Meet the Small Potatoes

Featuring a primarily British voice cast, this cutesy animated program offers a retrospective of sorts (à la Behind the Music) on the fictional titular group of singing russets, based on the CBeebies U.K. preschool series. Meet the Small Potatoes mixes CGI animation with real-life backgrounds, as interviews with band members Olaf (the profound overweight one), Ruby (the dancing diva), Nate (cool and serious), and Chip (the shy one)—as well as fans, and manager Lester Koop (Malcolm McDowell)—outline the group's history from their Idaho roots to concert tour stops on Broadway, and in Las Vegas, India, and elsewhere. Offering a tongue-in-cheek look at the Small Potatoes' issues with genre identity crisis, a bad breakup—with Ruby behaving outrageously after embarking on a solo career (throwing a cell phone at a waiter)—and subsequent reemergence, the story is peppered throughout with short and catchy music video-style song segments showcasing the spuds in their glory. DVD extras include bonus animated shorts. Although a bit strange, this bargain-priced effort from Wonder Pets creator and writer-director Josh Selig is still a strong optional purchase. Aud: P. (J. Williams-Wood)