THE SMURFS: 'TIS THE SEASON TO BE SMURFY (Released to Television USA 1987)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì  The Smurfs: 'Tis the Season to Be Smurfy—cute, short, animated film—has a simple, straight forward story that teaches a heart-felt lesson about helping those in need. The concept is sound. The story is well-written.  Film Poster Courtesy of IMDb Storyline  A puppet salesman cannot sell puppets. He needs to provide a good Christmas for his ailing wife. The Smurfs come to help.  Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Ray Patterson for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Joseph Barbera, William Hanna, and Freddy Monnickendam for making the film possible. Cast includes  Charlie Adler, Lucille Bliss, William Callaway, Hamilton Camp, Julie McWhirter, Jeff Doucette, Bernard Erhard, June Foray, Justin Gocke, Danny Goldman,  Kip King, Don Messick, Pat Musick, Noelle North, Alan Oppenheimer, William Schallert, Les Tremayne, Peggy Webber, Frank Welker, and Jonathan Winters. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. The movie represents the Smurf stories well with this cute story.  Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

 

SCOOBY-DOO MEETS THE BOO BROTHERS (Released to Television USA 1987)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.5|5.0 Starsììì  Scooby-Doo Meets the Boo Brothers—characters Shaggy, Scooby-Doo, and Scrappy-Doo—could have been edited to a 30-minute movie presentation. The writers gave the time necessary to fill the full-length movie requirement by putting the main characters in a haunted mansion and tasking them with finding the jewels...one jewel at a time. One jewel is found and then the next jewel is looked for and this basic formatting is followed until the full-length movie time requirement is fulfilled.  This round-about way of filling time creates a boring story of running from scare-to-scare with obvious repetition.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline   Shaggy receives an inheritance from a deceased uncle.  Additional Thanks  Thank you to Directors Paul Sommer, Carl Urbano, and Ray Patterson for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Joseph Barbera, William Hanna, and Kay Wright for making the film possible. Cast includes Don Messick, Casey Kasem, Sorrell Booke, William Calloway, Victoria Carroll, Jerry Houser, Arte Johnson, and Rob Paulson.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  No. One can skip this one and watch some of the better films, like Scoob! or Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers