The newest installment of the popular Wiggles franchise is a celebration of all things Halloween. Add a dash of dance, a pinch of music, and a good helping of friendship, and you’ll have The Wiggles: Halloween Party, directed by Anthony Field.
Wiggle Emma (Watkins), Wiggle Anthony (Field), Wiggle Lachy (Lachlan Gillespie), and Wiggle Simon (Pryce) return to the screen for this lively holiday special. Alongside them are some fan-favorite characters: Captain Feathersword (Paul Paddick), Dorothy the Dinosaur (Paloma Hendry-Hodsdon and Chelsey Priadko), Wags the Dog (Callum Hendry-Hodsdon), and Henry the Octopus (Emma Hendry). All four Wiggles, along with some of the other characters, show off their personalities in short introductions at the beginning of the show.
We quickly move on to singing and dancing, which comprise more than 90 percent of the movie. This Halloween special uniquely utilizes the entire Wiggles crew for every song. More Wiggles means more contagious energy, which leads to more fun for the preschoolers watching. Kids and other special guests join several of the performances in costume, truly making this feature a “Halloween Party.”
Some songs are playfully spooky, but none are scary. The song “Vampire Baby” even puts a funny twist on vampires—they love to drink cranberry juice. More fun is had when the Wiggles dress up as mummies, jump up and down as pumpkins, and teach viewers how to swim like a fish. The children’s film offers a generally upbeat array of songs, like “Halloween Party,” “Three Little Pumpkins,” and “Zombie Feet.” Most contain simple but energetic dances that are perfect for kids to move along to. The show wraps up nicely with a rendition of “Happy Halloween” reminiscent of “Crocodile Rock.”
Halloween Party not only highlights multiple aspects of Halloween, from trick-or-treating to costume parties and baked treats, but it’s also one of the more enjoyable and vibrant of the Wiggles’ recent releases. Highly recommended. Aud: K, E, P.