I fondly remember the Mr. Potato Head I had as a kid. It was the version from 1973, the one with a pipe and top-hat. Now I have a 2½ year old who is obsessed with the Toy Story movies, so when he saw the Mr. Potato Head Silly Suitcase - Firefighter Edition on the store shelves and wanted it, I had no qualms about getting it for him. I only wish I had gotten it sooner!

Product Description:

The original Mr. Potato Head was created in 1950. The set consisted of push-pin face-pieces that kids could stick into real potatoes (or any other vegetable). It wasn't until the 60's when a plastic-potato was included (due to the inherent danger of giving children sharp push-pins as toys).

The Mr. Potato Head Silly Suitcase - Firefighter Edition is one of the newest additions to this famous toy line. It includes 1 plastic potato and 28 pieces! You can use the pieces to create a variety of faces, as well as pieces to make a construction worker or a firefighter. It all comes in a clear-plastic potato-head-shaped case that stands roughly 11 inches tall.

Inside the case is the hollow potato-body. At just under 6 inches tall it is a bit smaller than other Potato Heads I've seen lately. The potato-body has an access-hatch in back where you can store the smaller face-pieces. The potato body has 8 holes to accommodate a hat, eyes, nose, mouth, 2 ears, and 2 arms, as well as a slot at the bottom for feet.

Also included in the case are 28 pieces you can use with the potato-body. These pieces are:
  · Round, regular eyes
  · Blue eyes with built-in eyebrows
  · Purple female eyes with long eyelashes
  · Roundish red nose
  · Orange nose
  · Large purple nose
  · Teeth-only grin mouth
  · Red tongue
  · Green goofy mouth with lopsided grin
  · Yellow silly mouth with white buck teeth
  · Pair of pink ears
  · Pair of orange ears
  · Brown mustache
  · Yellow handlebar mustache
  · Yellow construction-worker hardhat
  · Red firefighter hat
  · Pair of muscular blue arms
  · Pair of silly purple arms
  · Brown work-boots
  · Orange bare-feet
  · Fire extinguisher
  · Badge
  · Blue eyeglasses
  · Goggles

The manufacturer recommends this toy for children ages 2 and up.

Our Experiences:

You just can't go wrong with a Mr. Potato Head, and this one is particularly cool! The "theme" pieces included are right up my son's alley, as he likes firemen and calls the construction hat the "Bob the Builder" hat. My son has his own fireman and construction worker hats, and I am endlessly amused to see him fix up his Mr. Potato Head with one of the hats and then run off to get his own matching hat.

Of all of my son's toys, this is the only one that he really sits down and talks to. I mean, he role-plays with some of his other toys, but Mr. Potato Head is a buddy that he can actually converse with. While playing, he'll say stuff like, "You want to wear your shoes, not your feet", "You need your purple nose", or "Here are your eyes." I think it is wonderful that my son is actually having conversations with his Mr. Potato Head!

I should add that not all pieces fit in the storage inside the potato-body, however everything does fit neatly inside the suitcase. In particular, the feet/shoes, the arms, and the hats are too large to fit in the potato-body. This actually bothered my son when the set was brand new, but now it is yet another learning exercise. I watched him putting away his Potato Head a few days ago. He put the smaller pieces inside the body, but would say "Too big" as he picked up the larger pieces and put them in the suitcase. The clasp is easy enough for him old to open without assistance as well.

I honestly cannot think of anything really bad to say about this toy! The only thing I think it is lacking are more "female" parts (there is one set of female-looking eyes, but no ears-with-earrings or female-looking lips). I am glad the female-eyes are there though -- so you can have a female firefighter or construction worker. The badge and fire-extinguisher are cute additions, but cannot really be "put onto" the figure anywhere (the fire-extinguisher apparently snaps onto the purple arms, but doesn't do so very well, and the badge can be put on an arm too but then is displayed sideways).

There are other versions of the "Silly Suitcase". Another one I've seen in the stores has the pieces to make both the Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head, and another one comes with a little potato body so you can make a "Potato Kid".

Quickie Summary:
Pros:
+) It's Mr. Potato Head!
+) Comes with 28 pieces you can use to make cool faces
+) Construction worker and firefighter pieces included
+) It all fits in a nifty clear Mr. Potato Head-shaped carry case
+) Educational -- teaches body parts, colors, etc
+) Has no lights, makes no sounds, requires no batteries, but is still TONS of fun!
Cons:
-) I wish there were more Mrs. Potato Head pieces included

Final Thoughts:

I knew that I enjoyed my own Mr. Potato Head, and am thrilled to see that my son really enjoys him too. My only regret is that I didn't get one sooner!


Semi-Related Toy Story Reviews:
Buzz Lightyear's Intergalactic Spaceship
Woody's Wacky Fire Truck

To see a small picture of my son and his Mr. Potato Head, check out my profile page.

Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 14.99