Dora's Big Birthday Adventure

Ten years have done little to tarnish the appeal of this TV superstar, and DORA'S BIG BIRTHDAY ADVENTURE is a seamless fit into the vast archive of this popular series. The spunky Latina heroine has taught countless preschoolers basic Spanish words and phrases with her engaging style over the past decade. This movie's reflective style -- which includes numerous flashbacks to previous episodes and references standout characters like Benny, Isa, and the Big Red Chicken -- is a worthy celebration of its own accomplishments, and happily works well as a stand-alone story for newcomers to Dora's adventures.

If a fault can be found, it's in the unavoidable relationship between the movie and the marketing giant who takes center stage. Dora's face graces everything from snack food to pajamas, so young fans might develop a new partiality to these items. If you can see past that, however, you'll find a spunky Latina heroine who reminds kids that helping others and solving problems are important qualities to being a friend.