SCENT-IMENTAL OVER YOU (Released to Theaters USA 1947)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì  Scent-Imental Over You—Pepe Le Pew short film—follows the basic formatting built for this cartoon character. The writing, presentation, portrayal, and animation work at the suitable to okay level. It is not a laugh-out-loud cartoon, but it does have its smile moments.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline Several dogs, fresh from the beauty parlor, make fun of one who is not beautifully groomed. So, she unknowingly dons a lovely skunk costume coat and the story is on.  Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Charles M. Jones for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Edward Selzer for making the film possible. Cast includes Mel Blanc and Bea Benaderet. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. This short film is capable of generating a few smiles. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT (Released to Theaters USA 1988)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.3|5.0 Stars ìììì

Who Framed Roger Rabbit follows a classic, complicated ‘whodunit’ plot line making it the perfect entertainment for adults. Its brilliant interweaving of animation with live action is flawlessly seamless, highly imaginative, and believable.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

There’s trouble in Toontown and Detective Eddie Valiant is the man for the job.

Additional Thanks

Great work for Director Robert Zemeckis. Thank you to Executive Producers Kathleen Kennedy and Steven Spielberg for making the film possible. Great work by Music Composer Alan Silvestri. Cast include: Bob Hoskins, Joanna Cassidy, Charles Fleischer, Stubby Kaye, Alan Tilvern, Richard LeParmentier, Lou Hirsch, Betsy Brantley, Joel Silver, Mae Questel, Mel Blanc, and Tony Anselmo.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. Terrific character development of animated and live characters ensures full audience engagement.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

FRIGID HARE (Released to Theaters USA 1949)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì  Frigid Hare—Bugs Bunny—is a creative short film that is also a good watch.   Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline Bugs Bunny, looking for a warm Florida vacation, ends up at the South Pole.  Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Charles M. Jones for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Edward Selzer for making the film possible. Cast includes Mel Blanc. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. This is a suitable watch.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

SCAREDY CAT (Released to Theaters USA 1948)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì Scaredy Cat—Sylvester and Porky Pig short, animated film—is a good watch.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images  Storyline  Porky Pig and Sylvester the Cat find an old house to spend the night but Sylvester finds there is more there than a comfortable night's sleep.      Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Charles M. Jones for directing effort. Thank you to Edward Selzer for making the film possible. Cast includes Mel Blanc. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. Chuckles are easily generated in this short film.  Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

ROOKIE REVUE (Released to Theaters USA 1941)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì  Rookie Revue—is a cute, comical animated, short film—works at the suitable to okay level.   Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  A comical overview of how soldiers do their day jobs in the military.  Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Friz Freleng for directing efforts. Thank you to Producer Leon Schlesinger for making the film possible. Cast includes Billy Bletcher, Reid Kilpatrick, Mel Blanc, Robert C. Bruce, and Jackson C. Wheeler.   Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This is not a high quality short film but is worth a watch. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

ELMER'S PET RABBIT (Released to Theaters USA 1941)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.2|5.0 Starsìììì  Elmer’s Pet Rabbit—Elmer Fudd and Bugs Bunny short film—presents comedy typically associated with these characters but presents a new story, not associated with them. The animation, while dated, is actually quite good. Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia  Storyline  Elmer Fudd buys a pet rabbit but the pet rabbit is not content to stay in a fenced off area in Elmer's back yard and tries to become more integrated with the household.  Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Charles M. Jones for directing effort. Thank you to Leon Schlesinger for making the film possible. Cast includes Mel Blanc and Arthur Bryan.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This film is very well put together and worth watching. It is good to see Elmer Fudd and Bugs Bunny in this short movie playing non-traditional roles. Video Critique  Available Here: Ben Meyers

WALKY TALKY HAWKY (Released to Theaters USA 1946)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.2|5.0 Starsìììì  Walky Talky Hawky—animated short film—is creatively written and provides an exceptional piece of comedy. The story has personable characters that have been well-developed. It is a great addition to the family home video library and can be re-watched multiple times. Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images  Storyline  A father Chicken Hawk tells his young son that he is a Chicken Hawk and Chicken Hawks love to eat chickens. So the son tries to get a chicken and gets into shenanigans between Foghorn Leghorn and Barnyard Dawg.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Robert McKimson for directing effort. Thank you to Warner Brothers for producing the film. Cast includes Mel Blanc.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This is original and tells a great story. WOW! What a short film! This is the golden age of cartoon making that made memorable toons. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

SUPER-RABBIT (Released to Theaters USA 1943)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì  Super-Rabbit—cute, short, animated cartoon—has a defined military message at its conclusion. While the movie is not high quality, it is a suitable, one-time watch.  Film Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  A scientist enhances carrots for a bunny so that the bunny can be a super-rabbit.  Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Charles M. Jones for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Leon Schlesinger for making the film possible. Cast includes Mel Blanc, Kent Rogers, and Tedd Pierce.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. This is a suitable Bugs Bunny film. The movie is comical. This short film has suitable/good animation. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

THE PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH (Released to Theaters USA 1970)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì  The Phantom Tollbooth—creative and complicated—seems built more for the older teen and adult viewer due to its storyline which will be understood by an older viewer but leave the younger viewer with animation and no comprehendible story. There is a crossover between live action and animation that is fresh and exceptionally well done in the beginning scenes and ending scenes. Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  A boy enters a tollbooth and encounters two kings, one who thinks that letters are the most important and the other thinks that numbers are the most important. Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Chuck Jones, Abe Levitow, and Dave Monahan for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Chuck Jones for making the film possible. Cast includes Butch Patrick, Mel Blanc, Daws Butler, Candy Candido, Hans Conried, June Foray, Patti Gilbert, Shepard Menken, Cliff Norton, Larry Thor, and Les Tremayne.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. Overall, the movie is a creative offering for the older audience and presents concepts that are uniquely handled.  Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

CRACKED QUACK (Released to Theaters USA 1952)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.1|5.0 Starsìììì  Cracked Quack—animated short film—accesses the characters of Porky Pig and Daffy Duck. Exceptional creativity backed with a good story make this cartoon stand a little above the rest.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  Daffy Duck runs into the roof of a house during a blizzard and finds there is another duck in the house and wants to meet him.  Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director I. Freleng for directing effort. Thank you to Warner Brothers for making the film possible.  Cast includes Mel Blanc.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This is both funny and creative.  Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

GIFT WRAPPED (Released to Theaters USA 1952)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì  Gift Wrapped—short animated film—involves Sylvester, Granny, and Tweety Bird. It's cute and worth watching. Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia  Storyline On Christmas Day Sylvester the Cat finds his present is a toy mouse but finds Granny has a cage with a real bird in it.  Additional Thanks Thank you to I. Freleng for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Edward Selzer and John Burton  for making the film possible. Cast includes Mel Blanc and Bea Benaderet with Narrator Daws Butler.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. Cute and beguiling...well-timed and written...it makes a sweet, quick watch. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers