Product Review

The title episode features the band of strange-haired 9-year-olds from the Nickelodeon series sorting out the familiar giving-versus-greed debate of Christmas. Consumer-minded Helga searches for the perfect present to impress Arnold while he searches for the lost daughter of his friend, Southeast Asian immigrant Mr. Hyunh. Helga gets some "really boss" snow boots as an early gift, while Arnold strikes a deal with a government official who will search for the daughter if Arnold can find a pair of... you guessed it--snow boots. This double episode crams a lot of goodwill and redemption into its brief 26 minutes. Also included is a bonus 11-minute episode, "Snow Day," which features a dutiful Arnold helping out his landlord grandfather while his friends frolic in the snow. Will Arnold get a chance to have fun before the snow melts? Just leave it to Grandpa. The themes are aimed at grade-schoolers, but preschoolers will enjoy watching animated big kids in action. --Kimberly Heinrichs