This children's musical feature represents an expansion/reshoot of an unsold TV pilot originally dating back to 2010—an unintended bonus benefit is that one can behold child performers lensed at different ages, in a rather wobbly flashback-flashforward plot structure.
Though `plot' might be too strong a word for the sunny item, which strikes a vibe stranded midway between Anne of Avonlea and Pee-Wee's Playhouse—if that can be imagined.
Lily (series creator Sherry Hursey) was separated from her parents in a shipwreck and grew up an orphan. Now an adult, she fosters a parentless, multicultural group of kids in a Seussian lighthouse on the island of Beacon Bay, a place that seems to be timeless.
The setting is a mix of yesteryear's fashions, modern computers, performing animals, and magic (California Cirque du Soleil performers were among the background).
A slight storyline has to do with the introduction of a new boy to the ensemble, a wounded-adolescent type whose resistance is instantly broken down by an upbeat song—one of the numerous tunes which, fortunately, are quite pleasant, in a pop-Broadway fashion.
Watch among the cast for character actors Mindy Sterling (best known as Dr. Evil's lovesick assistant in the Austin Powers farces) and the late Fred Willard (unrecognizable in a Merlin-the-magician makeup job).
As child development material—championing imagination, positivity, and fostering—it's a decent companion for the J-shelf viewers grown beyond Barney the Dinosaur but not yet attuned to the subtleties of Spongebob Squarepants.
The disc has extensive extras, including an interactive-activity book for PC drives (an enchanted book is a script element), and much cheerful behind-the-scenes stuff. Veteran production designer William Stout (who deserves quite some kudos for the feature's look) describes working on big-budget Universal blockbusters for Steven Spielberg and John Milius.
All in all, it is a pleasant home-video resurrection of a lost TV pilot. When will Conan O'Brien do the same for his legendary rejected Adam West network comedy Lookwell? (Aud: P)