Yogi's Great Escape (1987)

 

A charming little made-for-TV movie. 

In this movie Yogi and Boo-Boo wake up after hibernation and find a basket outside their cave. They open it and find three little bears. The little bears are always hungry, and Yogi and Boo-Boo do the best they can to keep them fed. Meanwhile Ranger Smith learns that the park is going overbudget, and they will have to close. Because of this he has to tell the bears that they all have to go to the zoo. Yogi is not happy about this, and he plans a big escape for him and the four other bears. They escape but everywhere they go, the ranger is on their trail.

There is quite a bit to enjoy about this movie. Yogi and Boo-Boo are just as likable here as they ever were. Even Ranger Smith is very likable here. He is the antagonist, but he is not the villain. Though he is trying to stop Yogi and the other bears, he still does not hate them and has times where he feels sorry for them. He is simply a guy doing his job. This is why I have always liked this character and this film captures this perfectly. He The story is a very charming one. It fits the characters perfectly. It also feels like a classic Yogi Bear story but still perfectly fits the longer length. This movie never really drags and remains charming for the whole runtime. The 93 minute (or two hours with commercials) goes by incredibly quickly. Since the movie is inspired by the classic shorter length cartoons, the more episodic storyline fits perfectly and all the little fun adventures are very enjoyable. The film also benefits from some very handsome background art and some fun cameos from other Hanna-Barbera. 

The comedy in this film is the type that will make you smile but rarely laugh out loud. While there is no problem with comedy that is charming rather than hilarious, it is easy to miss the real laughs that the classic Yogi cartoons have. Still there are no jokes here that ever fall flat and it is hard not to appreciate that.

The biggest flaw of this movie is that the little bear cubs don't really add anything. You could do this story just as well with just Yogi and Boo-Boo and the film wouldn't be missing anything. Another problem is that the little girl bear cub feels like the filmmakers trying too hard to be cute. She is never as cute as the filmmakers think she is. The songs in this film are also quite forgettable. The ending is incredibly rushed and forced. 

This film is part of Hanna-Barbera Superstars 10, a series of 10 made for TV movies starring Hanna-Barbera characters. The supervising director was Ray Patterson and the writer was Neal Barbera (the son of Joseph Barbera), both of whom also made Yogi & the Invasion of the Space Bears (1988), another one of the Hanna-Barbera Superstars 10 movies. 
 

  

Yogi Bear and the Magical Flight of the Spruce Goose (1987)

 

A very charming made-for-TV movie. 

In this movie, Yogi is a tour guide leading a group of Hanna-Barbera cartoon animals (Boo-Boo, Snagglepuss, Huckleberry Hound, Quick Draw McGraw, Augie Doggie, Doggie Daddy) on a tour that includes going to see the legendary airplane, the Spruce Goose. However, they soon find themselves trapped in the airplane. On their attempt to find a way out, they end up traveling the world with Yogi as the pilot. The gang decides to use the Spruce Goose to help various animals that are in trouble. On one of their adventures, they run into the villainous Dread Baron and his dog Mumbly. They pretend to be reformed but they are really after the Spruce Goose for themselves. 

There is a lot to enjoy about this movie for Hanna-Barbera fans. Like many cartoon fans, I simply get a warm feeling when watching these movies that include many of the Hanna-Barbera characters. It gives me the feeling of visiting old friends. It also helps that these characters play off each other very well. I very much enjoy the little exchanges between Huckleberry Hound and Quick Draw McGraw. This made me wish that these characters got to play off each other more often. I also love the little touch of Augie Doggie's hero being El Kabong and that he never catches on that he is really Quick Draw McGraw. This perfectly capture that beneath his genius Augie Doggie is still a little kid. The environments that they visit are a lot of fun and there are some great atmospheric backgrounds in these scenes. The Dread Baron and Mumbly are wonderfully fun villains. There is always something that is so enjoyable about villains that simply enjoy being villains. These characters are especially a lot of fun in over the top and gleeful villainy. It doesn't hurt that they get the best comedic moments in the film. Most of the humor here is not as laugh out loud funny as the original cartoons with these characters, but it is charming. This is more the type of humor that will make you smile or chuckle rather than laugh out loud. While this may keep it from reaching the comedic heights of the best adventures of these characters, the very silly sense of humor is still a quite a bit of fun for Hanna-Barbera fans. The storyline (which is somewhat similar to an episode of the TV show, Yogi's Gang) may be simple but it is also quite charming. 

The main problem with this film is that the episodic nature can make it feel a little overlong at times. The whole artic segment adds little to the main story and can feel a bit like padding. 

The movie's supervising director is Ray Patterson. Patterson was a former Disney animator having worked on the Disney feature films, Fantasia (1940) and Dumbo (1941). He first worked with William Hanna and Joseph Barbera on the Tom and Jerry theatrical shorts. In the 1960's he would once again work for Bill and Joe at the Hanna-Barbera studio. He would stay at Hanna-Barbera for many years and become a director for many of the studio's movies and TV shows. The film's writer was Dennis Marks. This was the first of three feature films he would write that starred Hanna-Barbera cartoon characters. The other two would be Jetsons: The Movie (1990) and Tom and Jerry: The Movie (1992). Unlike this movie, both those films would be released theatrically. 

All in all, this is a very fun little movie. 

Yogi and the Invasion of the Space Bears (1988)

 

A really fun made for TV movie.

As this film starts Ranger Smith is dreading Yogi waking up from hibernation and making his spring and summer miserable. Yogi naturally does just this and neither Ranger Smith nor any of the park rangers under him can seem to stop Yogi. However, the park rangers are not the only ones keeping a close eye on Yogi. A race of aliens ruled by an evil king are watching him as well. The aliens kidnap both Yogi and his little buddy Boo Boo and create many copies of both Yogi and Boo Boo to take over the Earth. Now that the evil king has these robotic clones, he shoots the real Yogi and Boo Boo into outer space. The real Yogi and Boo Boo must stop these aliens from taking over the world. 

What makes this movie work so well is despite having a larger scale storyline than the classic Yogi Bear shorts (though the classic Yogi Bear short, Space Bear (1960) has a somewhat similar (but still smaller scale) story), the focus of his film is similar to that of the classic shorts. That is to say that this film focuses on silly cartoon comedy. All the gags involving the Yogi and Boo Boo clones being loose in Jellystone are reminiscent of the classic Yogi cartoons in the best way possible. There is lots of great slapstick in these scenes. However, what makes this slapstick work so well is the reactions from Ranger Smith. He is the perfect straight man to all this cartoon comedy. As well as being true to the spirit of the classic cartoons, this movie also is more visually attractive than the average Yogi cartoon. The background artwork in the scenes during Cindy Bear's song number or when Cindy is climbing the mountain is simply fantastic. These scenes are lovely to look at while still being true to the spirit of Yogi bear. Of course, the main attraction to a Yogi Bear movie is seeing the characters we love. This film perfectly understands why we love these characters and they have rarely been more likable than they are here. Not only are the characters likable as individuals but their interactions with each other are also delightful. 

This movie does have its flaws though. One is that the songs are bland and mostly forgettable. There is little to make them stand out among the songs in other Hanna-Barbera movies. The Space Bear Shuffle song is almost embarrassingly bad. Also Boo Boo having a crush on a space bear feels like a wasted opportunity as it is incredibly rushed.

This movie was directed by Don Lusk and Ray Patterson. Don Lusk had previously been a Disney animator working on some of Disney's best animated features and shorts. His work with Hanna-Barbera began as early as the 1960's. Ray Patterson had worked with William Hanna and Joseph Barbera all the way back in their Tom and Jerry cartoons of the 1940's. The film was written by Neal Barbera, the son of Joseph Barbera, who also wrote another made for TV Yogi Bear movie, Yogi's Great Escape (1987) and the theatrical Hanna-Barbera feature film, Rock Odessey (1987). This film also marked the last film for voice actor Daws Butler (the voice of Yogi Bear). This film is also part of the Hanna-Barbera Superstars 10, a series of 10 made for TV movies starring famous Hanna-Barbera cartoon characters. 

Michael's Christmas Movie Guide: It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie (2002)

 

While this made for TV movie is not a top-tier Muppet movie, it is still a good film. 

This film takes a note from Its a Wonderful Life (1946). When Fozzie loses the money needed to keep The Muppet Theater going, Kermit falls into a strong depression feeling that he ruined the other Muppets lives by making them believe in his dream as well. When an angel comes to visit him, Kermit says he wishes he had never been born and then the angel decides to use this to show him, what the world would be like if he wasn't.

One of the best things about any Muppet movie is how well they mix wacky zany humor with a warm heart and natural sentimentality. It is during the heartfelt scenes where this movie really shines. Though the story is in many ways a parody of another Christmas movie, it is still quite heartfelt. To see Kermit of all characters pushed to the point where he can no longer believe in dreams makes us simply want to give our favorite frog a big hug. No matter how silly this movie gets, it still explores this heartfelt idea to its fullest. The whole section where Kermit sees how the world would be without him is very heartfelt. One of the best scenes in this film is Kermit and Gonzo’s song together which is simply lovely. The scene with Miss Piggy if there was no Kermit is both heartfelt and funny at the same time, 

The humor in this movie can be a bit hit and miss. The comedy falls flat when it focuses too heavily on pop culture references. Parodying Moulin Rouge! (2001) and The Grinch (2000) make it feel like this film is trying too hard. It doesn’t help that these parodies aren’t really that funny. The comedy simply relies too much on simply the audience recognizing what the movie is referencing and too little on funny gags. Scenes that reference TV shows like Scrubs and Fear Factor, simply feel like NBC (which this made for TV movie originally played on) advertising itself. However I will admit a reference to The Muppet Movie did really make me laugh. The scenes involving Whoopi Goldberg as a God-like character, are also never as funny as they should be. The best comedy came from the characters and simple slapstick gags. Gonzo’s eccentricities, Piggy’s temper, Pepe’s innuendos and Fozzie’s clumsiness all ad some delightful comedic moments. Statler and Waldorf get some of the comedic lines in this movie. Also little slapstick gags like Robin getting his younger stuck on a pole definitely made me laugh. 

Even at less than an hour and a half (without commercials) this movie feels longer than it needs to be and a little stretched out at times. 

While this isn’t on par with the best Muppet movies, it is still a delightful watch around Christmas time. 

Michael’s Christmas Movie Guide: Cricket on the Hearth (1967)

Note: This review may contain very slight spoilers. However, I am sure that even if you haven’t seen the movie, you can already guess these spoilers. 

This animated made for TV movie (which originally aired as part of Danny Thomas' TV show) is one of the most unusual of the Rankin/Bass Christmas specials. Because of this it may not appeal to as many people as the studio’s more famous Christmas specials. Yet the movie has a charm that works well on me. 

In this film (based on a Charles Dickens story of the same name) a kindly toy maker invites a cricket to live with him and his daughter. He does this because he believes that a cricket on the hearth brings good luck. As Christmas approaches the cricket becomes part of the family, even helping make the toys for the upcoming holiday. However, things take a dark turn, when the daughter’s true love is assumed lost at sea and the shock causes her to lose her sight. This is only the beginning of their troubles. However, the cricket takes it upon himself to make it all better by Christmas Day. 

What makes this so different from the other Rankin/Bass Christmas specials is that this is really a sad movie with a very happy ending. While the other Rankin/Bass Christmas specials had unhappy moments, they were often brief, and they were never quite this sad. While in my mind this makes the happy ending all the happier, for some this may be more than they wish to see in this type of movie. 

There is a lot I really like about this movie. Like all of these specials, the film benefits from a wonderful voice cast. This wonderful cast includes Danny Thomas, Marlo Thomas (a real-life father and daughter playing father and daughter), Roddy McDowall, Paul Frees (who cartoon fans might know as the voice of Boris Badenov (Rocky and Bullwinkle's archenemy) and Donald Duck's uncle Ludwig Von Drake), Ed Ames and Hans Conried (who Disney fans might know as the voice of Captain Hook). While limited, the animation has a real warm charm to it. Maybe it is partly nostalgia but there is something about this type of limited animation that feels like Christmas to me. The varying art styles during the song numbers are also completely delightful. Also, it is really easy to care about these characters and stand by them as they go through both bad times and good. Because of this the happy moments are happy, and the sad moments are sad. 

The songs here are very pleasant to listen to but not especially memorable. Because of this you might enjoy these songs, but they won’t stick with you the way the songs from Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer (1964) do.

This film does have its flaws though. The humor is rarely that funny here and most of it falls flat. Also, the scene inside the animal filled nightclub feels like it belongs in a completely different movie. The song number in that scene also feels like padding, as it has no purpose in the story and tends to distract from it. 

While this may not be Rudolph, it is a charming little made for TV Christmas movie that deserves to be better known. 

Recommended Non-Horror Movies for Halloween Time.

 

Hello my friends, October is only a few days away. Of course, to many movie lovers October is the time to revisit some of their favorite horror films. However, Halloween time watching does not need to be limited to horror. There are plenty of non-horror movies that are perfect for Halloween time. Here are some of those. Some of these movies are pure masterpieces while others are simply fun ways to spend an October evening. 

 The Spirit of the Beehive (El espíritu de la colmena) (1973) This art house film from Spain is essential watching to any true cinephile. Though the story line is simple (and it takes nearly 20 minutes to even establish the most basic facts about the characters), it has a hypnotic effect that simply draws you in as you watch it. From some of the most beautiful images in Spanish film history, an incredible performance by child actress Anna Torrent, a wonderful sense of atmosphere and a lot of hidden layers of depth this movie truly casts a spell on an astute viewer. With how much of this film centers around a little girl who becomes transfixed by James Whale's Frankenstein (1931), this is also a perfect movie for Halloween time. 

Casper (1995) Last Halloween season a wonderful friend of mine (God bless her) gave me a DVD of this movie. Before that I admit that the last time, I saw it I was a little kid. Watching it again as an adult, I was amazed by just how well it held up. Though this has never been a critical favorite, it is a delightful family movie that will now be part of my Halloween watching every year. This movie does a wonderful job of transferring the famous cartoon ghost from short films to a feature film. The movie has a good sense of humor, likable characters, wonderfully imaginative sets and a good sense of atmosphere. 

Ghost Breakers (1940) This is one of my favorite Bob Hope comedies. Putting Hope's lovable coward character into a spooky themed comedy is simply a wonderful idea. When this spooky themed comedy has a wonderful sense of atmosphere, the result is irresistible. Adding to the fun is that Hope is at his funniest here, with nearly every joke hitting the mark. 

Daffy Duck's Quackbusters (1988) This is one of the Looney Tunes compilation movies. This series of movies were combinations of new animated scenes and the classic Looney Tunes short films put together to create a feature film. With this format in mind, it is amazing not only how cohesive the story is but how incredibly entertaining it is as well. The selection of great spooky themed classic shorts is simply wonderful. The new segments of this movie are also a lot of fun. It is obvious that directors Greg Ford (an animation historian himself) and Terry Lennon (who had worked as an animator on the previous Looney Tunes compilation movies) perfectly understand these classic characters and their appeal. 

The Gorilla (1939) The Ritz Brothers may not be Laurel and Hardy or The Marx Brothers and their films are hardly what one would call art. Yet I always find myself having a good time watching their films. This is one of their best as they are put into a murder mystery in a spooky house. This movie combines the comedy team's usual sense of comedy (which may be an acquired taste, but it is one I acquired) with a surprisingly good mystery and sense of atmosphere. Even those who don't like The Ritz Brothers may find themselves enjoying this movie. 

Valerie and Her Week of Wonders (Valerie a týden divů) (1970) A truly brilliant arthouse film from Czechoslovakia. This film tells the story of a young 13-year-old girl growing into womanhood. The way the story is told though is anything but conventional. This is almost in a way like Alice in Wonderland reimagined as a dark and sexual nightmare. While it is not a horror movie, the film certainly dips its feet into that genre with some truly uncomfortable scenes. The movie also takes on a true dreamlike feel, where nothing makes logical sense but flows naturally from a place of emotions, fears and desires. 

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948), Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man (1951), Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1953), Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy (1955) Combining Universal's most popular comedy team with their famous monsters might seem like a strange idea. Yet as anyone who has watched these movies know it worked out perfectly. These are some of the finest films from this later portion of Abbott and Costello's career. These movies feature them at their comedic best with many wonderful gags throughout. Also the monsters are incorporated fantastical into these movies. The classic monsters are never made into a joke but instead treated with the upmost respect and their creepy charms strangely work as perfect counterparts to Abbott and Costello's comedy. Adding to the fun is horror icons Bela Lugosi, Lon Chaney Jr. and Boris Karloff. These are simply great fun.

Scooby-Doo Meets the Boo Brothers (1987), Scooby-Doo and the Ghoul School (1988), Scooby-Doo and the Reluctant Werewolf (1988) Nothing makes for better Halloween watching than Scooby-Doo! and this trilogy of made-for-TV movies are easily fan favorites. With delightfully corny jokes, fun side characters (including real monsters and ghosts), an atmospheric feel, an indescribable warmth and a willingness to deviate from the typical Scooby-Doo formula these made-for-TV movies are pure comfort food for Hanna-Barbera fans (like myself) and a wonderful way to spend an October evening. 

Michael's Christmas Movie Guide: A Flintstone Christmas (1977)

A fun little movie.

In this film Santa has an accident on top of Fred Flintstone's roof and Fred and Barney take over for Santa, delivering presents all around the world (which is very similar to what happens in the Christmas episode of the TV show). Yet while he is busy helping the real Santa, Fred is supposed to be playing Santa at the Bedrock Orphanage. 


 This is a charming little film. The characters are just as likable as ever and it is always great to see The Flintstones again. This movie also has a nice, warm Christmas-y feeling to it. On the downside this film does lack the amount of laughs the TV show had, and the songs come out of nowhere and don't fit in well. Though this may not be the classic that the Christmas episode of the TV show, or A Flintstones Christmas Carol were, it is fun, and that is just what you want from The Flintstones.

The movie's director was Charles A. Nichols. My fellow Disney buffs might recognize his name because he directed a lot of Pluto cartoons. Charles A. Nichols had also worked as an animation director on the original TV show. Mel Blanc and Jean Vander Ply reprise their roles as Barney and Wilma. Jean Vander Ply even is still the voice of Pebbles, even though Pebbles is older and can talk now. However, Fred and Betty's voices have been taken over by Henry Corden, and Gay Autterson, both would voice the characters many more times in the future. This film even features some of the original Flintstones animators like Ed Barge and Hugh Fraser. The song Hope was used earlier in the Hanna-Barbera Christmas special A Christmas Story (1972) and later reused in the made for TV movie Yogi's First Christmas (1980). 

Scooby-Doo! Curse of the Lake Monster (2010)

 

This live action made for TV movie is a sequel to Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins (2009). It is excellent when it focuses on the mystery and less so when it focuses on romance. 

In this film the gang gets summer jobs caddying at a country club owned by Daphne's uncle. Here they learn about a creepy legend of a lake monster and witch who controls him. When the monster crashes a party, the gang has yet another mystery on their hands.

What works about this movie the best is the typical mystery and spooky elements. The villains here are wonderfully and delightfully spooky. The lake monster has a really creepy design and the cheaper CGI actually works perfectly to give him a more other worldly feel. The scene with the character's backstory is also wonderfully done. The climatic scene of this film is also delightfully creepy. I could easily see this scaring me as a kid and that gives me great respect for this film. The reveal of who the witch is wonderful. It is a fantastic mystery as it takes some figuring to guess but all the clues add up perfectly. This movie also does a great job of capturing the delightfully atmospheric look and feel of Scooby-Doo! Where Are You in live action.

The humor is hit and miss here but I admit that there are a few jokes that made me laugh. Also even though Scooby himself is underused in this film, I did really enjoy some of his cartoony slapstick here.  

Unfortunately this film spends too much time on the romance between the characters. Fred and Daphne are dating and he thinks it is serious and she doesn't. Meanwhile Shaggy has a crush on Velma but is afraid to tell her. This leads to some really bland soap opera like shenanigans, we have seen a million times and done much better. The problem is that this takes up too much time away from the mystery and considering how well done the mystery is here, I definitely wish that we could have spent more time there. This film came out the same year the TV show, Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated premiered and frankly that show did this much much better. I will also say that Nick Palatas often tried too hard with his Shaggy voice and this could get a little distracting and annoying. If he toned it down a little, it could have been a much better performance. 

All in all this is a very uneven movie and when it works, it works very well and when it doesn't it falls flat. 

There were two more live action Scooby-Doo! made for TV movies planned but due to disagreements between Warner Bros. and Cartoon Network, this never happened. The first was already written and had begun the storyboarding process. The other was in the process of being written. 

Michael's Christmas Movie Guide: Yogi's First Christmas (1980)

A smarter than your average made for TV movie, starring a smarter than your average bear.  

 I love Hanna-Barbera cartoons. So, seeing all these characters together as almost one big family, and in a movie centered around Christmas, just makes me feel warm inside. It doesn't hurt that this is an excellent film in its own right.

The songs used in this film were used in previous Hanna-Barbera Christmas themed work.  The songs Christmas Time is Here Again and Making Much Ado About This Christmas both come from the TV special Casper's First Christmas (1979), while the song Hope was previously used in both A Christmas Story (1972, Not to be confused with the popular live action movie) and A Flintstones Christmas (1977), however here they do work much better. They fit in the movie perfectly and only enhance the audience's enjoyment in the film.

The film's director was Ray Patterson, who had worked as an animator for William Hanna and Joseph Barbera since the days of Tom and Jerry. He became one of the first non-William Hanna and non-Joseph Barbera directors for Hanna-Barbera cartoons. He directed many other made for TV movies for the studio, and even the theatrical feature GoBots: Battle of the Rock Lords (1986). Nearly all of the already existing characters were voiced by their original voice artists Daws Butler and Don Messick.

This film is fantastic. The characters are very lovable. The writing (by Willie Gilbert) is great. The humor is quite good. However, it does have faults. For instance, the villains are not that interesting, and feel like they have been done before too often. However, the rest of the film is so good that any problem won't get in the way of you enjoying the movie a lot. Overall, this is an excellent film and a Christmas tradition for me.

For more Michael's Christmas Movie Guide, click here.

Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins (2009)

 

This live action made for TV Scooby-Doo! movie is actually pretty darn entertaining.

Unlike the two theatrically released live action Scooby-Doo! movies, this is a smaller scale film that doesn't intend to be much more than a fun little way to spend some time. Luckily it successeds quite well at this. The film tells the story of how the Mystery Inc. Gang came to be. It doesn't give any insight into the gang that we didn't already have, but it is a lot of fun. The cast is excellent. Nick Palatas (as Shaggy) and Hayley Kiyoko (as Velma) especially stand out. They may not be the perfect physical match for the cartoon characters that the cast for the theatrical movies were, but there performances are fantastic and capture the characters perfectly. More importantly  The humor while not laugh out loud hilarious works really well and certainly made me smile quite a few times. The storyline is very charming as well. True it can be a little predictable, but it is never dull. The mystery is not too hard to solve, but it is still pretty well thought out and quite entertaining.  There are also quite a few nice little nods to Scooby-Doo history including this film taking place in 1969 (when Scooby first appeared on the small screen).

One downside to this movie is the CGI. The CGI in the theatrically released films has become a bit dated, and the CGI here (having a much smaller budget) has become really dated.

This may not rank among the best Scooby movies, but it is a lot of fun for Scooby fans. 

Scooby-Doo! Goes Hollywood (1979)

 

This made for TV movie, marked Scooby's first feature film and one of his biggest departures up to that time (Laff-a-Lympics being the only real competition in that department). It is not Scooby's finest movie by any means but it is still really charming. 

The basic plot is an idea I love and a prefect set up for satire. Scooby and Shaggy are tired of being used as bait for bad guys, because wouldn't you be? Therefore they leave their Saturday morning cartoon to find a career in a different type of TV show. This leads to parodies of various TV shows and an ending that you probably already figured out. I love cartoon characters being treated the same as live action actors, who play roles in cartoons for their jobs. Though this idea was hardly original at this time, I like picturing my favorite cartoon characters as real while still picturing the cartoons as fictional. A good cartoon character feels real to me and this type of story enhances that fantasy. However while this film has a perfect setup for satire, it is only moderately funny. There is not much real parodying of these TV shows and instead of making jokes about the shows, we simply see Scooby in them messing up the proceedings. While this does get some laughs, there is no doubt it could have been funnier. This movie however is chock full of charm. The songs while nothing amazing are quite charming. The basic story as I have stated is a very good one and while not as funny as it could have been the story is still well told. The characters are still as likable as ever and it is a joy to spend some time with them. The ending while predictable is also executed in a very charming and fun way, that plays on the great fantasy element of this story. 

-Michael J. Ruhland  

Scooby-Doo! and the Reluctant Werewolf (1988)

 

Every wonder what it would be like if Scooby-Doo! and Shaggy were characters in Wacky Races? No, well this movie answers that question anyway. 

The storyline of this film is delightfully bizarre. Famous monsters hold an annual car race. They are very excited until they learn that the wolfman is unable to make it. They respond with the only logical reaction. They decide to create another werewolf. Unfortunately for our heroes they pick an unsuspecting Shaggy Rogers.    

This movie does a really good job telling its bizarre story in a delightfully entertaining way. Like Ghoul School this movie is unashamedly silly and corny and that is what makes it so charming. As stated before this is essentially Wacky Races with Scooby-Doo! characters and it has all the fun slapstick and clever car gags that make that show so entertaining.  There are monster puns galore and the filmmakers are obviously having so much fun seeing how many puns they can come up with. The monsters themselves are delightful and Dracula especially  often steals the show from our heroes. Vampiria take off Vana Pira also gets some decent laughs. 

On the downside this movie can at times feels overlong and the pacing can feel a bit off as well. Also Shaggy's new girlfriend adds little to the proceedings. 

All in all this is just a very fun movie. 

-Michael J. Ruhland 

Scooby-Doo! Meets the Boo Brothers (1987)

 

Out of the three Scooby-Doo! movies (the others being Scooby-Doo! and the Reluctant Werewolf and Scooby-Doo! and the Ghoul School)  made for the Hanna-Barbera Super Stars 10 (a series of 10 made for TV Hanna-Barbera movies) this is the closest any of them come to the traditional Scooby-Doo! formula. Though the gang only consists of Scooby, Shaggy and Scrappy, they three do work together to solve a mystery involving a so-called haunting. Besides the absence of the rest of the Mystery Inc. gang, the other major difference between this and your typical Scooby-Doo! movie is that the gang is helped out by real ghosts. These real ghosts though are much less threatening than the fake ghosts who normally popularize the franchise. One reason is that they are "helping" (and I use that word very loosely) Scooby and friends and the other is that they are really only in the film for comedic purposes. The ghosts are a pretty obvious takeoff on The Three Stooges and while not as funny as the actual Stooges, they fulfil their comedy relief services quite well and got a few real laughs out of me. 

Scrappy-Doo is probably the most hated character in the Scooby-Doo! franchise but I have to admit in this film I like him a lot. The filmmakers toned down the characters more obnoxious aspects (don't except to hear "puppy power" mentioned anywhere here."), and the character instead comes off as smart, self-assured and determined. This movie does of course keep the ongoing joke (that is in every incarnation of Scrappy) where he simply is oblivious to the fact that Scooby and Shaggy are not exactly brave. I personally love this joke and that has helped keep me from disliking Scrappy in any of his incarnations. 

This film (like all the best Scooby-Doo! stories) has an incredible sense of atmosphere. The large empty mansion and a creepy southern swamp are just the places we like to see in a Scooby-Doo! mystery and they are handled to perfection here. The confederate ghost is creepy enough to gain suspense while still not too creepy to take away from the movie's lighthearted feel. 

On the downside the mystery is too easy to solve and some jokes are poorly timed, dragging on past the point when they stop being funny. However these faults are not enough to overcome just how fun this film is. 

This is an excellent watch for all Scooby-Doo fans. 

-Michael J. Ruhland  

Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer and Animagic

There are few if any made-for-TV movies that are more cherished and watched than Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964). The movie is extremely charming and lovely, and its childlike simplicity brings us back to how we felt about Christmas as kids. Christmas is a simple and charming time so it makes sense that we want to watch a film like this at this time of year.

For your reading pleasure here is a 1964 article about this movie from Sponsor magazine. If you have trouble reading click on any of the pages and use your touch screen to zoom in.


 






Merry Christmas, my friends.

-Michael J. Ruhland

Michael's Christmas Movie Guide: The Gathering (1977)

This rare live action made for TV movie from Hanna-Barbera is a very lovely film. Joseph Barbera stated in his autobiography, My Life in Toons: From Flatbush to Bedrock, he wishes Hanna-Barbera had done more live action films and with a movie like this it is easy to see why. This film would rightfully go on to win an Emmy. The director of this film was Randal Kleiser, who is most remembered for directing Grease (1978). The writer was James Poe who had written for such movies as Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958), and They Shoot Horses Don't They (1969).

The film is about a man named Adam (Ed Asner (who would make many more made for TV Christmas movies, thanks to the Hallmark Channel)) who being a workaholic never spent the time he should have spent with his family. When Adam discovers that he doesn't have long to live he and his estranged wife Kate ( Maureen Stapleton) invite their four kids over for one last Christmas. However he is very nervous about seeing his son Bud (Gregory Harrison), who he has not seen and years and the last time he saw him they had a very heated argument about the Vietnam War.

This was a very different film from what one expects from Hanna-Barbera. Not only was it in live-action, but it also was more for an adult audience than a family audience, though with the exception of very little very mild langue, there is not much inappropriate for kids. This is also a movie that doesn't focus on comedy or action. This, for Hanna-Barbera, is a fairly straight drama. Despite these differences it really succeeds. It is very touching. The story can be quite emotional but it never feels forced. Ed Asner's acting is fantastic and really brings his character to life. Most of all though it is full of Christmas spirit, and can help make one realize just how important both Christmas and family are. This is a classic, and I can perfectly see why Joseph Barbera wanted to make more films like this (though I love Hanna-Barbera's regular stuff as well).

By the way notice how our good friend Yogi Bear makes a cameo as a stuffed animal.

-Michael J. Ruhland

Michael's Christmas Movie Guide: The Ultimate Christmas Present (2000)

This Disney Channel Original Movie is as corny and silly as possible. However around this time of year isn't that just what we want.

13 year old Allie (Hallee Hirsh) and her best friend Sam (Brenda Song) see an old man (who unknown to them is Santa Claus (John B. Lowe)) throwing a strange machine in the garbage. Though Sam tells Allie that they shouldn't take it, the young teen takes it anyways. Once Allie discovers it is actually a weather machine, she decides to create a snow day (in L.A.) so she can start Christmas Vacation early and not have to turn in a book report she hasn't even started the next day. However the machine causes many problems and nearly ruins Christmas for Allie and everyone around her.

This may be no Christmas classic, but it certainly is charming and fun on its own merits. Allie is in many ways your typical Disney Channel early teen. She wants to become popular. She has a best friend who is often the unwilling sidekick in her crazy schemes. She spends much time deciding what to wear and how she looks around her crush. However she is not completely shallow and has a good hear underneath it all. This type of character may seem cliché, but the reason it has become a cliché is that it works. Saying that Allie is a likable character and a lot of fun to watch. The movie itself is a lot like this character. It is quite faulted, but its heart is always in the right place. This movie has a message about the importance of family over presents during the Christmas season. This message is presented very well. It is never preached to us but rather plays out as a natural unforced part of the story. Underneath how over the top and silly the story is, there are some genuinely heart warming moments in this film.

Adding to much of this movie's sense of fun is an enjoyably over the top villain. You can just tell that Peter Scolari is having so much fun playing this part and chances are you will have just as much fun watching him as I did. John B. Lowe (who continues to enjoy success in made for TV Christmas movies thanks to Hallmark (he was in two just this year)) is fantastic as Santa also adding much fun to this film.

The weakest parts of this movie are the two elves (John Salley, Bill Fagerbakke) and the younger brother (Spencer Breslin). The elves are about as unfunny as comic relief can get and unfortunately the brother is written in a way that most of his lines are whined.

A nice little movie to get you in the Christmas spirit.

-Michael J. Ruhland

Michael's Christmas Movie Guide: A Flintstones Christmas Carol (1994)

A Flintstones Christmas Carol is probably the best Flintstones feature length movie. It is full of charm, a good sense of humor and complete respect for both the TV show and the classic Charles Dickens story.

Possibly taking a note from Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol (1962), this made for TV movie has the characters put on a play based off A Christmas Carol. This allows the filmmakers to tell two different stories. One of them is of course the Dickens story and the other is a more typical Flintstones story. In the non-Dickens story, Fred is becoming too involved in rehearsing for the play and too taken in by his own ego to notice that he is not being the best father and husband he could be. He forgets to do Christmas shopping for Wilma and Pebbles and worse he forgets to pick up his own daughter at cave care. The two stories perfectly intertwine as Fred himself has to learn the same lesson that Scrooge does. This movie does what the show often did so well. That is to make Fred a very faulted character that needs to learn a lesson without ever making him too unlikable. Fred is never a malicious character, but rather one who is too caught up in his own concerns to worry about those of others. This is something all of us can relate to and understand.

The play portion of this film really surprised me the first time I watched it as an adult. Though there are naturally some cartoon gags thrown in there, it is never a parody of A Christmas Carol. The heart and spirit of the classic Christmas tale are fully on display here. In fact many of the lines from the original book are quoted exactly here. When watching this part of the movie we don't see Fred or Barney versions of Scrooge and Bob Cratchit. Instead we see the characters as talented actors who get completely lost in the roles of the characters. We are essentially watching a faithful play of A Christmas Carol only the actors are famous cartoon characters. Only towards the end of the movie do we see Fred get out of the Scrooge character while on stage. However this is perfectly set up and works extremely well.

This movie successeds so well because it gives us both what we love about The Flintstones and A Christmas Carol.

-Michael J. Ruhland

Movie Review: Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: The Flash

Review Written By Michael J. Ruhland












Michael's Movie Grade: B


Review: This is certainly not a superhero film to take too seriously, however for what it is it is tons of fun.

The storyline of this movie is quite clever. It is very silly and feels like a Saturday morning cartoon. However it feels like a Saturday morning cartoon I would have no problem watching. While the story does have a moral, it never feels hammered in and instead seems to naturally come out of the story and characters. This does not change that many of the ideas employed in this story are quite good, and the simplicity and unpretentiousness of the film are quite charming. The jokes also hit more often than miss. Many of them are silly satires of the DC universe itself. These however are very loving parodies and it is obvious the filmmakers truly love the world created in DC comics. This passion is perfectly shared with us the viewer and makes the whole film fun to view. This film also has a good villain. His evil plan and silly and over the top, but then again so is this movie so it works just fine.

On the downside is that in the movie's relatively short running time (not including commercials) and with the amount of characters featured is that most of the Justice League is not as well developed here as The Flash is. With the exception of The Flash and The Atom, the members of the team are seemingly regulated to one or two character traits. We still like seeing these characters because we know them from other media (Though non-geeks will probably just see Firestorm as boring after this), but they do feel underwritten here. However the fun is more than enough to make up for that.


Overall a really fun movie worth checking out.


-Michael J. Ruhland