Bob and the gang take on their biggest construction job yet when they're landed
     with the task of restoring a crumbling castle. But their employer - Dr. Florence
     Mountfitchett - thinks that's Bob's father is head of the team. And that's the cue
     for much medieval shenanigans in and around the historic property, as the gang
     re-build the keep and Bob junior and Bob senior re-build their own father-son
     relationship...

     A second film outing for our favourite builder, then, and like A Christmas to
     Remember it's a rather jolly affair, with lots going on, and more famous voices
     to listen out for. Richard Briers voices Bob's father (Robert), and June Whitfield
     his Mum (Dot), whilst Brenda Blethyn is here as the medieval historian Florence
     Montfitchett. The machines have fun learning about castles and re-naming
     themselves "Sir Roll-A-Lot" and "Lady Dump-A-Lot". Bob, of course, is
     "Mr Fix-A-Lot". Oh, and then there's that mischievous scarecrow Spud, on
     the hunt for a shiny coat of armour and a noble steed. A successful conclusion
     isn't ever in doubt, but the plot has enough twists and turns to keep even big
     builders watching, right up to the medieval pagaent which rounds off the story...

     Bob's big mechanical licensing machine may be rolling on unstoppably, but the
     high production values of the series and films are indisputable, and everything
     gels so darned effortlessly. There's some lovely character detail to look out
     for, like the way Florence flourishes her umbrella whenever she's aroused, or
     the fact that Bob's father hitches his thumbs in his trousers during conversations.
     Spud is the comic relief, as always, and his scenes in the library and atop his
     new steed can't fail to raise a smile. There's surprising emotional depth too,
     in the sparring between father and son.

     It would have been all-too easy for HOT and HIT to have simply mashed together
     a series of spin-offs for their top toon star, but on the basis of the first two specials,
     they've really pulled out the stops to make them worthy of the term. And if you
     still need further proof,  just take a look at the UK DVD release, which includes
     a rather smart "widescreen" version of the film - HIT's on the job, alright! 

     » "Can-a-lot" is, of course, a play on "Camelot" the mythical castle
         home to King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table...

     » In America, this film has been re-titled to "Knights of Fix-a-lot"...

 

     See also

      Tv Series:
       Bob the Builder
       Bob the Builder: Project Build-It
    
       Specials:  
       Bob the Builder: Bob's Big Plan
       Bob the Builder: Built to be Wild
       Bob the Builder: A Christmas to Remember
       Bob the Builder: Race to the Finish
       Bob the Builder: Scrambler to the Rescue
       Bob the Builder: Snowed Under
       Bob the Builder: When Bob Became a Builder

 

     Knights of Can-a-lot on DVD

      Bob the Builder: The Knights of Can-A-Lot
                Region 2 / HIT Entertainment / March 2003

      Bob the Builder - The Knights of Fix-a-Lot
                Region 1 / Lyons / Lyric / March 2003

 

     a HOT Animation Production
     for HIT Entertainment Plc

 

      On the web


       Bob the Builder
       Bob's home on the web, suitably bright and busy for kids...

       HIT Entertainment 
       The parent site for Bob's owners with corporate info on all of their
       many and varied characters....