Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses

Princess Genevieve (Mattel franchise doll Barbie) and her 11 rambunctious sisters are hardly “proper princesses”: in fact, their widowed father, King Randolph, calls them "the wild bunch," so he summons his cousin Rowena (the voice of comic royalty, Catherine O'Hara) to teach them etiquette. But Rowena has something more sinister in mind. It's Footloose in a fairy-tale setting: Rowena forbids the girls to dance and sing, but they cut loose after discovering a portal to a magic world where they can dance to their hearts' delight. Still, they must get their feet back on the ground and harness "the power of 12" to foil Rowena's plot to take over the kingdom. Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses serves up plenty of magic to enchant young, starry-eyed Barbie fans and aspiring dancers, and there's even a chaste romance between Barbie and the humble but brave royal cobbler (in addition, three talking animals—a plucky cat, a wisecracking parrot, and Rowena's pet monkey—supply comic relief). As in previous Barbie DVD productions, the CGI animation sparkles, with each character boasting an otherworldly porcelain sheen. Themes from Mendelssohn inform the orchestral soundtrack, while New York City Ballet honcho Peter Martins provides the animated choreography. DVD extras include a music video and a game. Sure to be popular with young girls, this is recommended, overall. Aud: P. (D. Liebenson)