If you’ve been reading my posts then you know I’m a fan of
Severin. They have become a great source of movies that might have been
overlooked or forgotten when it comes to blu-ray releases by studios long gone
or not interested in giving their once name products a release in this format.
Severin is one of those companies that have stepped up to the plate to deliver
those movies in pristine format with plenty of extras for fans of those films.
Now their dipping their toe into the kids market with Severin Kids. Their first
offering? THE PEANUT BUTTER SOLUTION.
Made in 1985 and found in repeated viewings for those who
grew up around that time on cable, the movie tells the story of Michael Baskin
(Matthew Mackay), an 11 year old boy who hears that a nearby abandoned mansion
has recently been burned down. Curious and in spite of warning not to go there,
he does and enters the building to poke around. Something frightens him and the
next morning he wakes to find all of his hair is gone. This becomes something
his father must now deal with, a struggling artists taking care of his two
children while their mother is away handling the affairs of her recently
deceased father.
After a bad situation involving a wig, Michael is visited by
two ghosts from the mansion who have come to help him. They provide him with a
formula that will help him grow back his hair, the main ingredient of which is
peanut butter. Before leaving they tell him to follow the instructions to the
letter. Of course you immediately know that won’t be the case. He doesn’t
follow the instructions as told and it isn’t long before his hair grows to
outrageous lengths. His best friend Conrad aka Connie (Siluck Saysanasy) tries
to put some on his pubic area to get others to think he hit puberty and he too
ends up with more hair than he bargained for.
Back at school Michael’s art teacher called the Signor
(Michel Maillot), an angry teacher who is constantly telling his students not
to use their imagination, is fired for his behavior. When he hears about
Michael’s condition he kidnaps him with the intention of cutting his hair to
make magic paintbrushes with it. The Signor as also kidnapped other children
from the neighborhood, forcing them into slavery to make the brushes.
What will become of Michael? What about the other children?
Will Michael’s sister Suzie along with the help of Connie be able to rescue
him?
I would love to tell you that this film is amazing,
especially after reading all of the glowing reviews posted on the internet from
various people who remember this movie fondly from their childhood. But in all
honesty I had a tough time with it. The acting felt amateurish at best, like
those after school specials meant for the very VERY young. The cinematography
is passable and the effects are as well. But nothing really popped for me while
watching this. To be honest I had a hard time staying awake and focused while
watching it.
This doesn’t mean the Severin hasn’t done their best to bring
this film to the many who loved it and recall it fondly. This is the first time
the film has been released on blu-ray in the US. In addition to that they’ve
gathered several great extras including an extended US theatrical version of
the film, a new commentary track with producer Rock Demers and actor Mackay
moderated by filmmaker Ara Ball, “Human Beings Are the Same All Over” an
interview with producer Demers, “Conrad’s Peanut Butter Solution” and interview
with Saysanasy, “Tales for All” Paul Corupe on Rock Demersand the Canadian Kids
Film, the Canadian trailer and the US trailer.
If you are one that remembers this film fondly then I
wholeheartedly tell you now that you should pick up this version. It’s been
handled with loving care by Severin, a company that does no wrong when it comes
to saving films like this. One can only hope that they follow through with more
Severin Kids product like this one.
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