Synopsis: Donald goes away for two weeks on a hunting trip and returns with a beard. When Donald resists Ann's preference to shave it off, bickering ensues.
Larry-view: Good stuff. The script is good and it's laugh out loud funny. We get the classic adorable Donald and Ann for which the show is famous. In a welcome improvement, Mr. Marie displays a little more charm and thus is more likable than usual, but unfortunately he's still mostly bluster. Ann, Donald, and Mr. Marie bicker through most of the show, but the bickering about a beard is so silly that it doesn't hit close to home and so I'm not miserable thinking about my own life while I'm watching it.
Ruth Buzzi plays a small part, spending just three minutes on the screen in a single scene. It seems odd to see a star like her in such a small part.
For the first time in this series there is some obvious feminist content.
This show, like one that immediately precedes it, features some dialog that subtly breaks the "fourth wall." When Mr. Marie storms out, Ann says "He just needed a dramatic exit line." She's not truly breaking character because she doesn't speak to the audience and her character could have actually said that in the situation and it would have made sense. It's just a sly wink at the audience that if you choose to appreciate it might add some entertainment value.
I'm sorry to say that I did not notice the direction, but the director is James Frawley, a prolific director who is still active in 2007 at 70 years of age. He had big success directing many episodes of "The Monkees." He also played a cameo in "The Muppet Movie."
Overall the show is funny and good. The only thing I will take away from it is that it seemed a little tedious to argue over a beard for the entire half-hour. A few subplots or bit-of-business vignettes would have helped pack in more content.
Larry-view: Good stuff. The script is good and it's laugh out loud funny. We get the classic adorable Donald and Ann for which the show is famous. In a welcome improvement, Mr. Marie displays a little more charm and thus is more likable than usual, but unfortunately he's still mostly bluster. Ann, Donald, and Mr. Marie bicker through most of the show, but the bickering about a beard is so silly that it doesn't hit close to home and so I'm not miserable thinking about my own life while I'm watching it.
Ruth Buzzi plays a small part, spending just three minutes on the screen in a single scene. It seems odd to see a star like her in such a small part.
For the first time in this series there is some obvious feminist content.
This show, like one that immediately precedes it, features some dialog that subtly breaks the "fourth wall." When Mr. Marie storms out, Ann says "He just needed a dramatic exit line." She's not truly breaking character because she doesn't speak to the audience and her character could have actually said that in the situation and it would have made sense. It's just a sly wink at the audience that if you choose to appreciate it might add some entertainment value.
I'm sorry to say that I did not notice the direction, but the director is James Frawley, a prolific director who is still active in 2007 at 70 years of age. He had big success directing many episodes of "The Monkees." He also played a cameo in "The Muppet Movie."
Overall the show is funny and good. The only thing I will take away from it is that it seemed a little tedious to argue over a beard for the entire half-hour. A few subplots or bit-of-business vignettes would have helped pack in more content.
