iamweasel_1999 Reviews

Fawlty Towers (1975–1979)

Watery Fowls

[9 April 2000]

Perhaps the greatest sitcom of all time, Fawlty Towers is teriffic. The show is supposedly based on a "Beautifully Rude" hotel manager that John Cleese once met. Cleese plays the role of a "beautifully rude" person like no one else can. He's mean to everyone, except when he wants to suck up to someone rich or powerful. Basil Fawlty is the kind of person you love to hate. His staff is hopelessly inept, and they are always trying to keep some secret from Basil's wife. Basil is always muttering some little insult under his breath. Perhaps the best episode is "The Germans" in which Basil is entertaining a group of Germans. However, Basil has had several blows to the head and is not thinking quite clearly. For anyone that likes absurd comedy, this is the show for you.

Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)

The Greatest Movie of All Time

[19 March 2000]

What can I say about Monty Python and the Holy Grail that hasn't already been said before? This movie is pure brilliance. It is comedic absurdity and surrealism at it's best. From the opening credits, the movie is a laugh riot. Arguing about the origens of the coconuts King Arthur uses to simulate horses galloping. The scene with the infamous Black Knight (it's just a flesh wound). The Bridge of Death. And of course, the ending. The ending I think is brilliant. You expect that, this being the quest for the Holy Grail, that they might find it, right? Well, I don't want to spoil it for those who have yet to see this great movie, but it is probably the most unexpected ending of all time. The best offering the Monty Python troupe has ever done, this is a must see for everyone. Though, everyone doesn't get it, thats part of the beauty of it.

2 Stupid Dogs (1993–1995)

Isn't that Cute....BUT IT'S WRONG!

[9 March 2000]

2 Stupid Dogs is a great cartoon. It is one of the first cartoons to be made that was directly influenced by the style of Ren and Stimpy without being a clone of it like so many that came out in this era. It was Hanna Barberra's first cartoon that was creator driven in 30 years and it was the show that began HB's current animation craze with Dexter's Lab, Cow and Chicken, Johnny Bravo, Powerpuff Girls, and others. Created by Donavan Cook, this is a very funny and at times rude show. The best episodes are the 3 involving "Red", 3 episodes mocking and mixing up old the old fairy tales the 3 Bears, Little Red Riding Hood, and Hansel and Gretle. These episodes were written by a former writer for Ren and Stimpy, Richard Pursel, and R&S creator John Kricfalusi is credited with "tidbits of bad taste". I would recommend this show to anyone who likes funny cartoons. It is a very influential show because as I stated earlier, it began Hanna Barberra's drive back to creator driven shows. And of course it's worth watching for the show's famous tag line....Isn't that cute....BUT IT'S WRONG!!!!!

Cow and Chicken (1997–1999)

Ohh Fetching

[18 February 2000]

Cow and Chicken is one of the funniest cartoons of all time. Cow and Chicken is surrealistic and rude all at the same time, very much in the spirit of Ren and Stimpy. Like Ren and Stimpy, it is a show for all ages, not just kids or adults. All ages that are adventurous enough to watch it that is. Cow and Chicken are your normal everyday suburban family, with a few exceptions. Cow is a 600 lb cow, Chicken is a 4 lb chicken, Mom and Dad are a super intelligent pair of legs, and a big fat red guy keeps torturing them. The voice work by Charlie Adler, who does the voices of Cow, Chicken, and The Red Guy is just supurb, probably his best work ever. The stories are outragous, ranging from C&C creating perpetual energy from a kid's chemistry set, to discovering a strange and surrealistic "laughing puddle", to becoming plastic surgeons for their grade school. The show was created by David Feiss as part of Hanna-Barberra's attempt to recreate their cartoon heydays of the 60's. Unfortunately, the show stopped production in 1999 and no new episodes are being planned right now. But with Cartoon Network expanding gloabally, the popularity of the show is growing, and with that growth comes the possibility that new episodes will be produced. If you are a fan of the cartoon Ren and Stimpy or the show Monty Python, you will probably love Cow and Chicken. The show "I Am Weasel" was also created by David Feiss and is a nearly identical show to Cow and Chicken.

The Ren & Stimpy Show (1991–1996)

THE Cartoon of the 1990's

[18 February 2000]

Ren and Stimpy is perhaps my favorite cartoon of all time and is a very unique and funny show. It was revolutionary not only because of the type of humor it was, but how it was made also. Ren and Stimpy is a throwback to the "golden age" of cartoons, the 40's-60's, when cartoons were actully FUNNY!. In the 70's and 80's, cartoons became watered down boring saturday morning faire. John K., tired of all the garbage cartoons on TV decided to form his own studio, Spumco, and produce shows that he liked and he thought were funny. Spumco pitched their idea to Nickelodeon and the rest is history. However, the rest of the story of Spumco and Nickelodeon is perhaps one of the most infamous and depressing in cartoon history; it's shockwaves can still be felt today nearly 9 years since the show was first produced. The surrealistic and gross qualities of the show is what makes it so great. It is a show for everyone, not just kids or just adults. Well, everyone who is adventurous enough to watch it that is. The whole style and feel of cartoons changed after this. Without Ren and Stimpy, many other shows such as Eek the Cat, Rocko's Modern Life, Earthworm Jim, and my two other favorite shows, Cow and Chicken and I Am Weasel, probably would have never come to life. Ren and Stimpy is not just a cartoon, it is THE cartoon!

I Am Weasel (1997–1999)

I AM WEASEL!!!

[17 December 1999]

I Am Weasel is perhaps one of the greatest cartoon shows of all time. The voice work from genius Charlie Adler on the characters I R Baboon and The Red Guy is terrific, and Micheal Dorn's voice is the perfect voice for Weasel. You would think the show would have sort of a "Pinky and the Brain" feel to it, because of the way the main characters are set up. Weasel is a highly intelligent Weasel, and Baboon is a complete childish oaf. However, the surrealistic and at times rude qualities of this show take it to a whole new level. You could let your kids watch it if you want, but there are many "adult" jokes and references, though they are not nearly as blatant as, say, South Park or the Simpsons. You have to watch the show to truly understand it. This is the second of Creator/Director/writer David Feiss' cartoons made for Hanna-Barberra/Cartoon Network, the first being of course, Cow and Chicken. If you like shows such as Ren and Stimpy, Cow and Chicken, or Rocko's Modern Life, you will surely love I Am Weasel.