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Down the
Hatch
Sometimes this show astounds with how creative it can get
through its interpretation of life. Once
before, it did so with a cartoon within another cartoon starring Bloaty and Squirmy, two parasites living on Rocko’s dog, Spunky. Now they’re back as they give a creative
angle of a life-or-death situation Spunky gets into.
It happens when Heffer, through his
simple-mindedness, gives Spunky a Fatheads cheese tablet. This attributes to the well-known warning
against letting animals eat people food with these tablets apparently making
any animal who eats them explode. It’s
revealed through a humorously staged flashback of a cat belonging to Rocko’s
grandma exploding over that tablet. From
there, the focus in the outside world is on Rocko and Heffer trying to get the
tablet out of Spunky before he explodes.
While this part of the cartoon stands out for a few exaggerated
expressions and sight gags, the most interesting thing involves those
parasites. Bloaty and Squirmy’s subplot
brings a creative idea of what happens when the tablet lands in Spunky’s
stomach. Just like the parasites’
previous appearance, the creativity isn’t really in what they do, but mostly
stands out for how their actions are out of the norm for creatures of their
kind. There is a strong sense
of imagination when getting to their main role through staging Spunky’s stomach
as a river ride with fake sights based on other parasites and diseases. It’s a solid way for miniscule vermin to view
their surroundings which is nice and well-suited for animation since real
vermin probably wouldn’t live nearly as creatively.
Then there’s Bloaty and Squirmy’s main
objective here when their boat finds the tablet moored along the stomach
acid. It’s basically a common sitcom
plot of characters finding something valuable and exploiting it for money. While this uses
story beats of being consumed by greed over the discovery, it again means a lot
more from the creatures going through the motions. It’s basically an interpretation of a wild
idea of what may be going on with that tablet ingested. Honestly, scenarios like bad things being
swallowed can inspire many creative ideas of what may be happening to it on the
inside, so it’s great to see one come to life.
Plus, a few things make the familiar story stand as its own thing than
simply a product of clichés. There’s a
dark edge to the story with what the tablet does to animals who eat it in mind. It kills off the driver of Bloaty and
Squirmy’s boat with just one lick just before he can run off to exploit the
tablet himself. There’s also subtle
awareness to this plot’s familiarity with the sudden appearance of a group of
vermin calling out Bloaty and Squirmy for their greed making for decent
self-aware humor. Speaking of humor,
what goes on makes for solid laughs at the end when an angry mob tears down the
tablet and, of course, they all explode.
It makes for a funny scene of random explosions around Spunky’s body and
more laughs come from a random remark from the doctor of this meaning Spunky’s
pregnant. Finally, while Bloaty and
Squirmy being the only vermin left brings an apocalyptic atmosphere, it’s
humorous to note that it’s taken account of as no big deal. Interestingly, this is by far the most
accurate they are to actual vermin here.
This cartoon is very basic by itself, but it does offer a lot of fun
through the inside story incited by a relatable incident with pets.
A-
Road Rash
Road trip stories are another common element of media, but to
me, they’re almost always enjoyable.
There’s clear imagination within the thoughts of the destination, and
the people, places, and challenges of the journey. In a show that specializes in imaginative
interpretations of everyday life, its road trip story is entertaining and
impressionable.
Heffer is won over by
tourist traps and wishes that he could see them some day. His chance comes when it’s reported that one
of the tourist spots, Flem Rock, is going to erupt for one last time. With the aid of a convenient motorcycle and a
passionate as possible speech about road trips, Rocko and Heffer set off on a
several hundred mile drive to Flem Rock.
The setup is a perfect one for how even things that sound easy and
pleasing have a lot to tough out.
Travelling is no exception, and here it’s mined for strong
entertainment. Traveling with a guide as
misguided as Heffer makes staying on course a bigger challenge than usual. The depiction of this is particularly funny
as Rocko and Heffer become so lost, they pass through objectively better attractions
and wind up back at Rocko’s house at one point. That’s just for one scene though, but the
trip features many more fun takes on the challenges most would expect.
One involves the need for
entertainment on such a long drive. The
only option is a tape of disco music played on bagpipes, and Rocko’s reaction
to it is presented in stages that build upon themselves. At first he has a slight disdain, yet
tolerates it. However, as the cartoon
goes on, he can hardly stand it and feels the need to wreck the tape deck over
it and ends up wrecking the motorcycle as well.
Another gag is so tongue and cheek you won't see it on TV or DVD anymore. You can see it here right now though:
The people met on the road is another point of interest for the
cartoon. There is at least one who
doesn’t have much to him, that being a farmer Rocko and Heffer get directions
from. In fact, he’s kind of boring,
telling them a long-winded directionless anecdote instead of what they
need. The people get a little better
throughout the trip. Heffer stops at a
sausage place where the employee, through all his apathy implying he’s not
happy with his job, supplies essential things for the trip. As Heffer orders and finishes a sausage order
no one has been able to finish, he’s awarded a car shaped like a weenie just as
Rocko destroys the motorcycle.
The most
memorable encounter is with a biker gang who ride up just as the weenie-mobile
breaks down. It stands out for breaking
stereotypes where they’re willing to help Rocko and Heffer fix their ride
instead of threaten and beat them like what’s expected from bikers. It also stands out for a large number of
subtle weenie and bun jokes since their fixing up a hotdog-shaped car.
In the end, the trip is made possible by
Rocko wanting to make the most of what he was put through. After going with the flow for most of the
trip, he drives the weenie-mobile to Flem Rock at top speed just as it erupts
like a blowing nose for the last time.
The trip itself doesn’t seem worth it with the attraction and the only
person who scaled it being so small. Also, it’s promptly replaced by
a Chokey Chicken seconds later.
Still,
it’s satisfying that after all this, Rocko understands the good of seeing the
sights. Something was gained from all
the ordeals even if he clearly doesn’t want to do it again any time soon. It leaves this show’s take on road trips as a
fun and relatable journey worth taking.
A
The Ranking
- Tickled Pinky
- The Lounge Singer
- Road Rash
- I Have No Son
- Down the Hatch
- Pipe Dreams
- She’s the Toad
The next Rocko's Modern Life review makes an exciting adventure out of Heffer's TV habit, and Rocko must endure public transportation.
Next time on MC Toon Reviews is an all-new Christmas special review.
If you would like to check out other Rocko's Modern Life reviews on this blog, click here for the guide made especially for them.
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