Two Jumps and a Chump (1971)

movie

(34)

Country: USA
Genres: Animation, Comedy, Short
Release: 1971-03-28
Director: Gerry Chiniquy
Writers: John W. Dunn
Language: English
Stars: Don Diamond , Tom Holland , Larry D. Mann (1922–2014)
Runtime: 6 min
Awards: N/A
AKA: Two Jumps and a Chump , Two Jumps and a Chump (United States of America)
Plot: None of the previous Tijuana Toads cartoons are particularly good in my humble opinion, the best being 'Go For Croak' and 'Snakes for the Gracias' (the only two to rise above mediocre) but for reasons other than the toads. It was not as if everything DePatie-Freleng Enterprises did were mediocre or worse, they were responsible for The Pink Panther, The Inspector and the Ant and the Ant and the Aardvark and at their best those series are great.Their 70s work however is less good, and while there were even worse theatrical series of theirs the Tijuana Toads series was really not them at their best. 'Two Jumps and a Chump' is the ninth cartoon and the third outing with Crazylegs Crane as El Toro and Pancho's opponent. To me, while not quite one of the worst cartoons in the series 'Two Jumps and a Chump' is one of their weaker collaborations with all the usual flaws and the previous two Crazylegs appearances handled him better.A lot of issues are here. The story is hardly there, with too much of a rehashed feel, a very dull pace from a lack of energy and tension and a paper thin structure. There is just far too little to it and it takes too long to get to the point. Most of the material is thin on the ground and bland, very little is remotely amusing here with all the too few existing gags being very unimaginative and little more than repetitive recycling. The animation is really not good, with a flat and unfinished look that takes simplicity to extremes.El Toro and Pancho are both annoying and neither have interesting or appealing personalities. Their behaviour is not much different to what was seen before in their previous cartoons. 'Two Jumps and a Chump' does very little with Crazylegs, who here is bland and is too much of a dimwit. Their conflict is neither entertaining or suspenseful. Tom Holland and Don Diamond voice too broadly with badly stereotypical accents, as ever, and Larry D. Mann sounds as if he had just gotten out of bed still yawning.However, there are good things. The cartoon does pick up towards the end, which is easily the best part and has finally the energy that was so lacking elsewhere. Crazylegs' final line raises the cartoon's biggest laugh.Doug Goodwin's, composer regular for DePatie-Freleng Enterprises' output, music score fits well, is colourful and has a nice character. The main theme is an upbeat winner. If there was one aspect that was consistently good throughout the series, it was the music.Overall, didn't do much for me sadly. 4/10.
IMDB:tt0153372