3/5 wacky mayhem
  by Melanie Marie Myatt (chicago)
if you are looking for some zany and crazy adventures for your tweens and preteens, this is the dvd series for you. i have to admit, i felt a little bit of skepticism when i first popped this dvd into our player, but Chop Socky Chooks, Vol. 1 actually delivered.

taking place in "wasabi world," these three crime-fighting chickens work together to defeat the evil plots of dr. wasabi. each hero, chick p, ko joe and chuckie chan, have their own gifts and skills that they use together to overcome "virtual villains, karaoke crazies, rogue robots, prehistoric predators and even fast-food fiends."

i have to admit that my favorite character of the series is the villain, dr. wasabi, which isn't generally the case. he seems to be channeling a little mike myers as dr. evil. his lines brought me the most laughs.

in some ways, this show is a lot like the other "super-heroes-battling-a-crackpot-evil-villain" cartoons i've seen. but with the comedic addition of dr. wasabi and his apish toady, i think series manages to bring something different to the table.

it is still a little too flashy and intense for my children, but i do think i would be happy to let them watch and enjoy it once they get a little older. the "violence" is not really violent, just intense. the description i received is apt: "full of wacky adventures and martial arts mayhem." i think mayhem and wacky are good descriptors of what you will find in Chop Socky Chooks, Vol. 1