How do these actors not fall about laughing? (Balamory)

Member Name: bruffyboy

Product:	Balamory
Date:	16/02/09 (61 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: entertaining

Disadvantages: cringe worthy acting

WHAT IS IT ABOUT:
Balamory is a live action children's show that focuses on the entertaining inhabitants of the fictional town of Balamory. Each of the main characters has their own role e.g. PC Plum the police-man and Archie the inventor; each episode, a situation arises that requires at least one of the characters to use their skills to solve it. The show is for pre-school children and often features singing and dancing.

IS IT ANY GOOD:
When watching this show with my two year old, the same thing always runs through my head: how on earth do these adult actors manage to keep a straight face? The scenes in this show are just cringe-worthy "hello children, how are you today?" Miss Hooly might beam. Yes, it's one of those children's shows that relies not on puppetry, but on adults acting like children to entertain our little ones, and good on them.

So there's the first good thing about it: the characters, in their child-like and over the top manner, are entertaining to watch. Kids must think 'hang on a minute, these grown ups are like me!

The second good thing (and I use that term loosely) is the singing. Every character has a theme song, and they're often performed for the viewers at home. Well, all kids love a sing song, and you soon get to know the words (I know I have), so it encourages singing along at home. Any show that is interactive, and dissuades children from sitting at home in a vegetative state is good by me. On the same note, the 'inventions' Archie puts out are always so basic that they can be copied at home (no need for Dragons Den yet Archie).

The worst thing about the show is the way the storylines are so weak. Surely they can do better than 'Archie's lost his glasses' or some such tripe? I know they want to keep it simple for the kids, but boy is it dull sometimes!

IN CONCLUSION:
An entertaining show for kids, but frustrating for adults.

Summary: watch it!