Heff in a Handbasket / Wallaby on Wheels - (Rocko's Modern Life Season 4 Episode 9) - 'Toon Reviews 44

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Heff in a Handbasket

One of the most memorable works of the series is the time Heffer found himself passed over into the realm of Heck, run by a stand-in for Satan named Peaches.  That cartoon will probably always be remembered as an imaginative take on morality and the mystery of the afterlife.  It stands out so much that it really didn’t need to be followed up on. Well, in the final season, a follow-up to that cartoon is just what we get, and it’s a very worthy one.  

In addition to mining good comedy out of the afterlife euphemisms with gluttonous Heffer at the center, it livens the experience with very out-there choices for atmosphere.  It all starts when Peaches is told that he must retrieve a soul for Heck or else he’ll face the wrath of the Dark Lord, who apparently has more power than he does.  At the same time, Heffer is revealed to have a major fascination for game shows.  His first scene for the cartoon even features him get so into one that he practically loses it when the featured contestant gets a question he knows the answer to wrong.  Heffer’s friends suggest that he’d make a great game show contestant, and he agrees with them.  

Normally though, his friends would have a point when they say that it takes a long time to become a game show contestant.  This, however, is not normal times with the ruler of Heck in desperate need of a soul.  Peaches sets up a fake commercial specifically designed to entice Heffer to come to him, and with that, Heffer is instantly selected and therefore in Peaches’ grasp.  Heffer going through with this, however, requires him to sign a contract, thereby cementing him in the hold of Heck.  

This, in turn, would mean dark ramifications all around that Heffer is turning over to the fiery underworld for his game show desire.  However, it’s merely dark on the surface as not only has things like Heck been the subject of comedy here before, but it completely rolls with the game show aesthetic.  Presumably to keep up the façade that brought Heffer here, Peaches tries to get him to win at his various games before turning his soul over.  All the while, the humor that can come from something as extravagant as a game show is realized.  There are several parodies of established game shows like Jeopardy, Family Fortune, and Million Dollar Pyramid.  Also, the humor doesn’t rely on parodies alone, but also how ridiculously easy the questions are, and how Heffer is so set on winning all the necessary points.  What Peaches didn’t count on is the ultimate drawback of Heffer not being able to answer something so easily correctly.  Whether it’s his excitability, just being dumb, or a fascination with sea monkeys, he gets everything wrong, delaying the culmination of Peaches’ plan.  While this makes Heffer a hypocrite for also getting upset over contestants not getting simple answers when he’s no better, it’s still somewhat funny and works for his sake story-wise.  

He only wins at a game show parody of Wheel of Fortune that does not rely on answering questions of any kind, but rather spinning a wheel and guessing by chance.  This means, Heffer gets his points and is therefore ‘rewarded’ a spot in Heck.  Then there’s a twist that also works for good background on Heffer’s family.  In Heck, he meets his wolf grandma, who could have gone to Heaven, but turned down living with a bunch of ‘sandal-wearing Santa Clauses.’ This shows as she’s not a very friendly woman and goes on your typical old woman rant. For that, she tears up Heffer’s contract so he can’t stay with her, freeing him from the afterlife.  So Heffer is saved and Peaches is placed on a series self-deprecating this very show as punishment for failing his order.  

When it comes to following up on past concepts, this cartoon does so in a fresh, funny manner.

A+

Wallaby on Wheels

I’ve noticed that this season has been significantly harder on Rocko than usual, mainly through how his problems seem to come from the world around him being intentionally malicious.  That said, one thing that’s been going much better for him is his love life, as this cartoon presents him with another romance that works out favorably.  

While working at his comic book store job, Rocko meets a worthy contender for a lover named Sheila.  She’s a charming individual who enjoys roller skating, but also maintains a very friendly persona.  She seems to take a good liking to Rocko even as he acts all weird around her, which is to be expected when a crush on someone develops.  Anyhow, Rocko, clearly smitten for Sheila, is driven to take up her interest in roller skating so to get closer to her, except he doesn’t know how to roller skate.  

Luckily, Heffer, who Sheila is apparently friends with, knows a lot about skating, and is even called the king of the local roller rink.  In spite of the potential for him to be pompous with his title, this story turns out to be one of Heffer’s more pleasing appearances for this season.  He’s very courteous when helping Rocko along in impressing his crush, standing by his side to ensure that he gets the moves right.  Being a novice at roller skating, and probably not even that, all Rocko can do is flail around like a fool who’s never been on skates before.  He’s constantly under his own impressions that he needs to be great in order to impress Sheila, but never considers that she already wants to hang around him.  It’s like his own fears of making a good impression keep him from seeing that he doesn’t have to try so hard.  Heffer is still willing to help him along to make him look like a good skater without Sheila noticing, but again, it’s more for his own sake than necessary.  

All of this leads to Heffer showing off professional moves for the entire crowd, in turn prompting Rocko to try something just as if not more extreme.  Considering the scene at the start of the cartoon was him scoffing at the idea of doing something dangerous to impress a girl, it’s safe to say that he’s completely forgotten this now.  For the cartoon’s climax, Rocko opts to run the extreme roller skating obstacle course with big jumps, intense loops, spikes, walls of fire, and more.  Though driven by his own honest fears of rejection, the resulting climax of going through that obstacle course is kept extremely fun.  There’s a lot of great energy to the course itself, and it’s remarkable that Rocko gets through it all.  The energy even continues after the course as Rocko is sent through a vertical path downward, poised to run into construction, and a bottomless pit.  Heffer, continuing to be a good friend, sets out to save him, but when Rocko’s pushed to safety, Heffer is the one in danger of hitting the pit.  It’s Rocko’s own talents in the form of jackhammering that saves the day, and it’s even followed up by him and Sheila seeming to start a meaningful relationship.  

While this is another romance that ends well for Rocko, you also have to consider Alicia from earlier this season.  Sheila is just like her for showing up in one cartoon and then never again, making for a potential romance that ends up going nowhere.  Really, they should have picked one love interest and have her be present in both cartoons; Sheilia and Alicia are interchangeable personality-wise anyway.  Also, the end with Heffer falling through the bottomless pit anyway and no one caring feels very unwarranted.  I mean what did he do to deserve it?  Those points hold it back, but the character moments, the overall payoff, the fun of roller skating, and romance that works out make this one of this show’s most charming works.

A

The Ranking

1.      From Here to Maternity

2.      Heff in a Handbasket

3.      Yarn Benders

4.      Feisty Geist

5.      Mama’s Boy

6.      Wallaby on Wheels

7.      Teed Off

8.      Wimp on the Barby

9.      S.W.A.K.

10.  Closet Clown

11.  Sailing the 7 Zzzz’s

12.  Pranksters

13.  The High-Five of Doom

14.  Magic Meatball

15.  Fly Burgers

16.  Ed Good, Rocko Bad

17.  Seat to Stardom

18.  With Friends Like These

Be sure to stay tuned for the review of the next episode where Rocko gets roped into ringing doorbells and hunting for birds.

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.

The High-Five of Doom / Fly Burgers - (Rocko's Modern Life Season 4 Episode 8) - 'Toon Reviews 44

If you like this review and want to stay updated for what else I have in store, become a follower of this blog, click here to like the official Facebook page, and click here to follow me on Twitter. Now on with today's review:

The High-Five of Doom

This show is known for having wildly imaginative ways of interpreting life, which often makes for a variety of twists in stories.  In the case of this cartoon, relatable life situations lead to one twist after another.  

Filburt has a private journal that quickly piques the interests of his friends.  Heffer in particular notices Filburt writing attentively in it, and is instantly tempted to see his friend’s personal thoughts on him.  In a decisive move, Heffer gets hold of the journal, but his act is soon discovered by Rocko.  Being moral by nature, Rocko scolds Heffer for wanting to look into Filburt’s private thoughts, but sympathizes with his understandable lack of will power.  In fact, although Rocko has the right mind to do what’s right, even he can’t resist the temptation of finding out what Filburt thinks of him.  Eventually, they both come to a compromise where they just read one page of the journal and then stop there.  That’s honestly a suitable approach for anything that involves bending the rules.  It satisfies desires and never goes too far.  

This act of Rocko and Heffer looking at Filburt’s journal would certainly fit that criteria if not for them giving into temptation shortly after their one look at a page.  They end up reading a lot more of it and dig up all sorts of unusual facts about Filburt.  According to the journal, he’s apparently an alien from another planet and part of an entire race of turtles who look just like him.  Their plan is to annihilate all of the planet’s population, taking advantage of people’s tendencies to give each other high-fives.  Reading all of this makes Rocko and Heffer paranoid whenever they see Filburt going about his day.  In addition to unusual lunches and groups of turtles happening to show up at the same restaurant as him, he also does the same tactics as described in the journal.  There’s nothing much to say about things like using mustard for deodorant or wearing a TV antenna on his head. 

Then when Rocko and Heffer read the last journal page out of desperation, they’re shocked to find that Filburt’s next plan is to give his deadly high-five to a wallaby and a steer.  Thus, Rocko and Heffer are thrown into an intense climax where they rush to barricade themselves as Filburt comes to greet them.  All it takes is a casual mention of a high-five after seeing they found his journal to make Rocko and Heffer completely frantic.  What follows is a sequence of events that make what happens kind of confusing.  First, Filburt reveals that his journal is actually groundwork for a science fiction novel he’s writing, which would explain a lot.  Then, his high-five to Rocko and Heffer destroys them, suggesting he really is an alien. However, after that grim scene, we cut to Rocko and Heffer reading it in the journal, and that suggest what was witnessed didn’t actually happen.  Still, for some reason, it all ends with Rocko and Heffer scared when Filburt comes to the door.  

All of this in mind leaves bafflement in what to make of everything.  On one hand, there aren’t many compelling measures in place, but on the other hand, baffling is kind of in line with the series.

A-

Fly Burgers

This time, bizarre concepts combine with the kind of life elements that you don’t expect to go through every day.  In the process, there’s a tonal whiplash where things seem pleasing, but then events are hit hard by a dense view of the world around the central character.  

To elaborate, we start with Rocko receiving a great gift from home, high quality Australian beef needed to make the perfect burgers.  His cooking soon gets the attention of a fly who’s minding his own business, complaining about being unable to get good food.  By the way, it’s not clear or explicitly mentioned, but there’s a good chance that this fly is the often seen Flecko.  Since, again, this is never stated clearly, for the sake of a consistent review, he’ll just be referred to as simply, the fly.  Anyway, the fly gets a scent of Rocko’s burgers, and when he lands to taste one, Rocko has the impulse to swat him away.  Since the fly is basically soiling his beef, I’d say that Rocko has the right mind to do what he does.  

Despite that, Rocko isn’t even the least bit aggressive with the fly, even being considerate of the insect who then trips on a rock.  The fly instead acts like the trip caused a lot of injury, acts like Rocko did this to him when he clearly didn’t, and threatens to sue him based on a commercial he saw.  Sure enough, Rocko does end up sued, coming to him unexpectedly like most court summons would, and it’s crazy to imagine a fly being the one to sue.  If that’s not enough, the fly even gets the best lawyer out there to have the trial be rigged in his favor to make the obviously innocent Rocko look bad.  However, since there are people he knows witnessing the trial, you have to wonder why no one sticks up for him.  

Ultimately the judge, portrayed as a sock puppet, sentences the ridiculous punishment for Rocko to spend 30 days as a fly, and he turns him perfectly miniscule with wings.  From then on, Rocko endures the common hardships flies normally face by being swatted at by the world around him out of annoyance.  The fact that no one even bothers to notice something familiar about the fly clearly turned from a wallaby is the biggest concern along with no convincing reasons Rocko deserved this.  Again, he wasn’t even a jerk to the fly who sued him, so there’s no need for punishment.  

Thankfully, that fly is almost quickly exposed as a fraud, for by chance, with wealth gained from his lawyer, he’s eating at the same restaurant as the judge.  So even while Rocko suffers things are still working in his favor.  Even after this though, Rocko still has to endure the worst suffering.  His friends, Heffer and Filburt, show no remorse for his condition and throw a party at his house without permission.  When Rocko even flies up to them, they forget what happened despite being at the trial, and attack him.  That’s no doubt hard to take in and I can’t fathom why they’d do this to their friend.   Fortunately, it all works out when the judge clears Rocko’s name, Rocko speaks his mind, the party backs off, and he’s turned back to normal.  

The ending is marred by Rocko realizing how hard flies have to deal with life, and while you can tell this was realized, I’m still not convinced he needed to learn this.  At least there’s enough heart to end the cartoon well.  I accredit the cartoon’s imagination, but the major unfairness of the conflict is hard to sit with until a good dose of heart and justice comes in to rectify everything.

C

The Ranking

1.      From Here to Maternity

2.      Yarn Benders

3.      Feisty Geist

4.      Mama’s Boy

5.      Teed Off

6.      Wimp on the Barby

7.      S.W.A.K.

8.      Closet Clown

9.      Sailing the 7 Zzzz’s

10.  Pranksters

11.  The High-Five of Doom

12.  Magic Meatball

13.  Fly Burgers

14.  Ed Good, Rocko Bad

15.  Seat to Stardom

16.  With Friends Like These

Be sure to stay tuned for the review of the next episode where Heffer goes on an underworld game show, and Rocko tries roller skating to impress another cute girl.

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.

Closet Clown / Seat to Stardom - (Rocko's Modern Life Season 4 Episode 7) - 'Toon Reviews 44

If you like this review and want to stay updated for what else I have in store, become a follower of this blog, click here to like the official Facebook page, and click here to follow me on Twitter. Now on with today's review:

Closet Clown

It’s only been in recent when people of different mindsets and groups have started being represented in quality animated material.  After centuries’ worth of prejudice and slowed acceptance of minorities, it only feels natural that those groups wouldn’t want to show their true nature.  Doing so is called coming out, and I can tell that it’s a strong defining moment for people to do so.  These underlying facts are what help make this cartoon an interesting kind of allegory where all possible sides people can hide from society are shown in the form of clowns.  

One of them ends up driving their truck in front of the Bighead household, and Ed goes out to deal with the clown.  His impulse is to rudely berate the clown and later get the truck towed, strongly implying a deep resentment, not unlike something commonly faced by minorities.  Although his disdain towards clowns feels very genuine, something changes in Ed when he takes an interest in the red nose the clown left behind.  He puts it on and suddenly enjoys acting like a clown.  It’s like being able to experience the feel of something instantly gets him to enjoy what it’s like so much that he decides he’s one of them.  

This, however, is where the hiding process begins.  Ed gets through his typical work sessions, and when he’s alone, like in the restroom, this is where he’s free to express his true status as a clown.  It’s a safe haven where he can put on the nose and enjoy himself, and anyone watching is sure to get the subtext when relating this to others with something to hide.  Hiding, however, means he’s not taking the right steps in coming out.  In fact, his boss ends up finding out he’s a clown because he was in the restroom as well at the time.  It’s only ok because he turns out to be a clown as well, and therefore Ed is clear to be a clown around the boss who tells him of places in need of a clown.  

So Ed goes on a spree of performing as a clown at kid parties, and the fact that he comes home feeling cheerful suggest a lot of health to his lifestyle.  He certainly could use something like this given his typical grumpy nature.  The only downside is, again, the need to hide it, which easily ties into the struggles of minorities.  Then coming out turns into something Ed is forced into when his next party is one for the birthday of Filburt and Dr. Hutchison’s children.  By the way, it’s really hard to believe that a year has passed since their birth which was only a few episodes ago.  Not only is Ed struck with fear as he performs in front of his wife and neighbors, but then the nose comes off while he’s performing, exposing his status as gay a clown.  

Now everyone knows Ed is a clown, but the ending does provide some refreshment which can today be seen as partially paving the way for representation of modern shows.  People accept Ed as a clown and even share their own secrets.  However, the happy mood is dampened with the last scene of everyone turning on and mobbing against Rocko who says he likes rainbows.  Maybe this is to remind of prejudice towards LGBT people, but given the measures taken to teach being proud of what makes one different, this is not an appropriate end.  It even stings more with all the people who actually like Rocko (that is everyone except Ed) going through with chasing him.  

So the cartoon doesn’t stick the ending, but I’m still able to see the final product as a creative way of showing what it’s like to live and come out as a minority.

A-

Seat to Stardom

Often in shows, plots appear to go in one direction, but then surprise you by going in a completely different direction.  Sometimes they’re pleasant surprises, and other times you wish they’d stick with prior expectations.  In the case of this story, its twists are somewhat clever and off-the-wall, then again this is an off-the-wall series, but also slightly off-putting with its passes for subject matter.  

It all starts at the premiere of the latest Really Really Big Man movie, with Rocko hard-pressed to get the hero’s autograph.  That there seems kind of odd since Really Really Big Man has been established as a regular O-Town citizen at this point.  Then the direction becomes that of acquired taste when Rocko ends up in a sidewalk of cement.  Like the sidewalk of Graumin’s Chinese Theater, stars leave their hand or foot marks in the wet cement.  Rocko, however, ends up leaving his butt mark in the plot intended for Really Really Big Man’s hand prints.  

This is where the subject twist becomes known where instead of meeting the stars, Rocko becomes a celebrity because of his butt.  As a result, the cartoon makes for several incessant butt remarks and shots of butts.  First, they’re used as ridicule for yet another humiliating escapade for Rocko, but then there’s another catch to the posterior focus.  A fashion designer discovers the butt print at the theater, and decides that the one responsible for the print should model her new line of underwear.  There’s a whole routine of the entire town going to see if their butt fits the one left in the cement, like a kingdom trying to pull a sword from a stone.  I suppose that’s a nice homage, but with so much emphasis on a butt, it’s hard to get fully invested.  I know the show has made butt jokes before, but they’ve never been as overbearing as this, much less up to the point of shaping an entire cartoon plot.  The use of butts here just makes the show feel way more juvenile than normal.  Of course, Rocko is the only one whose butt fits the mark and he’s instantly made a star by the fashion model.  

The rest of the cartoon is basically scenes of Rocko’s modeling career.  All he does is pose with the underwear, and gets a lot of acclaim from the press.  It’s apparently some of the best praise he’s gotten on the first go, but what he really wants to do is invite Heffer along to join in on the experience.  However, he’s always pulled from the phone leaving Heffer feeling jealous.  All the while, I can’t help but wonder what the humor of all this is.  It’s a clear take on modeling careers, but nothing really stands out, nor does it seem to have any clever jokes.  The fact that things only go well for Rocko doesn’t even bring humor on that front.  Even Heffer’s jealousy feels like a feeble attempt to give the cartoon conflict, being very basic and mostly built on petty misunderstandings.  It’s also resolved too easily when his butt is better suited for a one-piece underwear, and the cartoon ends with Heffer’s enormous butt being the new big star.  Rocko goes back to regular life, but it’s hardly a loss as he feels very content.  

Ultimately, the story isn’t bad, but noticeably weightless.  It starts off making you think it’s about the life of stars, but it then it turns into one big showing of butts that honestly feels more awkward than funny.  If butts are viewers’ thing, they’ll probably get way more out of this cartoon than I can, but while the show has done worse, this does not warrant repeat viewings.

C-

The Ranking

1.      From Here to Maternity

2.      Yarn Benders

3.      Feisty Geist

4.      Mama’s Boy

5.      Teed Off

6.      Wimp on the Barby

7.      S.W.A.K.

8.      Closet Clown

9.      Sailing the 7 Zzzz’s

10.  Pranksters

11.  Magic Meatball

12.  Ed Good, Rocko Bad

13.  Seat to Stardom

14.  With Friends Like These

Be sure to stay tuned for the review of the next episode where Rocko and Heffer read of Filburt wanting to take over the world with a high-five, and Rocko is sentenced to being a fly.

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.