How to Trap a Woodpecker (1971)

movie

(60)

Country: USA
Genres: Animation, Family, Short
Release: 1971-04-01
Director: Paul J. Smith
Writers: Dale Hale
Language: English
Stars: Daws Butler (1916–1988) , Daws Butler (1916–1988) , Grace Stafford , Grace Stafford
Runtime: 6 min
Awards: N/A
AKA: How to Trap a Woodpecker (United States of America) , How to Trap a Woodpecker
Plot: Was very fond of Woody Woodpecker and his cartoons as a child. Still get much enjoyment out of them now as a young adult, even if there are more interesting in personality cartoon characters and better overall cartoons.That is in no way knocking Woody, because many of his cartoons are a lot of fun to watch and more and also still like him a lot as a character. This is going to be a reiteration of a lot of my reviews for the later Woody Woodpecker cartoons, but mainly because the later Paul J. Smith-directed cartoons have pretty much the same strengths and faults. Not all Smith's efforts are average or less, 'Niagara Fools' is one of the not many very good and more Woody Woodpecker cartoons of his (excellent in that cartoon's case despite the lacking animation).'How to Trap a Woodpecker' is another one of the weaker late 60s Woody Woodpecker cartoons, with a few exceptions such as 'Skin Folks' and especially 'Three Little Woodpeckers' Woody was well past his best at this best and 'How to Trap a Woodpecker' does nothing to change my mind.If there was a best asset, it would have to be the music score. It is bouncy, energetic and very lushly orchestrated, not only synchronising and fitting with the action very well but enhancing it.Voice acting is solid. Grace Stafford continues to prove why she was the best voice actor for the character and the one that understood him the most. The funniest moment by far, and it actually is pretty amusing for an early 70s Woody Woodpecker cartoon, is the one with the skunk.On the other hand, Woody compared to his original manic personality is just too subdued and his material is too obvious and safe, one misses the manic energy and the risk taking. George is a bland foil, one never believes in any conflict because it feels like there isn't any (the most memorable thing is Woody playing a mean trick to save his own skin), and his wife is annoying.Generally, the timing could have been sharper and the humour is primarily let down by that it is derivative of better and fresher humour in other Woody Woodpecker cartoons and also the lack of wit and consistent energy. The laughs are not enough and they are not particularly funny either. Plus the story is very over-familiar, very few surprises here with too much repetition, and the cartoon could have done with more variety.Just as problematic is the animation quality. Time and budget constraints shows in a lot of the animation, which is very rushed looking in the drawing and detail wise it's on the simplistic and careless side like many of Woody's cartoons from the late 50s onward.In conclusion, weak. 3/10 Bethany Cox
IMDB:tt0150988