I dug up my videotaped copy of "Still The Beaver" (I taped it in high school, I believe March in 1983). I couldn't believe I still had it and I couldn't wait to share it with my wife and 3 kids. We've been watching old episodes of "Leave It To Beaver" for the past year (thanks, TVLand!) and my kids love it. So on New Year's Eve we watched 5 episodes of Beaver, then topped it off with what my littlest one called "the one in color".
Although it was a bit silly to see a 30 plus Beaver still act like a kid (baseball cap and hunched over walk included) and all the neighborhood kids grown up but still goofy, we can't forget that this was a sitcom. I guess the fact that it was a TV movie fooled us into thinking there would be more depth. But there was! The way they handled the passing of Hugh Beaumont's character was touching. My kids were very saddened by the funeral scene (they hadn't known that Beaumont died and wasn't in this movie). The flashbacks were very nicely placed and were great moments of nostalgia (like looking at a family picture album). It was also nice to see June Cleaver as graceful and nurturing as ever. And Wally had grown to be a fitting replacement for Ward -- responsible, wise, loving, and cool. But then again, he always was. The wisdom that flowed from Wally Cleaver rivaled the wisdom of Ward in nearly every episode! They took this show into the 80's just fine. The brothers who grew up in Mayfield became adults and have their share of life's troubles. Realistic enough for a TV movie. Touching enough as a family reunion. And most of all, my kids loved it.
Although it was a bit silly to see a 30 plus Beaver still act like a kid (baseball cap and hunched over walk included) and all the neighborhood kids grown up but still goofy, we can't forget that this was a sitcom. I guess the fact that it was a TV movie fooled us into thinking there would be more depth. But there was! The way they handled the passing of Hugh Beaumont's character was touching. My kids were very saddened by the funeral scene (they hadn't known that Beaumont died and wasn't in this movie). The flashbacks were very nicely placed and were great moments of nostalgia (like looking at a family picture album). It was also nice to see June Cleaver as graceful and nurturing as ever. And Wally had grown to be a fitting replacement for Ward -- responsible, wise, loving, and cool. But then again, he always was. The wisdom that flowed from Wally Cleaver rivaled the wisdom of Ward in nearly every episode! They took this show into the 80's just fine. The brothers who grew up in Mayfield became adults and have their share of life's troubles. Realistic enough for a TV movie. Touching enough as a family reunion. And most of all, my kids loved it.