Blu-ray Review: Scooby-Doo! Wrestle-Mania Mystery (2014)

Now Available to Own   

  

Photo Slideshow   

In case anyone wondered what names Shaggy and Scooby would use if they were WWE Superstars, Warner Brothers Animation’s all-new straight-to-disc WrestleMania themed Scooby-Doo feature answers that question late into the movie when they find themselves facing off against Kane in a championship match once the announcer dubs them Skinny Man and Dead Meat.

Having won an all-expense paid trip to WWE City after they aced the victory dance routine in their video game and unlocked the special reward, smackdown superfans Shaggy and Scooby guilt the rest of the Mystery Inc. gang into traveling with them to the wrestling-themed destination.

Presenting them with a huge stack of photographic proof that illustrates Shag and Scoob’s continual willingness to serve as mystery bait in order to lure villains out of hiding to reveal their true identities, soon enough the other members of the group relent.

Giving in, we learn, is anything but a selfless act. Namely, the trip offers an added bonus for Fred to test out his new high tech camera’s ability to take killer action shots along with Velma’s interest in turning the trip into a sociological study of warrior rituals while likewise giving her and Daphne plenty of hot male eye-candy upon which to feast their eyes.

So excited to hit the road that they forget to bring their luggage (which doesn’t exactly put a damper on things since they always wear the same clothes), Shaggy and Scooby relish in their powers of persuasion… until they find themselves serving as mystery bait yet again.

Working alongside the eager and helpful John Cena, Scooby and the gang try to get to the bottom of who’s really behind WWE City’s mysterious Ghost Bear sightings that have wreaked havoc on the community and injured some of wrestling’s biggest stars including The Miz.

When the championship belt is taken and all evidence points to the perpetrator being a member of Mystery Inc., Shaggy and Scooby must take to the ring to clear their name unless the others can solve the mystery first.

Although the film is admittedly on par with an extended animated ad for the WWE, it turns out that the colorful larger-than-life characters of WrestleMania fit right in with the same ones we've seen throughout Scooby-Doo’s television and film history.

And this seamless WWE/Scooby blend is especially evident in a hilariously tongue-in-cheek yet creative faux ancestral backstory for the flamboyant superstar Sin Cara that we’re treated to in a flashback storytelling sequence which may help explain the supernatural element of the mystery.

Beautifully animated and richly detailed with energetic voice work by the cast, this Scooby-Doo feature easily surpasses the disappointingly juvenile live action adaptations by keeping in the same spirit of the original Hanna-Barbera cartoon, despite its obvious aesthetic improvements.

Despite this, the resolution to the mystery is slightly upsetting in terms of the politically incorrect rationale it provides as a motivating factor for mayhem which falls back on cinema's age-old disability stereotypes. Nonetheless, if you overlook the disappointing summation of who the villain is and why, you’re left with an otherwise above-average new entry in the vastly popular Scooby-Doo series that has sold over a billion discs to date to fans across the generations.

While normally outdone by the stellar DC Comics movies, Scooby-Doo! WrestleMania is surprisingly superior to the division's most recent Warner Animation outing Justice League: War.

However, fans of both series (like this reviewer), will be thrilled to discover that one of the greatest perks of this Blu-ray Combo Pack (which also boasts a DVD and digital copy) is its disc-opening trailers which offers you a glimpse of what’s coming next from the studio with a preview of Son of Batman.

Text ©2014, Film Intuition, LLC; All Rights Reserved. http://www.filmintuition.com Unauthorized Reproduction or Publication Elsewhere is Strictly Prohibited and in violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.  FTC Disclosure: Per standard professional practice, I may have received a review copy of this title in order to evaluate it for my readers, which had no impact whatsoever on whether or not it received a favorable or unfavorable critique.

Blu-ray Review: Double Feature -- Scooby-Doo 1 & 2: Scooby-Doo (2002); Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (2004)

Now Available to Own 

Photo Slideshow 

As Buffy the Vampire Slayer actress and all-around “girl power TV icon” Sarah Michelle Gellar revealed in an interview, originally – and much like the satirical update of The Brady Bunch Movie – the concept for the big-screen, live action Scooby-Doo adaptation was intended to skew towards a hipper teen to adult audience.

So instead of long, painfully unfunny scene catering to the lowest common denominator of those who love scatological humor comprised of nothing but Shaggy and Scooby trying do outdo one another flatulence-wise, the original plan was to construct the film with jokes playing off inferences we've all made about the characters from Hanna-Barbera's late '60s Saturday morning cartoon, from Shaggy's munchies to Velma's relationship with Daphne.

Unfortunately, ambitious and downright risky comedy was abandoned in favor of the tried-and-true Hollywood formula of lazy gag-writing as toilet jokes were in and everything we loved about the original series was left out in order to make it as commercial as possible.

Nonetheless, Matthew Lillard's eerily uncanny portrayal of Shaggy goes beyond simply a dead-on impersonation and it's even more impressive when you consider the fact that he's bringing an animated character to life.

For eight years later, Lillard's Shaggy remains the one great discovery of the two-film Warner Brothers franchise since he's continued to lend his voice to Cartoon Network Original Scooby-Doo Movies and the latest TV series to introduce a new generation to the generations-old show.

Ultimately however, the main thing the two movies achieve is an overwhelming desire to erase them from memory, go back in time and revisit the classic series.

And while I do grant that each film does have its moments of bright energy and throwback loopy chase sequences involving secret passageways and creepy contraptions that feel highly authentic, so much is lost in the translation that it's hard to enjoy them for very long.

And although it doesn't take much to dumb down an already admittedly formulaic original series, Scooby's greatest failure is in its downright, dubiously bizarre blend of a CGI Scooby with the live action Mystery Inc. detectives that distracts us to no end.

While Freddie Prinze Jr., Gellar, Linda Cardellini and Lillard all look the part as Fred, Daphne, Velma and Shaggy complete with their immediately identifiable color-coded wardrobe, once they share the screen with the technological amateur hour creation that is the series' namesake of Scooby-Doo, the only thing we can do is stare in jaw-dropped horror.

Although there is a slight improvement in CGI in the second picture, it's an even greater head-scratcher when you realize that the other computer generated monsters and ghouls onscreen in both pictures are far more believable and -- at times -- a bit too intense for young viewers, than the flawed four-legged canine.

And unfortunately for the folks at WB who went to great lengths to release this double feature in Blu-ray format, needless to say, high definition calls far more attention to the awkward combination of live action with CGI in Doo.

Had the entire feature been animated or a trained real-life dog been used instead, director Raja Gosnell's movies may have fared slightly better or at least not have screeched to a total halt whenever Scooby's in the picture, thereby making this mistake that much more unfortunate since the last thing we should be OK with leaving on the cutting room floor is the pooch that started it all in Hanna-Barbera's original mysteries.

Much more entertaining than the tonally all-over-the-place first flick that was obviously still finding its footing as the gang investigates a strange “spell” that seems to have taken away the personalities of college students at an island vacation destination, the second movie centers on the return of villains from the detectives' past.

Turning into a PR nightmare as the arrival of some of Mystery Inc.'s greatest ghouls (including ones from the original series) coincides with the opening of a local criminology museum in their hometown of Coolsville, the detectives must battle to save their reputation right along with their community in a far more cohesive second installment, penned by the first film's screenwriter James Gunn.

Despite raking in an enormous box office take for the original 2002 summer popcorn picture that no doubt played on people's love for the series, neither time nor the jump to high definition Blu-ray has enhanced my appreciation for the movies. Instead, this release only strengthens my concern for Raja Gosnell's upcoming live action take on another cartoon classic with Smurfs.

And although I wish they could initiate a moratorium on both talking dog movies and big-screen send-ups of small-screen material, it's worth noting that every once in awhile exceptions should be made.

Perhaps to make up for this disaster, the former editor and frequent Chris Columbus collaborator turned director Raja Gosnell eventually aced the dog movie market with Disney's underrated Beverly Hills Chihuahua which reteamed him with his Never Been Kissed leading lady, Drew Barrymore.

Nonetheless, it's safe to say that the price is most definitely right for WB's holiday-themed double feature Blu-ray release to deliver both movies in one for those willing to indulge their love of the series enough to look past the many, many shortcomings of the films, perhaps if only to watch Lillard deliver lines -- rather than excess gas -- as Shaggy.

Text ©2010, Film Intuition, LLC; All Rights Reserved. http://www.filmintuition.com Unauthorized Reproduction or Publication Elsewhere is Strictly Prohibited and in violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.  

FTC Disclosure: Per standard professional practice, I received a review copy of this title in order to evaluate it for my readers, which had no impact whatsoever on whether or not it received a favorable or unfavorable critique.

DVD Review: Scooby-Doo Camp Scare (2010)

Now Available to Own

 

Eager to volunteer for something other than identifying bad guys and foiling deceptive plots with the Mystery Inc. gang, Fred dons his favorite ascot and brings Daphne, Velma, Shaggy and Scooby to his beloved childhood stomping ground in the hope of spending the summer as camp counselors alongside his friends.

Obviously he's got the right ascot and attitude for the job as his signature fashion accessory is mentioned right off the bat. Yet once the Mystery Machine rolls into Camp Little Moose, three people (in addition to Shaggy) try to get him to turn the van around with warnings of a maniacal ax-wielding maniac lurking in the woods.

Shortly thereafter, Fred discovers that along with his extraordinary allies, it's ultimately his skills as an amateur sleuth rather than his knack for teaching children how to handle a zip-line that will be needed for this summer mystery.

Thus they set aside Little Moose's usual agenda of rivalry with the wealthier snobs from neighboring Camp Big Moose to instead try to get to the bottom of the camp director's claim that all of the urban legends and nefarious baddies from their campfire tales have come to life to wreak bloody havoc.

Are the stories real or is somebody trying to purposely scare kids from coming to camp by sabotaging Little Moose?

Determined to still work in some time for fun and adventure since three children arrive before they can be sent back on the bus, it's evident fairly early on that the Mystery Inc. will have their work cut out for them with this assignment of being counselors and detectives by day and night.

Bouncing back with super bright animation and action packed sequences that combine adrenaline fueled excitement with daring thrills after a slightly frightening opening prologue which may have been a bit too intense for younger fans of the original Saturday morning cartoon, Scooby-Doo Camp Scare is a highly entertaining installment in the ongoing series of direct-to-disc original movies.

As the fifteenth title released from Warner Brothers in the ongoing series, Camp Scare impressively manages that difficult task of remaining true to the past by blending together some classic elements of the Hanna-Barbera series including the gang's love of literally unmasking villains along with finding themselves in comedic jeopardy throughout while subtly updating the pace and spirit of the cartoon to appeal to younger audiences.

Gently spoofing campfire tales along with scary movies set in the woods, the cleverly written children's work even pays homage to some of the series' notoriously quotable comeuppance lines like “we would've gotten away with it too if it wasn't for you meddling kids” as well.

While seasonally speaking, this one should've hit shelves in early June, from food fights to cool chases, Camp Scare is one modern Scooby-Doo DVD that's sure to appeal to new fans and old purists as well, complete with a genuinely surprising albeit outrageously Scooby style resolution to a complex case... ascot not included.

Text ©2010, Film Intuition, LLC; All Rights Reserved. http://www.filmintuition.com Unauthorized Reproduction or Publication Elsewhere is Strictly Prohibited and in violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.  

FTC Disclosure: Per standard professional practice, I received a review copy of this title in order to evaluate it for my readers, which had no impact whatsoever on whether or not it received a favorable or unfavorable critique.

TV on DVD: Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! -- Season 1, Volume 3: Hello Mummy (1969)

The Classic Series Continues
Where It Left Off
As A Fun Feature Length
4-Episode DVD

Read Jen's Review of Volume 2

Bookmark this on Delicious

Print Page





I tell you, the only thing scarier than clowns are ghost clowns. As Mr. Barnstorm tells the veterans of the Mystery Machine in the second episode of the most recent Scooby Snack sized serving of the vintage Saturday Morning Cartoon's debut '69 season, "when the ghost clown appears at your circus, you might as well quit."

Yet par for the course for her brainy bespectacled character, Velma remains skeptical about myths just as she does in cases involving Scooby-Doo vs. a werewolf, an ominous curse of a three thousand year old entombed Egyptian mummy out for vengeance, and a crazy puppet counterfeiter. However, soon enough, events take a more sinister and unexplainable turn in this colorful collection which leads to hypnotized trapeze acts, violin cases filled with brand new bills, fake "girl dogs" used as bait, and much more in this fast-paced eighty-eight minute DVD.

A solid quartet of episodes-- the third volume features the show's famous denouement confession word-for-word that the villain "would've gotten away with it if it wasn't for you crazy kids," as brainy Velma, dashing Fred, gorgeous Daphne (every young boy's animated crush) manage to sleuth out the truth in roughly twenty-two minutes.

While I never quite understood the unusual group dynamic that includes the dimwitted slacker Shaggy and the TV show's namesake as embodied by his trusty canine sidekick Scooby-Doo, in the disc's opener "The Backstage Rage" it became much more evident as an adult that the duo's overactive appetite usually leads them into cases and clues.

And sure enough, you'll be glad it's on DVD and not network TV filled with fast food ads as you may find yourselves crazing some "blockbuster pizzas" with Shaggy and Scooby-Doo as they stumble their way into danger... while typically the higher functioning members of the ensemble ultimately piece together the satisfying mysteries.

Despite the fact that admittedly it suffers slightly from the dated look of the show and animation that doesn't feel overly crisp, the standard sized aspect ratio and original mono sound bring you right back to feeling like you're witnessing it when it aired forty years ago. Containing a pointless bonus episode of the new animated series which loses the flavor, feel and soul of the show, you'll want to ignore that completely and focus exclusively on the other original episodes "The Backstage Rage," "Bedlam in the Bigtop," "Gaggle of Galloping Ghosts," and "Scooby-Doo and a Mummy, Too," wherein the first two episodes rank among the season's best.

Although you must be warned that the show's theme song has the tendency to stay in your head for days, even if the plots are bit too easy to predict, there's still no replacing the enjoyment of a great mini-marathon of Scooby-Doo, Where Are You provided you steer clear of Mr. Barnstorm's circus.

"The Backstage Rage" Video Clip

Text ©2009, Film Intuition, LLC; All Rights Reserved. http://www.filmintuition.com

Unauthorized Reproduction or Publication Elsewhere is Strictly Prohibited.

DVD Review: Tom and Jerry: Chuck Jones Collection

Now Available on DVD





Read Our Review of Tom & Jerry's Greatest Chases Vol. 2



Celebrate the Efforts of Veteran WB Artist Chuck Jones

Bookmark this on Delicious

Print Page





Recently when Warner Brothers was kind enough to send me Tom and Jerry's Greatest Chases Volume 2 for review-- sort of as a primer, I think for this 2-disc remastered set boasting 34 classic shorts-- I couldn't help but notice the similarities between the popular Oscar winning Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer series of theatrical shorts and Warner Brothers' own Looney Tunes.

And this makes perfect sense since the creation of Hanna-Barbera began as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's answer to the enormous success enjoyed by both Walt Disney and Warner Brothers with their Silly Symphonies and Merry Melodies shorts respectively.

However, as fate would have it-- the tonally and structurally similar styles of MGM and WB with their popular characters Tom and Jerry and Wile E. Coyote and Roadrunner would merge two decades after the cat and mouse first took up the chase.

As studios scrambled to find a way to bring viewers hooked on television back to the multiplex led to a decline in the employment of animators and existence of animation departments at various studios (save for Disney who pinched pennies but kept things running), MGM simply shut its doors and handed out pink slips to the creative geniuses behind Tom and Jerry.

While Hanna and Barbera would bounce back with their development of what's commonly referred to as "limited animation" which is faster, more cost-efficient and sitcom like than the old full-orchestra cinematic scope of their work with MGM that they developed in projects such as The Flintstones and The Jetsons, Warner Brothers soldiered on until inevitably its legendary animator Chuck Jones found himself out of work in 1964 when the studio he'd worked at for thirty years suddenly shut down that division as well.

However, Hanna-Barbera's old studio was ready and eager to snap up Jones-- offering him an unprecedented opportunity of complete creative control in taking over the long-running but then-fledgling (based on outsourced animation and under-funded efforts) Tom and Jerry series.

Bringing in veteran versatile voice talent like Mel Blanc and some of the extraordinary artists he'd worked with back at WB, Jones used the creative freedom to great effect, going against the grain of popular limited animation for the classical style of "full-animation" that was lighter on dialogue and heavier on action and art to tell the story and this can be evidenced right from the get-go on disc one of this beautifully packaged double-disc set (with a box alone that looks like a collector's item).

Although he's been widely and accurately criticized for an over-reliance on recycling the old plots of the Hanna-Barbera era of Tom and Jerry (in their brilliant '40s era you can see in Greatest Chases) as well as re-tooling some of the exact same gags he and his merry band of animation collaborators at Warner Brothers had sprinkled throughout Looney Tunes which won't go unnoticed to avid viewers of either series-- the Jones era of Tom and Jerry is far more cinematic than ever before.

And in fact, the influences of both vintage Hanna-Barbera shorts and WB cartoons are cited directly in one of two fascinating extra features-- Tom, Jerry... and Chuck which actually shows before and after comparisons of the works. When you couple some of the overly noticeable instances of "cribbing" from earlier material and trying a bit too hard to tie in with some popular culture of the '60s along with Jones' downright snobbish and slightly condescending view of the artists who'd worked on the series before him including Hanna-Barbera whose Flintstones and beyond "limited animation" technique he scoffs at, the shorts lose a bit of their luster.

Yet, taken purely on face value as a set for its content and as simply a fan of entertaining animation, it's a solid investment as Warner Brothers has painstakingly remastered the original shorts and similarly has offered them in their vintage theatrical widescreen format for the first time in numerous decades.

Changing the look of the characters themselves by making Jerry far sweeter and touching up the facial expressions of both in order to emphasize the moments just before each one loses it or their reaction to the other throughout their endless, highly violent back-and-forth battles (foreshadowing Jones' admiration for eyes. ears and mouths he'd use brilliantly with the Grinch's wicked grin in How the Grinch Stole Christmas)-- the shorts also tapped right into MGM's brilliant credit sequences of their popular 007 and Pink Panther franchises. They did so by opening with a teaser, going into some wildly inventive credit sequence and then moving directly into the cartoon. A terrific example of this can be found in Bad Day at Cat Rock which follows Tom down a manhole as he lights a match to illuminate the credits.

While the '40s shorts placed their emphasis on the foreground-- these '60s widescreen enabled picturesque shorts provide an endless supply of eye candy with incredibly intricate and detailed background images that moves from the "sets" to all of the individual little touches of "props" that is used to wondrous effect in the Charlie Chaplin Modern Times like I'm Just Wild About Jerry.

Using camera pans for a sweeping effect in The Brothers Carry Mouse Off which flows directly into what appears to be Jerry relaxing poolside only to realize that he's imagining that while stretched out on green carpeting or employing animated trickery for the magically tinged Haunted Mouse-- these are a feast for the senses. And likewise they manage to bust out of the antagonism momentarily for a touching and Disney like Snowbody Loves Me and the Hanna-Barbera directed Matinee Mouse wherein the two temporarily bury the hatchet.

With 216 minutes of content it's tough to pick a favorite but the one that I'd find myself probably replaying the most would have to be-- despite its direct tie to a classic Bugs Bunny short-- The Cat Above, The Mouse Below as Tom performs the Italian opera favorite "Figaro" to a packed house. Of course, while he's using his voice to reach those in the cheap seats, Jerry is busily trying to sleep below stage (a classic Hanna-Barbera era running gag) and war is declared between Jerry and his "noisy neighbor" in this classic favorite.

Retaining the mono sound (yet in Dolby Digital) to keep things authentic-- overall and despite some of the complaints about overlapping ideas and repetitions, visually, you're dealing with Tom and Jerry of the highest caliber with the full force of Warner Brothers' best and brightest behind them, picking up where Hanna-Barbera had left off in their Oscar winning collaborations that makes this set quiet a fun treat for classic cartoon enthusiasts.

Text ©2009, Film Intuition, LLC; All Rights Reserved. http://www.filmintuition.com
Unauthorized Reproduction or Publication Elsewhere is Strictly Prohibited.

DVD Review: Tom and Jerry's Greatest Chases Volume 2

Now Available on DVD

Bookmark this on Delicious

Print Page





What Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote were to Warner Brothers' Looney Tunes, Tom and Jerry were to Hanna-Barbera. As the animated duo who were so frequently caught up in chases-- not only is it fitting that the characters consisted of a veritable cat and mouse but also that Warner Brothers has released 14 more of the classic (originally MGM produced) shorts from 1944 through 1951 in the aptly named Greatest Chases series featuring the beloved cartoon icons.

While unfortunately the animation included on the 102 minute disc hasn't been touched up in the slightest and even looked lackluster and grainy on an upconvert player-- the content is what keeps the series of theatrical shorts from aging. Ingeniously animated with a frantic pacing-- the Tom and Jerry works contained on this disc helped foreshadow what the editing industry would do in action movies down the road by synchronizing everything perfectly in tune with the music. And although some Road Runner cartoons felt a tad repetitive, Hanna-Barbera's Tom and Jerry chases never got old as those responsible for the series made sure that both characters have the upper hand at some point and creativity was always at the forefront as the relentlessly pursuant cat Tom tries to ensnare the clever mouse Jerry in a variety of schemes.

Featuring some of the most renowned shorts that begin just three years after Tom and Jerry made their debut in 1940 in a wonderful and promising series which would go onto garner the animators seven Best Animated Short Subject Oscar statues-- Warner Brothers' recent Greatest Chases Volume 2 disc is notable for its inclusion of two of these award-winnings works with the 1944 released Mouse Trouble and 1945 released Quiet Please!

With the convenient option to play the disc in its entirety and let each short move into the next (along with various subtitle and language options such as English, Portuguese, French and Thai) we find Tom engaged in a literal cat-fight over Jerry, a bratty little girl forcing Tom to become a cat in the cradle by dressing him as a baby which Jerry enjoys immensely, and their endless back-and-forth dynamic that's tested when Tom learns he will inherit a million dollars provided he doesn't hurt Jerry and later as both try not to get on the bad side of the bulldog Spike.

Spike is the central character in one of the strongest shorts-- the Oscar winning Quiet Please!-- as Tom realizes he must act quickly to try and nab Jerry once and for all before the sleeping bulldog will awaken and put an end to it. And likewise Mouse Trouble is especially entertaining as well as Tom enlists the aid of a '40s version of a self-help manual to catch a mouse (from "Random Mouse" books).

However, in addition to the award-winners, there's a lot of great discoveries to be found on the disc including Cue Ball Cat which finds Jerry hiding in a corner pocked of a pool table as Tom tries to crush him, making terrific use of the animation of the billiard balls as well as when Jerry tries to become a bodyguard to a goldfish that Tom decides on a whim he wants to cook in a French recipe he hears on a radio show. Fun and fast-paced-- despite the grain, dust and sometimes less than sharp color in the animation-- Greatest Chases Volume 2 makes a solid addition for Tom and Jerry collectors.

*Note: This month, Warner Brothers is also releasing the following collectible set:

Text ©2009, Film Intuition, LLC; All Rights Reserved. http://www.filmintuition.com
Unauthorized Reproduction or Publication Elsewhere is Strictly Prohibited.

TV on DVD: The Jetsons -- Season 2, Volume 1 (1985)

Now Available To Own On DVD

Meet the Jetsons

View Clips from the New DVD Set

Bookmark this on Delicious

Print Page





Long before Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, Styx released "Dōmo arigatō, Mr. Roboto," and technology offered us convenient devices such as smart phones, roombas, the segway scooter, and professional home theatre installations-- Flintstones masterminds Hanna-Barbera made one giant leap for animated-kind.

Taking the same central idea of their hit prehistoric animated sitcom, they partnered The Flinstones with the new John F. Kennedy inspired space race era of the early 1960s with the debut of The Jetsons.

Essentially presenting viewers with a different spin on the classic family comedy set-up a la an animated and hipper version of Leave it to Beaver or The Dick Van Dyke Show, the premiere season of The Jetsons-- which kicked off in 1962-- offered twenty-one episodes geared towards adult viewers.

And by cleverly setting the action in a twenty-first century environment, Hanna-Barbera dealt far less with the "science-fiction" aspects of the show, instead viewing their work as another variation of a traditional sitcom by keeping the main audience-friendly dynamic of an All-American roughly middle class Caucasian husband and wife who have two children and a loyal dog at the forefront of the action.

Despite the fact that it only lasted one season on ABC in primetime, the first season was so beloved that the episodes aired continuously for more than twenty years as a staple of Saturday morning (and especially Hanna-Barbera) cartoons until it was finally re-imagined and resuscitated in 1985.

In another bold giant leap for animated kind to honor just how significant the show was to those working on it in the '80s-- the producers and casting directors decided to bring back all of the main cast-mates whose voice-work as the characters had become ingrained in the minds of viewers.

Thus, in addition to staying true to the original color palette and overall look of the show so that one can view the episodes in syndication in any order and be unable to tell-- at least initially-- which decade we were watching, the producers ensured it would be a very subtle and seamless change.

While, of course-- aside from some obvious tonal changes as the actors had all aged over two decades and sadly George O'Hanlon (George Jetson himself) had lost a portion of his vision due to illness that he recorded his performance separately repeating the dialogue back in character as he was unable to read-- it was a largely successful transition that kept in spirit with the original conception of the series.

However, luckily those in charge realized that-- given its success of two decades drawing in youthful audiences as a Saturday morning classic-- the same approach to skewer towards the middle aged demographic of the '62 primetime intended work would be inappropriate.

Thus, the show's second season adjusted the more domestic based humor of the first twenty-one episodes by finally acknowledging that it was always more successful as a show for children to watch on lazy weekends.

And similarly, the characters of boy crazy teenager Judy Jetson, child prodigy Elroy, Astro the dog (which may have been a precursor to voice actor Don Messick's most famous late '60s Hanna-Barbera canine Scooby Doo), and Rosie the unintentionally hilarious robotic maid were brought to the forefront with storylines centering largely on their misadventures.

Systematically, while aiming for a younger crowd, they upped the cute factor considerably as well as replaced some of the now outdated space ideas with a greater involvement of computerized gadgets (since this was, of course, the era of the personal computer and Apple vs. Microsoft in a new version of the "space race").

Both of these decisions can be evidenced in the opening episode of season 2 which aired more than twenty years after the previous season had ended as the writers introduced a new addition to the family when Elroy brings home an adorable alien named Orbity which hatches out of an egg discovered on a school field trip.

Including the first twenty-one season two episodes that play over the course of three DVDs in this Warner Brothers collectible Hanna-Barbera release-- that boasts a mini-documentary (just eight and a half minutes long) about the "Evolution of the Series" and switch from the '60s to the '80s when this season picked up the thread of the first one-- it's a fun trip down memory lane.

Unfortunately despite the beautiful design of the slim-packaged set, the animation on display in the episodes mostly appear grainy, muddied, and visually soft even on an upconvert Blu-ray player, which made me wish that in order to have truly made it a must-own collectible, the Saturday morning cartoon classic would've been-- if not restored-- then at least touched up.

While of course, it's still entertaining and will delight '70s and '80s babies who remember the episodes very well-- the show itself hasn't exactly aged successfully. For, overall the humor fails to hold our interest the way that other '90s and more recent animated series have accomplished with stronger writing or more complex plots than Rosie worrying that she's such an ancient robot she's going to be replaced with a newer, sleeker, and younger robot (so in essence making her-- instead of Debra Messing's Starter Wife, "The Starter Maid").

And to this end, I'm not sure how The Jetsons will compete with even faster attention spans in the next generation as children are much more accustomed to breathlessly-paced CGI in Pixar and DreamWorks features or even just the more simplistically drawn yet incredibly sharp wit served up on Nickelodeon.

As ultimately-- by comparison-- this show feels more like a time capsule than one of the cool time machines or new gadgets dreamed up by the writing staff. So aside from my reverence for it as a cartoon classic from my youth, when I think about similar works for guidance, admittedly, I have to confess that I'd still rather sit down hunt for clues with Scooby Doo than go shopping with Jane Jetson any day of the week.