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When Disney bought Marvel in 2009, fans began speculating about what the acquisition would mean. So far, the results have been pretty impressive—like 2012’s massive summer blockbuster, The Avengers. But it’s probably a safe bet that no one predicted the first big Disney/Marvel crossover to involve the Disney Channel’s dynamic young duo, Phineas and Ferb.
The hour-long Phineas and Ferb: Mission Marvel finds four Marvel heroes—Spider-Man, Iron Man, Thor, and the Hulk—without their powers after they’re hit by a wayward ray from Dr. Doofenshmirtz’s malfunctioning Power Draininator. After tracking the ray to Danville, they show up on the Flynn-Fletcher family’s doorstep, looking for help. Phineas and Ferb get right to work—with some help from their friends and their closeted fangirl sister, Candace—but they seem to run into one roadblock after another.
Meanwhile, the Marvel villains have also arrived in Danville, eager to get their hands on Dr. Doofenshmirtz’s evil invention—but they run into a few problems of their own.
This animated mash-up blends the action and adventure of a classic superhero adventure with the snappy songs and clever humor of a typical episode of Phineas & Ferb—and the result is one quirky cartoon special with all-ages appeal.
Admittedly, die-hard Marvel fans might see this alliance between Marvel’s heroes and Disney’s Phineas and Ferb as somewhat...well...unholy. After all, the popular Disney Channel series rarely takes things seriously—which means that this special finds the heroes traveling by skateboard while the villains perform such dastardly deeds as stomping on flowers and wreaking havoc on the local mall. And that might be difficult to watch if you hold Marvel’s heroes (and the villains, too) in high regard.
At the same time, though, that signature Phineas and Ferb silliness is what makes Mission Marvel so ridiculously entertaining. It has a little bit of fun with the iconic characters while presenting them on a level that young viewers can appreciate. The heroes are still heroes, but they show a playful, human side, too. And the villains are depicted as more ridiculous than truly menacing—just like Dr. Doofenshmirtz.
As long as you don’t take your superheroes too seriously, then, Phineas and Ferb: Mission Marvel is a must-see. For Phineas and Ferb fans, it’s an exciting introduction to the Marvel Universe. For Marvel fans (or at least fans with a sense of humor), it’s one wild and wacky superhero adventure. And that makes it fun for the whole family.
DVD Review:
The DVD release of Phineas and Ferb: Mission Marvel includes a number of extras—starting with a cute comic book and one of three collectible posters. On the DVD, you’ll also find six bonus episodes of Phineas and Ferb. These include “Fly on the Wall,” which finds poor Candace accidently turned into a fly, and “Sidetracked,” which finds Perry the Platypus teaming up with another agent to save Canada’s national pride.
A couple of fun-filled behind-the-scenes extras would have been a welcome addition to the DVD release—especially since the Phineas and Ferb crew have made some fun behind-the-scenes features in the past. But the bonus episodes should help to take your mind off the lack of featurettes.
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