Life as a family blogger is weird. One day you’re writing about tea, the next you’re writing about press trips and then other days you’re writing about Mr. Potato Head? Yes, he’s back! When I was a little girl, I didn’t have a Mr. Potato Head, a fact that has bugged me since childhood. Everyone else had one but not me. Like many toys that I have never owned myself, I have, as a parent, taken great pleasure in seeing my son play with them… and taking a turn myself. Before I continue with this review, I should add that this item was gifted by Hasbro. I have received no monetary compensation for writing this review and it contains my own opinions, which were unchanged by receiving the gifted item. Now that the legal part is over, let’s move on and talk about Mr. Potato Head.
For those who don’t know, Mr. Potato Head is a potato shaped toy who comes with moveable and removeable facial features, limbs and a hat. In the box of the latest Mr. Potato Head you receive a head (which is mounted on top of two blue boots), two arms, two ears, a pair of eyes, a nose, a hat, two mouths and some instructions. The body contains a magnet which is how the pieces stick to the body. I always wondered about that as a child…
There’s also a Mrs. Potato Head which is sold separately and the parts are compatible with other Mr. Potato Head and Mrs. Potato Head toys. The version which I was gifted is a Movin’ Lips head. If you press a button on one of the boots, you’ll get to hear him sing his own version of Meghan Trainor’s song, Lips Are Movin. I didn’t make the connection at first, because being impatient, I went ahead and pressed the button without reading the back of the box or the instructions. He’s got his own lyrics to the song which are, “My lips are movin, my lips are movin, my lips are movin, I’m a fried, fried, fried tater YEAH.” Quite catchy! And it’s also true that his lips move. They shift across his face as he’s singing.
It’s suitable for children over the age of three, so my son, being eight, is maybe just coming to the end of the stage where he is excited by toys like these (although I’m thirty-nine and I say you’re never too old). There’s demo batteries included when you purchase the toy, but otherwise it will require three AA batteries. He has 4 parodies of popular songs and over 40 phrases such as, “I like you kid, you’re my bestest spuddy” and “You can tell me anything, I’m all ears.”
Personally, I think Mr. Potato Head is a classic toy who should always be a popular choice with children. He’s cute, funny and interactive and should keep kids entertained and make parents nostalgic. Dare I say it, I think he’s a perfect choice for Christmas. Yes, I know it’s only September but I’m going there.
Mr. Potato Head Movin Lips has an RRP of £19.99 and is available from lots of stockists such as Smyths, Amazon and The Entertainer. I’ll also be including this toy in my Christmas toys round-up posts later in the year.
Was there a toy you wanted as a child and never received? Share in the comments below.
I always wondered about this guy myself years back! I was told when I was at school that you basically took a potato and stuck the parts onto it. Mind you that might have been the case when Mr. Potato Head first appeared in the early 60s. xx