[.ca] Thomas and Friends: Make Someone Happy

From Amazon.com:
The tot-like tank engines are back on the tracks for another round of useful lessons cleverly disguised as adventures, narrated by Alec Baldwin. The half dozen five-minute stories that make up this episode include such conclusions as the fact that teasing can backfire ("A Big Surprise for Percy"), listening to rumors can lead to wrong impressions ("Thomas and the Rumors"), and it's hard to live up to one's bragging ("James and the Trouble with Trees"). In the title story, a complaining James gets the chance to help Mrs. Kindly (voiced in a comically strained falsetto by Baldwin) when her sister can't come to visit. Mrs. Kindly (and Baldwin's falsetto) returns in "Happy Ever After" for her daughter's wedding, as the engines provide a train-themed package of something old, new, borrowed and blue--yes, the last would be Thomas in streamers. The 34-minute video wraps up with the kid-sung "It's Great to Be an Engine," which asks the musical question, "What if you could be a train?" (Ages 2 and older) --Kimberly Heinrichs

my son would also give this 5 stars; i give it 3.:
this is my son's favorite thomas tape (he has 7 of them!), and it would be mine as well if alec baldwin was not the narrator. i find it offensive and annoying that he chooses to verbalize james as an over-the-top, effeminate, gay character and he does so in a very mocking way. james' exultations of "oh puhleeze!" and "oh heyulp (help)" and numerous inferred eye rolls are ridiculous. i find this akin to his portraying the chinese dragon as saying "ah so, me so solly...." i so wish they would rerelease this video without mr. baldwin's narration, not only because it is annoying and offensive but because it is a well-written script with interesting situations for little kids that would otherwise be valuable.

Rocks!!:
This Thomas video will make you happy. My mom got this video when I was at school. The story teller is Alex Baldwin. When he tells the story it makes the characters sound newer. This is better than any other video, I am such a big fan of it. I do think James is a little bit bossy but I like it anyway.

Not the Best, Not the Worst:
Make Someone Happy is a decent video with a few decent episodes. Alec Baldwin narrates, and his narration has pros and cons. The pros are the narration itself, is rather good and Baldwin does give characters creative character voices but the cons are that some episodes aren't that exciting and Baldwin does make James sound like a sterotypical gay man. But those Chinese Dragon and eye rolling complaints or full of crap. The Chinese dragon never said anything and all the engines roll their eyes to make up for the fact that their mouthes don't move! Happy Ever After, James and the Trouble with Trees, and A Suprise For Percy are the best episodes on this Thomas & Friends release.

Not the Best, Not the Worst:
Make Someone Happy is a decent video with a few decent episodes. Alec Baldwin narrates, and his narration has pros and cons. The pros are the narration itself, is rather good and Baldwin does give characters creative character voices but the cons are that some episodes aren't that exciting and Baldwin does make James sound like a sterotypical gay man. But those Chinese Dragon and eye rolling complaints or full of crap. The Chinese dragon never said anything and all the engines roll their eyes to make up for the fact that their mouthes don't move! Also, not to sound rude but those complaints about the lack of a strong female character are just annoying. Mrs. Kindly needs help in about 2 episodes in the entire show, and in her first appearance she saves Thomas and is rewarded with a Christmas party. A female steam engine wouldn't be needed, because Mavis is a strong female character and an engine. Though it seems like HIT listened because Emily was introduced a few seasons later. Happy Ever After, James and the Trouble with Trees, and A Suprise For Percy are the best episodes on this Thomas & Friends release.

Make someone happy didn't make me happy:
It's been awhile since I did a Thomas review but i've had this one thought out for awhile. Let me start off with the fact that James used be be a moderatly good character. Now all he can do is whine. James has never been a nice engine but he was considered a tough guy. Now Salty with his two major roles is now a tough guy. I think before making new characters they should use the old ones that are never mentioned. Duck has not had a major role since Alec Bladwin took over. Niether has Daisy, Bertie, Terence, BoCo, Duke, or Sir Handel. The engines that have had bad major roles are Edward, Gordon, Henry, Toby, Donald, Douglas, Mavis, or Oliver. I never like Bill and Ben from the start so I didn't list them. If anyone from Hit Entertainment ever reads this have them fire Alec Baldwin.