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A Gummi In A Gilded Cage
Reviewed: 07/07/2007
Gummiberry....Gummiberry juice...
This episode is one of my favorites because of one reason: Sunni getting what she deserves for being so untalented. So; let's rant on...
This episode is written by Jymn Magon and Diane Dixon. The story was edited by Jymn Magon. Diane was a co-producer for the TV series Nurses, Sabrina The Teenage Witch and wrote episodes for The Legend of Prince Valiant and Mary-Kate & Ashley in Action! I'm sure there are lots of people vomiting after hearing that last one. Personally; I don't really care about that cartoon one way or other. So let's just move on....
It is a nice change of pace from the shorts now; isn't it?! We begin in the air (overlooking the forest) as a duck is forced to scatter because here comes a....Gruffi?! Flying?! Oh; If you don't see the obvious dream sequence commencing here than you are hopeless and shouldn't really be reading my rants. It's still funny to watch though so I'll forgive the writers for this one as Gruffi realizes that he's going to crash into the snow birds and that allows gravity to realize that someone is violating said laws and Gruffi free falls towards his death...HEE HEE! And of course he snaps out of it as he fell out of his seat in the middle of something Sunni was doing. Another sign of a teenybopper: She can put people to sleep and have whacked out dreams such as that one. Still; seeing Gruffi flat on his face was pretty funny so Sunni is at least not trying to bury anyone ala Drake Mallard. Grammi and Tummi are also sitting on each side of Gruffi's stupidity so to speak. Gruffi claims that he was dreaming...of getting away from Sunni no doubt. Gruffi then goes into buyer remorse about flying and leaves the room in a panic state. Wow; Sunni's sleeping powers actually made Gruffi look like a girl. There might be hope for this girl..or not. Sunni has her hands clasped together asking from Grammi's approval in the negative sense (Was I that bad?). Personally; I think she has cured lack of sleep if you asked me.
Grammi actually likes the song which probably makes Sunni a teenybopper diva now. If you thought one label was bad enough; how about two bad labels?! Grammi blows off Gruffi because he has a tin ear and could sleep during an avalanche. I guess he also has a tinfoil hat to go along with it due to that panic state. Tummi states the Gruffi's tired because he's been working on a flying machine that Zummi found. Which logically leads to Gruffi walking in the hallways to proclaim that it is an omen and it is law. The LAW OF GRUFFI proclaims that TMS' animation of him walking (up the stairs and through the rock cave) is unintentionally funny and that in itself is a bad omen. We head to the airplane (which will be used as a template for the TaleSpin series no doubt) as Zummi is reading the RED BOOK OF LIES. Oh geez; not you too Zummi Gummi?! I thought I told everyone that reading the Liberal Red Book was nothing but trouble (The Canadian political party; not the American label for those who want to know. Although one probably leads to another as they say.). Gruffi takes out the mallet and proclaims that Gummi's are not meant to fly. THEY WERE MEANT TO BOUNCE! HAHA!
Gruffi tries to MURDER the TALESPIN TEMPLATE OF DEATH (BOO! HISS!) and Zummi manages to steal the mallet which allows Gruffi to do the Loop-De-Loop for Only Fifteen Cents and take a wussy bump onto the ground. Neat spot; bad bump. Gruffi doesn't want to work on it anymore as Cubbi pops out to defend TaleSpin's honor (sort of). Good for you; future Molly Cunningham. Gruffi blows it off because Gummi's aren't meant to fly. Like homosexuals aren't meant to marry; right you um...theocratic right?! Suuuurrreee....I suggest you get Gruffi away from that machine right now because he will get really ticked off now if he's going to be afraid of flying. Zummi shows that Gruffi is completely wrong by showing him the red book which shows the flying machine driven by Gummi Bears. Looks like something out of a Winnie The Pooh book. Memo to Zummi: Using the red book only give ammunition to Gruffi's point. Cubbi pops up again like a rejected whack-a-mole um mole and has found where the fuel goes. Zummi is pleased; but Cubbi isn't because Zummi forgot to tell him what the fuel is and it should be in the red book. And the Crack Disney Captions team forgot to add remember to the script apparently.
Cubbi ponders that question while Zummi looks at the red book to find it. However; Gruffi closes the book on him and tells him to look up fool instead. I knew that green hat of is was made of tinfoil. And of course; Gruffi is pounding the message down our throats that Gummi weren't meant to fly like Kirk Cameron after finding out that a Playboy Bunny is on his popular show. I think you can figure out what I'm talking about here. Zummi and Gruffi figure that blowing off each other worked for Cubbi and Sunni (From Can I Keep Him?) so they go there. Were too! Were not! Were too! Were not! STOP ACTING LIKE MAN CHILDREN YOU.. UMMM ..MAN CHILDREN! Cubbi figures out the solution which is the VIAL OF ROIDED JUICE...Finally; a use where it doesn't involve a human body and mixed messages...Oh wait; they drink that stuff and put it in their gas tanks?! WHAT MESSAGE ARE WE SENDING HERE?! He pours the VIAL OF ROIDED JUICE into the gas tank (which looks like taffy by TMS) and the engines begin to roar like a bad kitten on that ROIDED JUICE which is FOWL!
The smoke piles out (AND THAT'S BAD FOR YOUR HEALTH AND MOVIE RATING!) and the propellers chun so perfectly that Disney should be ashamed of themselves for not making a good enough deal with TMS to do TaleSpin as the WINDBAG OF DOOM blows the windbags away..literally. I love Cubbi as that shut those two man children up and of course they roll around and take the most wussy bumps this side of Getting Antsy as Zummi cheers for victory over the devious and narrow minded Gummi of them all. You know who I'm talking to. Zummi carries Cubbi out of the basket and tells him to go to Grammi to get lots of VIALS OF ROIDED JUICE as Cubbi runs to the kitchen. Zummi's stuttering is absolutely funny to listen to as Gruffi blows off the victory like the narrow minded being that he is. I didn't know such a dream would make me want to pound him for trying to MURDER a future TaleSpin relic. Gruffi kicks the basket's butt and it responds by buzzing like a mad plane. Oh you ticked it off Gruffi and you will pay for that some enough I hope. Gruffi runs away like the coward that he is...Just like most theocrats...
We head into the forest where Tummi, Grammi and Sunni are picking Gummi Bears and Grammi tells Sunni that she can go inside if she's tired now. WHAT?! An honest good day of work might actually make her look less of a teenybopper; you should work her like a dog Grammi. Sunni is too excited to be tired as she sings her new #1 hit single for Elimination Idol on the Cartoon World Cup: Gummiberry...Gummiberry Juice. Man; that song just rocks my socks off. Despite all the bad things I have said about Sunni thus far; I can say that her singing is awesome. If only that wasn't her only talent. She is still figuring out the lyrics out at this point as Tummi carries the berry cart away as two pairs of eyes look on from a tree. I suspect that they are the villains of this episode if they are being like peeping toms. Sunni continues to sing to my heart's delight as he manages to do her chores at the same time which is an incredible feat for her. Sunni continues to pick berries in the field as the shadow beckons over her and does nothing.
Must be the suspension of disbelief as Tummi carts away with the basket of Gummi Berry goodies as Grammi calls for both bears. Sunni grabs the orange berry basket away from the scene as the shadow flies overhead. She puts her basket into the cart as Tummi tries to leave the scene because he wants to wrap it up with bow & ribbon. Oh I get it HAHA! Too funny as Grammi blows him off. You asked for that joke Grammi. Sunni giggles on that spot as Tummi blows her off in perfect fashion. Sunni then exchanges her notes with Tummi while Tummi pushes the cart. Sunni wants to be a famous singer which is apporos because that's her only true talent at this point other than being pushy and trying to put down Cubbi Gummi because he rules so much. We head the overhead shot animation which means that someone is watching them like peeping toms again. They are really go at the art of not being seen because they have made nothing but shadows at this point. We then go to the DARK CORNERS OF THE TREE with the eyes as it squawks (which is proof that it is a bird or a vulture) saying that Sunni is the one who gets the cage. Geez; this is getting a little too close to home there guys. There are two of them talking about how very soon they will cage Sunni Gummi who walks away with Tummi from the scene. I have nothing on their voices yet so I'll just move on for now...
We head into the dark spooky cave for a while with absolutely no animation to speak of. It's even like Hanna Barbera for goodness sake as we head to the double doors as Will Ryan is complaining about getting a new song bird as we go to the shot of the perch as he proclaims that the last songbird died due to being abused to death in order to sing. There must be some Anti-Hollywood message that they are sending about divas and singing...Nah! Disney would NEVER stoop to that low. Would they?! The Zuu's proclaim that he will have it soon enough and the ZUU KING blows them off. The ZUU KING is Will Ryan in case you didn't notice. I'll reveal the joke later on. He points at the glided cage and he wants Sunni in there by morning. What? No idle threat about MURDERING them?! That's pretty lame as morning strikes again as we get the faraway shot of Gummi Glenn as Tummi and Sunni are heading to the GREAT GUMMI BERRY PATCH with the cart as they complain to Gruffi to help them. Gruffi of course blows it off as the two bears walk away from him because they need one more batch of Gummi Berry Juice to fuel the airplane. Gruffi pounds the complaint down pat again as Cubbi yells out and swings like Tarzan.
He misplaces his direction and takes a nasty spill into Gruffi and they takes some decent bumps onto the ground. Cubbi is doing the spot Kit would later steal for Plunder and Lightning Part One (except he was kneeling instead of sitting). See; Cubbi's spot was blown because the knot came untied. Gruffi blows him off; and Cubbi apologizes. You cannot reason with a theocrat Cubbi; but Gruffi recoils and decides to grab him gently and show him how to tie a proper knot. Which he proceeds to do awfully well by the way (Thanks TMS) and gives us the educational portion of the episode. Personally; I like it this way as long as it's not contrived. Otherwise; it looks like a Mister T bookend and no one wants to see that EVER AGAIN. Cubbi thanks him as Gruffi climbs down and then Gruffi walks away blowing him off under his breath. That's a no-no Gruffi as Cubbi gets back at him by swinging like Tarzan and misses Gruffi by about six inches and then Gruffi foolishly gets up. That allows Cubbi to swing back and nail him hard in the kisser; allowing Gruffi to roll around taking some really good bumps along the way. Good spot there TMS as Cubbi apologizes while Gruffi stands up. Gruffi's face is like: He's mocking me. I don't blame him because Cubbi sounded like he did that spot on purpose. Then again; I love Cubbi Gummi so screw you Gruffi!
Back to the GREAT GUMMI BERRY PATCH as Sunni and Tummi unload the baskets. Well; Sunni is at least which means that she has her working elf boots on for this episode. See; she wants to sing for kings which means she still trying to get her foot into the human's life. The biggest dream of a teenybopper: Sing for a king. Sunni goes over to the baskets (with mostly red berries which is a really bad sign) as the ZUU SHADOW OF DOOM beckons over. She tries to grab the basket and she is grabbed off-screen (sort of) and screaming pretty well. Unwin should be ashamed of himself after Sunni outclassed him on that spot. We finally get to see the ZUU'S (two of them) carrying Sunni away by her hips and flying away from Tummi. Now that is really practicing the art of not being seen there. Now for the joke: I know that they are Carpies. However; real Harpies are mostly human with bird legs (and talons) and wings. These look like anthro birds so I decided on a more suitable name: Zuu. Zuu is a word used in the Final Fantasy World for a giant bird anthro. Final Fantasy Mystic Quest's second last boss is called a Zuu in Japanese (In recent games; SquareEnix is using Zuu; but they spell it with one u instead of two); which in America was called a Zuh. Besides; Zuu is much easier to type, so there you go.
Sunni screams for help and Tummi is SHOCKED. Well; when you got two huge ZUU's you tend to be scared to death there too. Tummi then puts on his brave face and runs after Sunni. This is not going to end well for him; I just know it. Tummi uncorks the VIAL OF ROIDED JUICE and it's BOUNCY BOUNCE TIME! Tummi bounces up and grabs ZUU #1 by the legs and they splat to the ground which releases Sunni. Sadly; Sunni doesn't bounce at all which would have been funny to see. Tummi grabs Sunni and bounces away. Why is Sunni knocked out?! The bump was way too wussy for her to go to sleep. Must be her singing backfiring on her. ZUU #2 (I think) pushes Tummi and he takes a decent bump with his face on the ground which dislodges Sunni and she takes a bigger bump on his face to the ground. OUCH! Oh; wait, Sunni woke up and ZUU #2 grabs Sunni and the chase begins again for Tummi. More bouncing and flying as Tummi grabs the black feather. Remember that for later on as ZUU #2 squawks loudly; but hangs on to Sunni as Tummi screams out (NOOOOOOO!) and lands right on top of the tree with a MAN-SIZED bump. It was a cherry tree in case you didn't notice. Sunni screams out again for help (and yelling at the Zuu's to let go) as the ZUU'S fly away with her to end the segment a little more than seven minutes in. Again; the writers were still learning how to pace the show to the commercial breaks since by the time TaleSpin comes around the first segment would end about 11 minutes in....
Note #1: My computer locked up and I was forced to reset. I thought I lost half of my stuff; but OpenOffice recovered my document easily and without any lost of quality. Now that is service with a smile!
After the commercial break; we return to the airplane as Cubbi pours more VIALS OF ROIDED JUICE into the gas tank as Tummi explains the black feather to the babyfaces. Tummi points to the vulture like birds in the red book and Zummi reads on to find out that they are Carpies. I think Zuu is cooler; but since this is 1985 a play on Harpies it is. They are violent of course which Grammi shudders to think what those awful beasts could do to Sunni. Call me a sick freak if you like; but I'm loving this arrangement here. Tummi is feeling sorry for failing and Grammi assures him that it was all right. I hope you mean that he did the right thing for a change. Zummi reads the red book further and it reveals that they live atop Carpie Mountain. Gruffi wants to leave the sane way; but Zummi, Grammi and Tummi get into the flying machine because it's the coolest way. Of course; it's the plot device for the episode and Gruffi wants none of it. See; bouncing up is THE GUMMI WAY!
Did Zummi's fear of heights decide to leave to Gruffi's body like Whisker's Brain did in one episode or what?! Zummi disagrees because the mountain is too steep just to amuse me and Zummi also calls Cubbi Stubbi. So that's where Ted got that abomination from! Cubbi pulls the lever (WRONG LEVER!) and the flying machine starts sputtering smoke (AND THAT'S BAD FOR YOUR HEALTH AND MOVIE RATING!) and the machine does it's sequence to start up using recycled footage from the previous scene. Tummi goes over and unhooks the rope which has the loop still intact and I predict right here that Gruffi's ankle get snagged in about thirty seconds from now. Gruffi calls flying “certifiably insane”. TMS's animation of Gruffi is “certifiably insane” just like his ranting. Grammi rightfully blows him off because Sunni needs them. Oh; I don't think she needs anyone..Wink! Wink! Nudge! Nudge! Cubbi leans on the other lever (WRONG LEVER!) and the flying machine revs up faster and flies away as Grammi and Tummi run towards it. WHAT?! I can understand Tummi; but wasn't Grammi INSIDE the flying machine when she blew Gruffi off? That's Logic Break #1 for the episode as Gruffi storms stage left complaining that he will NEVER fly and that is that...And of course the LASSO OF BANE TO ALL ACTION CARTOON EVERWHERE snags his ankle on the rebound. Damn; I'm good as the flying machine flies away from the dock leaving Tummi and Grammi behind. Bad CONTINIUTY there TMS as we get the thrilling flying sequence as the flying machine approaches the rock gorge.
Cubbi wants help on the flying machine as Zummi goes to the red book and tells him to pull back. It's pull up Zummi; but whatever. Cubbi pulls back on the lever (WRONG LEVER!) and the flying machine does a hyperbole up into the sky and somehow Gruffi doesn't get MURDERED by the rockface. It's just not right without that spot occurring. More flying as Zummi is panicking and Grammi is yelling that they got Gruffi. Oh; so now you are worried about his safety NOW Grammi. Cubbi pulls back on the lever (WRONG LEVER!) as we get an awesome first person view of the gorge. Now do you see why TMS should have done TaleSpin episodes? I know it's 17 years too late; but I cannot help but wonder. Zummi tells Cubbi to push it forward. Cubbi pushes the lever (WRONG LEVER!) forward and it lands into the obvious water area so that Gruffi can take funny bumps off of it. Gruffi's acting is really top-notch here as Cubbi pulls back on the lever (WRONG LEVER!) and they go back into the sky. Cubbi's loving the view as Zummi's fear of heights has returned from a long vacation.
Cubbi points out the shadow and Zummi notices Gruffi's shadow which of course invokes the LIGHTBLUB OF BLOODY CLAIRTY for the first time in the series. Gruffi does a Grade-S (The highest ranking in all of Japan.) acting job as Cubbi and Zummi pull the rope in as Gruffi twirls around and tells them to look out as he sees a massive snow peak; which forces Zummi and Cubbi to let go and he's forced to hang around upside down. Too funny and he'll get a chill and a coma at this point. Beautiful rebound animation on Gruffi from TMS there as Cubbi pulls the lever (WRONG LEVER!) and that allows the flying machine to go over the peak (even though it looked like it was in no real danger) and that allows Gruffi to get blasted with the snow. Too funny as Cubbi and Zummi finally pull him up into the basket after a funny sequence there. Cubbi invokes the backhand to clean the cobwebs . Watch it Cubbi; you can take an eye out with that! Gruffi is shivering like a freezer as I'm laughing my butt off after seeing Gruffi get his worse nightmare which came to life. Zummi wonders how he got into this mess and Gruffi blows it off while doing his annoying pose in a funny way as the flying machine flies away towards it's destination....Well; the writers knew how to waste three minutes of my time; that's for sure.
...Which logically leads us to Carpie ZUU Mountain which the animators added a diary whipped cloud halo on top and it looks like a dried out phallic symbol. Then again; it's Disney, what did you expect?! We head into the cave as ZUU #1 asks if the ZUU King (who looks awfully ugly and has the crown and the ROYAL STICK IN THE MUD!) is pleased with his new songbird. ZUU King isn't amused as he whacks the glided cage (with Sunni in it) harshly as Sunni takes a good bump with it. OUCH! Now that is really going to get good now. Sunni complains that she's basically being mistreated (singing for hours). Oh come on; you wanted to sing for kings and this is a good place as any to start. ZUU KING rightfully blows that off to strike a blow for authority and torture freaks everywhere. Sunni does the classic my friends will be here to kick your candy butt speech and it sounds really stupid. ZUU King gleefully blows that off for me as he strikes the bottom of the glided cage with the ROYAL STICK IN THE MUD and Sunni is forced to sing AGAINST HER OWN WILL! TOTAL MARKUP CITY COMMENCING! Now this is a fitting torture for her as we return to the sky in the flying machine as Zummi asks if Gruffi is feeling better and Gruffi blows him off as apparently; the snow has frozen him into that annoying pose now.
Cubbi asks if they are near Carpie mountain and Zummi checks the red book to say that they are near. Well; they are actually at Carpie Mountain which means the red book is now the RED BOOK OF HALF-TRUTHS. The flying machine spirals up the mountain to the very top (which is shaped like a bad ice cream cone.) The flying machine gets to the top of the mountain as Cubbi proclaims that they couldn't get up bouncing with a full lake of ROIDED JUICE. Gruffi admits that he was wrong (HUH?!); but he doesn't want them to rub it in. Rub it in! Rub it in! Gruffi is annoying! Rub it in! Sorry folks; I'm getting a FOE flashback there as the flying machine starts to rumble. Something is wrong with the engine as Zummi decides to check the ROIDED JUICE GAUGE OF DISAPPEARANCE ( and it lives up to it's name as the clouds steals the juice gauge. HEE HEE!) Zummi does the where it go spot to amuse me.
That was just too funny to watch as they go through the clouds and of course the ZUU'S (five of them now!) appear OUT OF NOWHERE! Now there's a quality ambush. They also have rope to tie up their victims as ZUU #1 pulls the pin from the flying machine as Gruffi falls flat on his face trying to stop it. The second pin gets pulled which allows the basket to swing down in half to the left as the GANG OF GUMMI WAY crashes into each other on the lower basket side. This is going to be terrible for them. The waterwheel gets destroyed of course along with the engine by ZUU #2 and ZUU #3. The flying machine goes into a tailspin (BWHAHAHAHAHA!) as the ZUU'S shake hands and laughs like the evildoers that they are. Cubbi, Zummi and Gruffi scream from the top of their lungs as they free fall to their certain death to end the segment 12 minutes in. Huh?!
After the commercial break; we REPEAT THE SPOT ala anime as the flying machine crashes into the top of the mountain with a MAN-SIZED bump as they are in the thorn forest. Cubbi pulls himself out of the carnage as the violin music beckons as if Cubbi was just dying from cancer. Oh my God! I thought Disney was above pulling off Mister T sound cues?! Gruffi teases lapsing back into character; but he states that they weren't meant to crash. Everyone is all right; with barely enough dust to sneeze at. Like you are going to see major injuries in DTVA...Until Kit gets nailed of course. Zummi is thankful that they landed in some bushes which Gruffi nicely blows off while removing the thorn from his butt. Zummi wonders how they will get back down again since they have no flying machine to spare now as Cubbi panics. Gruffi doesn't care because Sunni is first on the list and the babyfaces agrees with him as they run towards the edge. Cubbi and Zummi nearly bump Gruffi OVER THE EDGE (Darn! I was hoping he would go over the edge.) as they do the Scooby Doo look down spot. Zummi sees star and he is out due to his fear of heights. Nice to see Zummi's character flaw is still working well now. Gruffi's probably upset because he has to carry him. Better than Cubbi getting that spot right Kit?!
Gruffi orders Zummi to fix the flying machine as Cubbi gives him the book and Zummi sells it like he is drunk as he walks over to the flying machine. Well; that takes care of one possible plot hole as Gruffi accesses the situation and sees a ledge as Cubbi tries to get Gruffi to listen; but Gruffi ignores him. Well; now you know how Sunni feels as Gruffi ties the rope around the dead tree as Cubbi unsuccessfully tries to get Gruffi to listen to him for goodness knows what reason and Gruffi ignores him. Gruffi swings down the rope and nearly gets MURDERED in the process against the mountain as he falls down and takes a MAN-SIZED bounce. However; Cubbi grabs him and pulls him to safety on a ledge. Gruffi wonders how Cubbi got down there and Cubbi of course points out that there is a trail that leads down the mountain. Too funny as Gruffi screws himself with his tough as nail attitude..AGAIN! They slide against the mountainside for a while as Cubbi proclaims that they are here to rescue Sunni. They manage to slide towards a cave and they enter it with little effort. Okay; that was a little bit scary there as they walk down the scary cave as Cubbi wonders how they will find Sunni.
When you hear her being forced to sing; then you'll know it's her..and right on cue you can hear her sing as Gruffi and Cubbi run towards the doors which are partially open. Those ZUU'S are not too bright after all as the singing continues to my enjoyment as Sunni's voice is rasping under pressure while the ZUU KING wants more. TOTAL MARKUP CITY! Cubbi wants to jump in to save her; but Gruffi stops him. Good for you Gruffi; let's let Sunni's torment last a bit longer so I can really enjoy her for a change from her whiny shrill voice. Gruffi and Cubbi slowly go to the doors as the ZUU'S OF DOOM and the ZUU KING are fast asleep as Sunni's voice is just getting MURDERED at this point. This is just AWESOME. Sunni motions over to the babyfaces as she notices them (well; this has to end at some point). Gruffi and Cubbi do the tip-toe spot. Since Hanna Barbera still has the rights to the foley; the twinkletoe sound effect is not in evidence sadly. Gruffi trips over as the ZUU KING opens his eyes which forces Sunni to sing again in his ear to put him asleep. Gruffi and Cubbi go behind the throne as Sunni waves to them. Gruffi has the MIMI JOKE ZONE PLAN figured out at that hole to Sunni's right is the key to get her out.
Works for me as Cubbi climbs up (and he is good at climbing) to the niche which is now what Sony and Microsoft feel now after getting about 20 Disruption arrows fired in their butts by Nintendo. Gruffi gives Cubbi the tree branch (How did that get in there?) as Cubbi has a hard time hanging on to the thing. Gruffi climbs up to the niche and they pull up the tree branch and they manage with a considerable amount of effort get it to work as a bridge across to the glided cage. Now that's teamwork! Cubbi decides to get the glory of getting Sunni out of the cage since he's the most over in the series. Cubbi balances himself and walks across towards the cage as he grabs onto the little rope as Gruffi wonders if he learned his lessons on knots. Cubbi does it with ease and the cage opens allowing Sunni and Cubbi to hug each other. That spot would be recycled into much more meaningful spots with Baloo & Kit, Rebecca and Molly later on; but it's still a pretty sweet spot to see.
Now for the hard part: Getting out of the cave without being seen. I suspect the screw up will happen here. Cubbi and Sunni hold hands (It's not what you think you sick freaks!) but Sunni has problems balancing. I knew Sunni was such a teenybopper as the ZUU King nearly wakes up; but Sunni whispers the song back at him. Despite having her vocal chords nearly destroyed by hours of awesome singing; she still has enough left to whisper the song. That is just great as they made it across as she hugs Gruffi in a disturbing spot which really didn't need to be done. They exchange notes and then the ZUU'S screw the babyfaces as ZUU #1 slaps ZUU #2 off the ledge and ZUU #2 is forced to land on the branch which blocks the way. This is not so good....
We head back to the flying machine where Zummi is reading the red book. You know; the Great Gummi's sound a lot like the average instructions I get when I'm putting together a model car with crazy glue judging by Zummi's light reading there. He's having trouble reading so he decides to invoke the Lamp Lighting spell from Zummi Makes It Hot. Nice CONTINIUTY there writers. I wish it was used more nowadays. Zummi grabs the stick and..
Zummi: Warmite Tomeg Nomal!
Translation: War Might To Me Normal!
Yeah; I don't get it either...and it's supposed to be Lumight....Cumman....Dummie....Nummow! Logic Break #2 for the episode. However; to show that it was a logic break; Zummi is punished by the GUST OF WIND DANCE as the flame goes out. And Zummi sezs: D'OH! How much did Homer Simpson steal from this show?! We return inside as Gruffi proclaims that it's time to leave because daybreak is coming. Cubbi however; finds a better way out. Climb through a hole which leads to the surface. I see he's got Kit's resourcefulness too as Gruffi and Sunni follow him. He climbs up to the top of the cave which forks in tow directions and wonders which one to take. Sunni and Gruffi completely confuse him and each other on the directions. Cubbi gets to pick and he picks left and they say right. Oh this isn't going to work because that would put them back to the ZUU'S. And of course they follow and the path takes them to the ZUU'S. The babyface groans and decides to take the other direction as we return to the flying machine as Zummi Gummi continues to have problems putting back the machine together again. He's not too happy until Gruffi, Cubbi, and Sunni pop out of the bushes (which are completely out of place for this area I should note). Sunni and Zummi hug each other as Gruffi asks if Zummi got the flying machine fixed. Zummi basically acts like Wildcat on that answer as daybreak is upon thee and it looks like nothing but a oversized airfoil.
Gruffi is not impressed as well as everyone else. It looks really cool though; so it's not a total loss for Zummi. Cubbi wonders if it will work and Zummi states that the red book states that they can fly like the wind on wings (Disney's crack caption team spelled wings wind for some odd reason.). Gruffi gleefully blows Zummi off which Zummi blows him off in kind as Gruffi gets the point on all this. They agree to push it towards the edge as they do so. Zummi, Cubbi, Sunni and Gruffi get on the AIRFOIL OF SUPER SIZE and Zummi realizes that something is not right here. Gruffi blows it off in DUBBED ANIME STYLE (darn) as he has to push the thing over the edge as we return to the ZUU King's perch as he is slowly starting to wake up and bashes the glided cage which causes ZUU #1 to fall right into ZUU King's lap which officially wakes him up. I guess the entertainment for me is officially over now as ZUU King demands that the ZUU'S find him that songbird. We return to the airfoil as Gruffi agrees to push off the airfoil which leads to Sunni whining that he'll be left behind. Zummi wants to stay behind because it's his fault. Gruffi blows it off saying that he's strong enough and he'll climb down. Okay; now he's becoming a foolish bear as Cubbi hugs him in a really sick spot. It's as if he's crying on his groin as the ZUU'S squawk out and it's time to go.
Cubbi gets onto the airfoil (Kit..would...never...live..it..down..if..that..things..breaks!) and Gruffi PUTS HIS BACK INTO IT and the flying disc flies down and circles the area. The ZUU KING arrives (with about thirty ZUU'S behind him) as Gruffi feigns his bravado and courage and of course; the LASSO OF BANE TO ALL ACTION CARTOONS EVERYWHERE snags his ankle AGAIN! It's the spot that keeps on giving. ZUU King doesn't want them to escape as ZUU #1 and ZUU #2 pull on Gruffi's arms as if he was on the rack; but Gruffi makes them have a MAN-SIZED version of the meeting of the minds. Cubbi fights them off with the WOODEN SWORD OF PIN PRICKS as the ZUU'S pull onto the airfoil as they try to kill them by pushing them against the mountainside. Zummi gets off a religious reference as he tells the babyfaces to lean right and they do which allows them to do the fly into the gorge spot which causes the ZUU'S to smack right into the sides of the gorge and fall like flies.
ZUU King doesn't sell though like any good leader should and flies right through. ZUU King catches up and whacks the airfoil which causes a tailspin (BWHAHAHAHAHA!); but Zummi tells them to lean back and they spin around which allows ZUU King to be whacked from behind by the spinning Gruffi. Well; ZUU King should have known better than to laugh at his handiwork. They wrap around and ZUU King has him right where he wants him. However; Sunni grabs his crown and ZUU King wants it back. Sunni blows him off and throws the crown right into the air. DON'T CATCH IT YOU STUPID ZUU KING...Oh forget it! He caught it and takes a sick MAN-SIZED bump right into the mountainside as the airfoil goes through the hole below it! OUCH! That was painful! For ZUU King and for me! The babyfaces cheer for victory as they return to the lookout as Grammi and Tummi look on feeling relieved that Sunni is all right. Tummi of course waves at Gruffi because they are both funny now. HEE HEE!
We return inside the kitchen of Gummi Glen where Gruffi is sitting on the footstool with an arm in the sling (due to his arm getting stretched in unreasonable positions by the ZUU'S ) as Grammi is pampering him. Zummi's glad they are safe..for now since the ZUU King I suspect will be returning at some point for his revenge. Tummi puts the dishes back as he's glad Sunni is all right as Grammi puts the mummy wrap on Gruffi's head so you know he suffered serious injury. Tummi tries to sing; but Sunni stops him. Sure sign of a teenybopper: Trying to make sure the copyright is on her music so no one can sing it...Not even her...Cubbi does his storytelling which is a pack of lies but it's funny so I'll let him tell. Gruffi is at the mercy of Grammi's tight tying ways as they show the steps to Baloo and Rebecca on how to blow off each other in a funny way.
Cubbi continues to tell his story; but Grammi wants him to stop and finish tying Gruffi's bandage as Gruffi is stopped from leaving the WRAITH OF GRAMMI. Grammi walks away to dinner as Cubbi finishes his fairytale as he ties the bandage around Gruffi's ankle (due to rope burn no doubt) and the footstool. Hey; it's funny, let him be as Gruffi blows him off (BOO! HISS!). So Cubbi gets his sweet revenge on Gruffi as Gruffi tries to get up while blowing Cubbi off (Gummi's never brag) and he trips on the footstool and falls down with a MAN-SIZED bump right on his face. HEE HEE! He looks at Cubbi's handiwork and he's pleased with it as the episode ends at 21:17. Hey; it's Sunni getting her just desserts. I cannot give anything less than the full monty in good conscience. I just hope ZUU King gets his revenge because that last bump with him was pretty contrived otherwise. ***** ( 100%)
THE REVIEW LINE
In all honestly; this episode had some flaws and a few logic breaks along with a contrived ending; but the whole Torture the Sunni plot (yes; I'm a sick human being, so?) overcame all odds and this is the first perfect episode in DTVA. The subplot with Gruffi's fear of flying (in his self-serving overtone) was also really well done (despite the one logic break with Grammi) because it gave me a chance to see Gruffi take bumps like a madman. You have to be grateful to see that and still come out on top. Cubbi was Cubbi and he ruled my world; plus he got to let Sunni out of the cage. However; the focus on Sunni was done right as they focused on the one talent she could really do well and that is sing. They also exposed a fatal flaw with Sunni in that she wants to be with royalty and yet after this episode; she will be swearing that off for a while. Although; I'm sure that she's lapse back into character soon enough when she get involved with Princess Calla. The Carpie King was a pretty threatening villain until the contrived finish involving his crown and it reduced his heat as a villain. However; his henchmen were just as good; which is missing in DTVA even in it's classics. Again; good animation from TMS, and overall; this was an outstanding episode. Now the next episodes involve Tummi starting the template for Battle of the Bulge and Gruel & Unusual Punishment; along with Cavin goes into ROID RAGE for real which involves a giant. This should be interesting.
Thumbs up for this episode and I'll see you all next time.