Film review: Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Across the 2nd Dimension (2011)

For followers of Phineas and Ferb on Disney XD, to which we were introduced by a friend, this is the full length TV movie version “in glorious 2D”.

Phineas (voiced by Vincent Martella) and Ferb (Thomas Sangster) are still trying to find things to do during their summer holidays, so they invent a sport where a ball is placed on a platypus tail. When tickled in a particular way, the platypus will flip its tail up, thus shooting the ball away. While inventing a big platypus machine, family pet Perry the Platypus (Dee Bradley Baker) – “Agent P” – sneaks off to stop Dr Doofenschmirtz (Dan Povenmire) from letting his evil plans come to fruition. Everything’s as it normally is.

Until, by accident, the two step-brothers crash land into Dr Doofenschmirtz’s headquarters … and help him get his latest inator working. And discovering their darling pet platypus is, in fact, a secret agent.

The inator in question is one that opens a portal to another dimension … where Perry has turned into a cyborg, and the whole Tri-State Area is ruled by Heinz Doofenschmirtz. One that isn’t inept. In this totalitarian state, can Phineas and Ferb manage to find their way back to their own dimension? And can Candace (Ashley Tisdale) finally bust her brothers? And what will Major Monogram (Jeff “Swampy” Marsh) do when he finds out Perry’s cover is blown?

Phineas and Ferb the Movie is, obviously, a must for fans of the two inventive boys. It’s a fun journey through dimensions, and all the major characters are there. I was surprised at how the kids took the news of their pet’s secret identity, but perhaps less surprised at how the problem was solved in the end.

To have two Doofs was fun – the normal one being as incompetent as he normally is, and the other-dimension version being the evil genius he’s meant to be – even if his sad backstory isn’t half of that of the “real” Doof’s.

At times, it felt a bit too dragged out, but that might just be because most episodes tend to be 15 minutes long, and at times, 30 – not closer to 90. Still, it’s entertaining, and Phineas and Ferb are always a treat to watch.

4 out of 5 dimension portals.