ToiletHumorist Reviews

A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965 TV Movie)

A warm and lovely show to get you in the Holiday spirit

[10/10 · 2 November 2015]

This has been part of my annual Christmas viewings since I was eight! And year after year it never stops being touching, funny, off-beat, and wholesome.

Also, who among us can't relate to the frustrations of one Mr Charlie Brown? His disillusionment with the Christmas Holiday, was a theme rarely seen in a show in the 1960's, let alone in a kids show.

The supporting characters are all so vibrantly different. From the self absorbed Lucy, to the quiet and introspective Linus, to the imaginative and irreverent Snoopy.

The voice actors are so young and innocent sounding that it gives the show an innocence that matches up well with the offbeat humor that comes from Charles Schultz.

The animation is a bit crude, but the magic of the writing and voice acting somehow makes the crude animation seem charming.

And who can forget the amazing musical score by Vince Guaraldi? The songs from this show "Linus and Lucy", and "Christmas Time Is Here" have gone on to be Christmas standards. The Jazz music score gives the show a hip feel that contrasts well with the childish feel of the voice acting and the animation.

Also, if you are of a religious nature, you will find that particular spiritual aspect of the show to be moving. But even if you aren't, and just enjoy the Holiday season for it's traditions rather than it's Religious nature, you will still find lots of things about this show that you will like.

So keep up the tradition of families watching this show every Christmas by showing it to the young ones in your life, they won't be disappointed.

Dumb and Dumber (1995–1996)

Doesn't work as an animated series.

[1/10 · 2 November 2015]

As a fan of the original Dumb and Dumber movie, I was hoping I would find this at least slightly amusing, however I don't believe I laughed at all while watching this show. This came out at a time when there was also an Ace Ventura, and The Mask animated series. So there was a glut of Jim Carey themed TV shows on at the time, so they were just churning out these kinds of shows just to capitalize on the hype.

The animation was pretty bad, Lloyd and Harry were dawn so comically distorted that it looks pretty grotesque rather than charming.

The plots are formulaic, and low-brow even for a children's show. They seem to follow the same basic theme: Throwing Lloyd and Harry into an odd job and see how they can screw it up. Now I know you must be thinking right now: "The show is for kids, what do you expect?", well I have higher expectations than this. Take a show like The Real Ghostbusters for example. That was an animated show based off a movie that didn't (at first, but the quality declined) pander to cheap jokes and formulaic plots. They actually were well written and made the show stand out as a separate entity from it's movie counterpart. This is the standard that I have for all animated shows based off popular movies.

I would be remiss if I failed to mention Lloyd's fantasy sequences. In the film they work because of the bold, adult humor contained within, that gave us a glimpse insides Lloyd's juvenile mind. In the animated series they don't serve any purpose other than to make him look like a Walter Mitty type figure.

In conclusion, don't waste your money on the DVD's. And if you're interested in animated shows based on movies, than check out The Real Ghostbusters instead.

Mork & Mindy (1978–1982)

A fun little show if you don't take it too seriously

[7/10 · 1 November 2015]

I began watching Mork and Mindy in reruns in 2005. I quickly began to like the characters in the show, more than the show as a whole if you catch my drift. I can expand on that by saying I enjoyed watching robin ad lib and and do his shtick in the character of Mork, as well as watching the beautiful and warm-hearted Pam Dawber play the straight man as Mindy. Also, I enjoy the repartee between Mork and some of the peripheral characters like Remo, and Mindy's dad. That's where the heart of the show is at in my opinion. Don't try to take the plots too seriously or try to worry about continuity between episodes because you will quickly find holes that can't be filled. Instead of having a willing suspension of disbelief, Just watch it for the performances alone, and not treat this show as you would Happy Days or Laverne and Shirley, even though this show takes place in the same universe. This is an attitude I only take with this show, because I think the performers are good, and Robin's ad- libbing funny, but as a whole I think it isn't well written. Also, it will save you from being disappointed in the declining quality in seasons three and four. I know this sounds like a cynical review, but I still give it a 7 out of ten for the performers outshining their roles, and it's still a fun show to watch if you need a quick pick-me-up.

Rocky (1976)

A movie that speaks to the underdogs of the world

[10/10 · 29 October 2015]

Rocky has been on of my families favorites for forty years now, and it still speaks to the modern viewer in a way that is as powerful as it was in 1976.

I feel a good many of us can relate to the character of Rocky Balboa who is a Boxer in the Kensington section of Philadelphia. A guy who is frustrated in his life by his lack of good fortune in having his dreams come true. A once in a lifetime opportunity from Heavyweight champion Apollo Creed puts them toe to toe in the ring for Rocky to have a shot at the title.

I feel Stallone was telling us a very personal story through the guise of Rocky, and it mirrors how his own acting career was going at the time. Any of us who had to struggle for the things in our lives can appreciate the themes of this movie.

The cinematography makes the movie feel almost documentary like sometimes, and it captures the gritty existence of Philadelphia's ghettos. The scenes at night can get pretty dark looking at times, but it helps to give the movie the atmosphere of depression that exists in Rocky's life.

Also, I must mention there isn't much music to speak of, the only one you will really notice is the unforgettable "Gonna fly now" by the talented Bill Conti.

All in all, if you are looking for pure escapism, or a movie to make you feel motivated or to lift you up, then you would be well nourished by watching this movie.