Monday, December 10, 2018

Down the Hatch/Road Rash (Rocko's Modern Life Season 2 Episode 4) - 'Toon Reviews 24

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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
  1. Tickled Pinky
  2. The Lounge Singer
  3. Road Rash
  4. I Have No Son
  5. Down the Hatch
  6. Pipe Dreams
  7. 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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