First Impressions: Arlo the Alligator Boy (2021)

 

As a good chunk of you already know, I have a... complicated look at Netflix original movies. Not all of them have been bad, but they do tend to plaster the "Netflix original" sticker on a lot of real crap. I'm not going to list of examples again, but there is just so much garbage under that name it's kind of a miracle if any film goes into "Good" territory. Which brings us to Arlo the Alligator Boy, which was released rather quietly, compared to Klaus, which everyone was going crazy over, I have only ever seen other animation fans talk about this movie, and even then only a few. To be fair, I heard good things about it, and it's not like movies released on Netflix have spectacular premiers or anything, I'm just saying I've not seen a lot of people talk about this movie. So, is it the next Klaus? or is it just another Pets United?

My first major compliment towards this movie is that it looks beautiful. All the backgrounds are stylized in such a way to look like illustrations in a children's book, and the colour palette is very warm and pleasing to the eye. The characters look a little flat on the backgrounds, like they were cel drawings, but it's not too distracting, and there is a lot of great shading, so overall, the movie is visually wonderful.

Another thing I can praise this movie for is how well it's paced. There are a lot of moments that just let the scene be quiet, no dialogue, just the ambient noise of the setting and the music. Though, this movie does have the same issue I have with the Steven Universe movie, in that there are a lot of songs and they don't feel spaced out enough. The song sequences look amazing though, and the songs do sound great, so maybe I just wasn't in the mood for a musical.

I also really enjoy the characters, Arlo is a very sweet boy, kind, enthusiastic, naïve... he's SpongeBob, but with a voice less people will find grating (I love SpongeBob but that is a truth). A lot of the side characters get some very humorous quips and Jonathan Van Ness plays this amazing pink ball of fur that is just amazing.

Speaking of, the movie does have a little humorous edge to it, I don't think got laugh out loud funny, well except for one gag, but even still it wasn't unfunny, but I think it was just funny enough to balance out the... insanely dark moment. Like, a guy is literally dragged away screaming by a beast covered in shadow, and while the rest of the movie doesn't get that dark again, more emotionally heavy, and I can respect that. Above all else this movie has my respect.

While I don't think this movie was incredible, honestly give me a few more viewings and my tune may change, I think this movie was cute, heartwarming and overall a fine viewing. It's kind of the Steven Universe movie done right, but with a theme taken from The Greatest Showman, and while I definitely prefer that movie, I think this one was pretty good. I say that this movie comes recommended, and while I was not in the mood for this kind of movie, darn it, I can not deny that it was a cute and wonderful little movie.

Editorial: Ten Must See Shorts

 

I'm going to try something a bit different. A large reason I am writing these reviews is because I want to help make animation the respected art form I believe it should be. I chose to focus on movies because a lot of movie fans pass up on animated features because of the stigma attached to the medium. I wanted to shine a light on films that cinema fans might have passed up, but also call out films I felt were disrespecting the medium. The thing is, there is a lot more to animation than the cinema, so, for my main editorial this month, and occasionally whenever I feel like it, I will highlight ten animated shorts that I think everyone must see, partly historical, partly entertaining, but entirely fascinating.

I want to stress this is not a list, there is no ranking involved, these are just ten animated shorts I really love, and think everyone should check out.

1. Gertie The Dinosaur (1914) - Dir. Winsor McCay

Starting off with an old short, dating back to 1914. Before The Looney Tunes, Mickey Mouse and even Felix the Cat. This short even pre-dates the use of cel animation, meaning that each and every frame was drawn completely on a piece of paper rather than having one character drawn on a clear sheet, known as a cel. The short is a silent film of Winsor McCay giving Gertie commands, originally part of a vaudeville act McCay did in his spare time. Gertie is said to be one of the first animated characters with an established personality and the animation is quite incredible. When Gertie is drinking from the lake, you can actually see her lean into the lake as the water level lowers, wonderful small details like that add to the experience, and when you take into consideration that every single frame was hand drawn as a full scene, that just makes it even more impressive. While we sadly lack a lot of Winsor McCay's work, which is said to have been destroyed, it's wonderful that we still have a good amount of his short films to watch.

2. Popeye the Sailor meets Sinbad the Sailor (1936) - Dir. Dave Fleischer

The golden age of animation has a lot of iconic names, but one of those I feel is not as recognized as others, at least not in some circles, is Popeye. Popeye the Sailor was the other mascot for Fleischer Studios, Betty Boop being the other big mascot, and many consider this short, "Popeye the Sailor meets Sinbad the Sailor", to be his greatest cartoon outing. Seeing Popeye fight numerous giant beasts that more than tower over him is great fun, as is the final fight against both titular sailors. Popeye cartoons may not have been as grand as Disney or Warner Bros cartoons, but they were always a fun watch, and in some cases could use some very interesting techniques. Special mention goes to the cave entrance, where the landscape was a real set, and they just animated Popeye over the footage. Literal decades before Robert Zemeckis would do a similar thing with Who Framed Roger Rabbit. It's a fun little short that should not be passed up.

3. How To Play Football (1944) - Dir. Charles A. Nichols

Goofy cartoons were a lot different from the Mickey Mouse cartoons that Disney became famous for. They were a lot more parodic and commentative, along-side a heavy use of slapstick. This short loves to make fun of the sport of football, with gags like the instructions of the game being drowned out by the cheering of the crowd and the coach's diatribe being completely rushed by the narrator and ignored by the players. It's a funny little short with cute gags and wonderful animation. Whether you enjoy the sport of American Football, or think it's really dumb (like I do) you'll find something to enjoy about this wonderful slice of Disney history.

4. Fast and Furry-ous (1949) - Dir. Chuck Jones

Road Runner cartoons were always my favourite of the Looney Tunes selection. These shorts only needed one basic premise, but the joy was always seeing what wacky and silly way the Coyote's plans to catch the running bird will back fire. Though I am selecting "Fast and Furry-ous", do not take this one as gospel, really most of the Road Runner shorts can be interchanged with each other, so you can take this entry as a shared entry. Silly gags like the road coming off the ground and fake Latin, alongside odd plans and contraptions that can involve anything from boomerangs, rockets and painted tunnels have become iconic pieces of pop culture, and they all started here. To many, the Road Runner cartoons can have a deep meaning, and to others, they're just funny cartoons that make us laugh, and there is nothing wrong with either.

5. Duck Amuck (1953) - Dir. Chuck Jones

I could not in good conscience leave off one of the most well beloved and timeless Looney Tunes cartoons ever, and while everybody loves "What's Opera Doc?", "Duck Amuck" is just as beloved and probably deserves it more in my opinion. This wonderful Daffy Duck cartoon is meta to the nth degree, playing around with the mere fact the short is animated and playing around with things like backgrounds, camera work and sound effects. This is also a good example of how good the writing and voice acting of the Looney Tunes really was. On one of the DVD releases of the short, they give you the option to watch the short without the dialogue and it completely kills the short. The Looney Tunes wrote the book of animated comedy and then proceeded to break each and every one of those rules, and the end result was hundreds of timeless cartoons.

6. Dial "P" for Pink (1965) - Dir. Friz Freleng

I believe I have mentioned my love for Pink Panther cartoons before and my favourite of the bunch is the 1965 short "Dial "P" for Pink". The simple story of a thief trying to steal a safe that the Lightish Red Feline just so happens to be dozing in leads to some funny gags and an almost Wile E. Coyote level of schemer. Some of my favourite gags include the thief running for keys, the Panther putting a stick of dynamite in the thief's pocket, and the ending where the thief and Panther swap the safe between each other. If you haven't given the Pink Panther cartoons a shot, I'd recommend starting with this one, I'd say it's just as funny as a Looney Tunes cartoon, considering it has Friz Freleng behind it, that shouldn't be too surprising.

7. The Snowman (1982) - Dir. Jimmy T. Murakami and Dianne Jackson

We all love the classic Christmas classics of How the Grinch Stole Christmas and A Charlie Brown Christmas, but one of my favourite holiday classics is "The Snowman", a television special (Yes these still count as short films) based on a Raymond Briggs picture book, all told through beautiful animation and music. The art style looks right out of a picture book and the song they sing while they go flying is so beautifully done, it makes the special such a warm and comfy watch despite taking place during the coldest of seasons. It warms my heart only to shatter it like ice at the end, but darn it, I love it so. If you have yet to watch this special, give it a chance, it may become your next holiday staple.

8. Dimensions of Dialogue (1983) - Dir. Jan Švankmajer

Taking a step from the cute and funny cartoons, here is a piece of stop motion legend Jan Švankmajer. A stop motion and claymation piece about communication and and the failure of communicating. Weird abstract figures made of various items consume and spit each other out until they are clay, two heads spit different items at each other, and there is even possibly a relationship that gets ugly in there. That is my interpretation at least. Do not be fooled, this may be an animated short film, but it is less for kids and more for those who enjoy the weird and bizarre side of animation. Muted colours and misshapen forms make for a very interesting and symbolic piece. If this doesn't convince you of the merits of animation, than you're a lost cause.

9. Thingu (AKA Pingu's The Thing) (2012) - Dir. Lee Hardcastle

Recently I picked up a VHS Copy of a mash-up film called Apocalypse Pooh, a mash up of Apocalypse Now and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. It's a very surreal watch, and it got me thinking about other kinds of possible mash ups, like mashing up the 1980s horror classic The Thing with the children's show Pingu. Yeah, don't think for a second this is a short for kids, I'm half convinced Lee had this amazing idea for a Robot Chicken sketch, and decided to just do it. I don't know if anyone really knows what to think of it, it's like a thing that shouldn't exist, but it does, and it's a bizarre and interesting experience I think every animation fan should see at least once in their life... just remember it is not for children.

10. Hair Love (2019) - Dir. Bruce W. Smith, Matthew A. Cherry and Everett Downing Jr.

Finishing off this list is one of the cutest and most charming animations I have ever seen. I remember this playing before The Angry Birds Movie 2, and as much as I enjoyed that movie, this short was the best part of that theatre trip. This simple short that starts with a little girl trying to follow a hair tutorial, ends up being a very heart warming and sweet short that has touched the hearts of many, and I mean many, this short was turned into a children's book, is being made into a TV series on HBO Max and won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film and the Black Reel Award for Outstanding Independent Short Film, and it is highly deserving of those accolades. If you only watch one of these shorts, please make it "Hair Love", it is truly an amazing piece of art.

I love watching short films, and I know there are a ton that I missed, so if there is an animated short you love, feel free to tell me about it. Please give these shorts a watch as well, I think they are all well worth your time. Otherwise, I'll see you next time at the Odeon, Fare-thee-Well.

Blue's Big Musical Movie (2000) - A movie for young kids, but still a fun watch

Guys, just let me have this one, okay? I just need something that makes for easy viewing right now, and I don't think anything gets easier than a movie made for pre-school kids. Does this count for my blog? Well, it is a live action person interacting with an animated world, and unlike Who Framed Roger Rabbit it's the entire film. So, yeah, I think it qualifies. As a bonus for me, I have a deep connection with Blue's Clues. It was one of the first shows I ever watched as a kid, I had those bright orange VHS tapes of them, and even today there is something so... calm and relaxing about the show. Chances are, if you liked this show as a kid, you're probably going to find something you still like about it, like how every clue has a different musical jig attached to it, which is something I just noticed recently. I don't think my connection with this show is as deep as SpongeBob, but it's still a strong one, and I remember watching this movie a lot as a kid. How does it hold up?

While Steve and the gang are planning a big backyard music show, Tickety looses her voice, which is an issue because she was going to duet with Blue. After Tickety finds something else she can do, Steve decides to find another duet partner for Blue, which prompts her to start a game of Blue's Clues. To fill out the plot some more, they put in some extra side-plots, such as Periwinkle wanting to take part in the show, with the misunderstanding they were putting on a magic show, Steve wanting to find a clue on his own, and Sidetable Drawer also wanting a part in the show, but being too shy to ask. Despite the whole bunch of stuff going on, I never thought the plot became too bloated or convoluted, it was very easy to follow. I think that young kids can follow what's going on in the film.

As the title of the movie would reveal, this is a musical. I feel like Pre-school programs have a stigma about them, especially their songs. I was not the only kid that enjoyed the famous Barney Parody, and I can imagine that plenty of other songs would get on the nerves of parents. That being said, music has always been a big part of the appeal of Blue's Clues. A lot of the lessons were taught in song, and this isn't the only show to do that, Animaniacs also did similar kinds of segments. The music of Blue's Clues is actually very jazzy and it carries over into this movie. Even when the song is about having breakfast, it's still got that jazz feel to it. Of course, one of the songs is sung by the late legend Ray Charles alongside the 70s a cappella group The Persuasions, so that song was going to be great no matter what. Look, I may enjoy my share of rock and metal, but Ray Charles is awesome and I will hear no word against that!

That all being said, I'd be lying if I said that I had no issues with the score. For one, Sidetable Drawer's voice actress is... not a great singer. I get she was really young when this movie was being made, but I just think a bit more lessons might have done good. Also, some of the music cues are, actually kind of hilarious. At one point, Steve asks if we can spot "Have Breakfast" on his checklist, and the music that plays is this really suspenseful jazz cue, and it's really funny. It's like adding in a "BWOM" cue after getting a papercut, it's almost too much. Then again, I have to concede that it's respectful to the audience and takes them seriously despite being little kids. I also think some of the songs are really short, but I don't really know how you would stretch a song about wearing silly hats to more than thirty seconds.

As for the characters, they are all just as friendly and kind as they are in the show. Asking if Tickety is okay when she begins to have vocal problems. Encouraging everyone to not give up, and even the new characters played by Ray Charles and The Persuasions, I love that they are encouraging to Steve, even when he doesn't feel like he has the right tempo for his song. It's a very welcoming environment, an environment that encourages learning and trying, an environment that I feel a lot of kids are not allowed to live in reality, be it because of broken family lives, or because their families have poor income. I think that is why shows like Blue's Clues hold up even for adults, they offer this environment that encourages instead of scorns, helps instead of hinders, and does so without talking down to kids. Yes, I see the irony of me, a critic, talking about all of this.

Anyway, on the topic of characters, I really got to give it up for Steve here, he is a pretty good actor. He gets the emotions across, he is decently convincing, I think he does a great job. His interactions in the animated world can look a little unconvincing at points, but it never took me out of the experience, and I don't think young kid will really notice. I never did until I really took a critical look.

Speaking of, the visuals of this movie are great. Honestly, I think going direct-to-video actually worked in this movies favour. When a show gets a theatrical movie, the animation budget is usually increased, so we get a movie that looks like a cleaner and more cinematic version of the show, which can throw some people off. I don't think I can imagine a "cinematic" looking Blue's Clues, so I'm glad it stays with the storybook illustration aesthetic. On top of that, even though the animation is stylized, and let's be honest here, a little bit limiting, none of the expressions ever get muddled, you can still tell what the characters are thinking when they're not vocal. I'd say it's actually better than South Park in that regard. 

I'm going to be honest, as an adult, I was very much entertained by this movie. I loved the jazzy soundtrack, the welcoming environment, and the good lessons the movie taught. Honestly, if you have really young kids, I highly recommend this movie. It's gotta be better for kids than Peter Rabbit, Duck Duck Goose or any of the third generation My Little Pony movies. Now, as an adult however, would I recommend this for watching on your own. You know what? I'm actually going to say yes! A large reason I'm writing these reviews is because cartoons and animation as a whole has this stigma of being only for kids and adults who never mentally matured. I want to crush that stigma, and if that means recommending the Blue's Clues movie, than so be it. If you think that kids shows and cartoons have no value to anyone over the age of three, watch this movie and tell me it has no value. I give this a solid recommendation!