater since it’s getting cold outside. Max knew she was at Grandma’s all the time!

Episode #2 – Surprise Ruby – Ruby’s Birthday Party – Ruby’s Birthday Present

It’s Ruby’s birthday. She’s getting ready in her beautiful birthday dress and tiara. Ruby explains to Max about surprise birthday parties. Max runs off while Ruby is talking. He takes her tiara with his helicopter then yells, “Surprise!” Ruby gets her tiara back and explains why that’s not the kind of surprise she likes. Max surprises her with a birthday mud cake. She thanks him and takes it outside. She gets mud on her hands, so Max runs around the house in her tiara yelling surprise.

Max gets in his little car and drives off yelling surprise. He takes her to the playground. He hides in the tunnels and peeks out to say surprise. As she tries to catch him on the slide, he manages to slide down and drive off in his little car. She follows Max who puts her tiara on a string and keeps pulling it away from her. They decide to hop around and Max hops to Grandma’s house, where Ruby’s birthday party is being held. Boy, is she surprised and it’s all thanks to Max!

Ruby loves her surprise birthday party. She tells Max how much fun it is. He doesn’t remember what happens on birthdays. She shows him the decorations, the balloons, the party snacks, and the presents. She shows Max her birthday cake, which he tries to eat. Ruby says they have to play party games first. They go off to play musical chairs and teach Max. Max catches on easily, but sneaks over to try and eat some cake. Ruby pulls him back to play some more, telling him they play until their is just one chair left.

Max gets rid of all the chairs, but one, and then he wins. They tell him they must play more games. They teach Max how to play “Pin the Tail on the Bunny”. Ruby goes first, and she pins the tail on Max’s bunny tail. Max is ready for cake, but they still have more games to play. They play Red Light, Green Light. After teaching Max to play, the game starts. As they play, Max tries to sneak towards the cake. Louise wins, so then it’s time for cake. Max already has a piece, which he devours.

Ruby gets to open her birthday presents. She explains why people give presents. Max goes off to try and find a suitable present for Ruby in his box of toys. Ruby opens a box with ballerina wrapping paper on it from Grandma. She saves the paper. She also discovers Grandma bought her a home ballerina bar, to practice her dance moves. Max tries to wrap his car in newspaper. He tries to steal the ballerina paper, but Ruby doesn’t let him. Her next present has kisses on it. She saves that paper, too. She gets an assortment of lipsticks. Max tries to steal that wrapping paper, as well. Ruby won’t let him.

The next is wrapped in bird/duck wrapping paper that she wants to keep. Her present is a bird caller since she’s a bunny scout. Max tries to steal that paper, too. Some of it gets stuck on his feet and he manages to sneak it out as Ruby opens her last present from her best friend, Louise. Max get’s to work, wrapping his present in the paper. Louise’s paper has squiggles on it. The present is a special keepsake box she can keep special treasures in. Ruby decides to keep the paper in it. She realizes they’re missing and there is Max, wrapped up, in the paper, as her “present”.

Storyline/Plot:
Replayability:
Acting:
Directing:

Audio/Visual:
The audio is typical for a cartoon television show. Max and Ruby – Berry Bunny Adventures is transferred at an aspect ratio of 1.33:1. The video is presented in full frames. The colors are vibrant. The contrast is sharp. Everything is clear, but it really isn’t enhanced. Either way, it’s worth watching.

The audio is Dolby Digital stereo sound. This sounds good, and much like the show sounds when watched on television. It isn’t enhanced from the show, but preschoolers aren’t going to really care about the sound as long as they can hear the music and the dialogue. It’s good for what it is and makes sense for it’s audience.

Visual:
Audio:

Bonus Features:
There are no bonus features except for previews for other Nick Jr. shows. There are previews for Dora the Explorer, Go Diego, Go!, The Backyardigans, and the Wonder Pets on DVD.
Bonus Features:

Bottom Line:
Max and Ruby is absolutely adorable. I love to watch this show with my three year old nephew, Lil B. He loves the show and really gets into watching it. Max and Ruby – Berry Bunny Adventures has some of the best episodes from this Nick Jr. series. If you have a child and you/they love these bunnies, this is a must buy. Max and Ruby – Berry Bunny Adventures comes recommended.

Overall Rating:

Technorati Tags: DVD Review, Max and Ruby, Berry Bunny Adventures, Nick Jr., Kids Show, TV, preschool

Written by Ashtyn Evans – Visit Website
—
Ashtyn is in her early 30s. She is a mother, writer, college student, and music lover. Ashtyn has had a successful career as a writer since 2003. She turned to blogging in 2005. Ashtyn attends Wright State where she is getting a degree in Psychology. She has extensive knowledge in SEO and Social Media Development.