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A Gummi By Any Other Name
Reviewed: 07/14/2007
I knew that changing names is SO EVIL!
Well; welcome to my milestone review as this will be my 100th review on the Rant Shack of Thoughts. I still have to do two more rants in order to surpass 100 rants; but whatever. And this episode is historic for the series because Princess Calla's official debut as a major babyface player begins right here. Along with the secret of the Gummi Bears being exposed to her. So let's rant on shall we....
The following episode is written by Doug Hutchinson which is his third story already; and his second full length episode I should note.
We begin at Castle Dumbwin...ERRRR....Castle Dunwyn as the servants of King Gregor are looking for Princess Calla. We know this because they wonder where she is. I believe one of the servants is Paul Winchell and the woman is June Foray. Cannot tell the second man or girl in the voice core We then head inside the castle's wall (sort of) as we see Princess Calls sliding against the castle walls trying to get away from her studies. The king naturally is furious because she cannot control her princess since she's supposed to be setting an example for her people. Considering that she is putting herself in real danger here; I don't blame her. The birds are chirping on a nest which indicates that they will blow her cover completely. Princess Calla attends to them as she is clearly in front of a window where she can be caught. She is so free...for about three seconds as King Gregor grabs her and she's inside the castle room. Well; that was pretty quick. King Gregor looks really ticked off here; as if he lost his land to some; well; Dukie. We get the always thrilling exchange of Calla saying that she is careful and Gregor talking about responsibility and all that king stuff. I'm sorry guys; it's just not cool anymore since TaleSpin's premise completely rendered these kind of exchanges in DTVA completely not cool.
Oh great; now Gregor is doing Gruffi's pose. Does Gregor know about the Gummi Bears and he's not telling anyone? I SMELL A FANFIC COMING. Calla pretty much mocks him on the “a good example for her people”. If I were Gregor; I would lock her up his finer prisons for REPEATING THE SPOT. That gets Calla really ticked off because she hates being a princess. Well; at least her acting is top notch. Gregor thinks she doesn't mean that. You know; if you weren't so pushy, maybe she would be so upset because she really doesn't have any fun..Unless she does it behind Gregor's back if you know what I mean..Wink! Wink! Nudge! Nudge! They yell at each other as Calla wants to be a peasant. Gregor hates peasants and sends Calla to her room. Calla leaves away thinking she's better off in there as she slams the door almost in Gregor's face if Gregor wasn't a hundred feet away from the door when she did that..and she gets no supper of course. Okay; that was pretty impressive acting there; but again, TaleSpin rendered it uncool when that show went into psychology to get itself over.
We head to Gummi Glenn..We know this...Ah forget it! I've got to go to Nathan Jr.'s birthday in a few hours; so I 'm trying to finish this rant as quickly as humanly possible. We go inside the living room as Sunni is dusting the vase with the featherduster on the fireplace. Careful with that thing; those pink feathers are dangerously close to sending Michael Eisner out of the Phantom Zone. She's complaining about doing her chores DUH! Zummi comes into the room as Grammi wants her to make her bed. Sunni complains that she hasn't finished dusting yet. Considering that there is so much dust in the air; maybe the Gummi's should console the Great Book of Gummi to see if they have invented the vacuum cleaner yet.
Zummi asks what is wrong while carrying his bible and closing it up. At least; I think it is a bible. Sunni blows her duties off completely. See; Sunni thinks that the babyfaces is bullying her to do chores and that she hasn't have friends her age. Considering that her real age is less than Cubbi's (I'm talking about her age of maturity; not her physical age here); I don't see why Cubbi cannot be her friend..or slave. Sunni wishes to change her life for the better. Zummi then has a MIMI JOKE ZONE PLAN in his moronic head. If that doesn't show that King Gregor is a pushy old man; than nothing will. Zummi invites Sunni into is book room. Zummi checks the Great Book of Gummi and finds the SPELL OF CHANGE....
Zummi: Chumang-Chuming Hummat-ummf! Pummair!
Translation: Change Chum Hat of Punk Air!
Hey; it works for me. HA HA! This is a lot more fun than DARKWING...DUCK trying to cut his promo when he appears. A dorky aqua green hat appears in Zummi's hand (complete with a feather of course) which officially makes Zummi a level 3 mage now. Sunni wonder what that hat is and Zummi sezs it's a changing hat. So there is our plot device for the episode right there. Sunni likes it as Zummi gives her the changing hat and Sunni returns the favor with a kiss on the cheek. Wow! That's the first one in DTVA history I do believe. More to come apparently. Sunni walks back out of Zummi's book room and into the living room as Sir Cubbi complete with WOODEN SWORD OF PIN PRICKS and cute bucket on his little pinhead which makes look like a complete tool. Cubbi wonders what that hat is and Sunni giggles as he shows it to him. CALL THE OUT OF CHARACTER DEPARTMENT! Sunni just acted like a real human being...or maybe not. Sunni then puts the green hat on her head and basically blows Zummi off because it looks awful. They both giggle as I fear for Cubbi's life if Zummi ever finds out.
Sunni goes right to the mirror and mocks Grammi because she looks like her and then she turns into Grammi (complete with magic sound effect) with a ruby stuck in her hat. Cubbi drops his bucket in shock as Sunni calls out Cubbi and she changes right into Cubbi right on cue. Cubbi grabs the hat which changes Sunni back to normal. Sunni realizes that is why it's a changing hat. Cubbi tries on the hat for size on his little pinhead and of course picks Gruffi Gummi because he's easy pickings for a laugh I guess. Cubbi does the big blow off of Gruffi while picking up a bucket. Too bad the hat doesn't do a good job of changing voices because then the hat would be beyond AWESOME. Sunni plucks the hat off of Cubbi's head (which changes him back to normal) and giggles at the sight. They are having so much fun at the adults' expense. So am I as this plot device is actually a fun one for a change. Sunni puts the hat back on and picks Grammi this time once again and pulls on Cubbi's cheek as they role play Cubbi having a ragweed cookie in a funny spot. Cubbi tells him to cut it out and he plucks the hat away from Sunni.
Notice that Cubbi and Sunni are actually getting along in this scene which means there is CONTINUITY from Can I Keep Him? The writers didn't invoke the natural lapse back into character thing until TaleSpin arrived. Cubbi puts on the hat and picks Zummi and basically mocks his dialog. I'm DYING listening to these two. And they are DYING hearing each other too as Sunni grabs the hat this time and she picks Princess Calla which is not a logic break since they met her (kind of) in The Sinister Sculptor episode. Sunni goes into the mirror and she has a MIMI JOKE ZONE PLAN cooking up. See; now that the changing hat can change her into a princess like Princess Calla; she can see what it's like to be a real princess. Cubbi is confused; but he's forced to tag along with Sunni. I don't like where this is going...for their safety; not for my entertainment....Despite Sunni's teenybopper image; she is certainly acting out of character for this episode that's for sure.
We head outside as the apple cart (filled with apples) and other peasants of Castle Dumbwin..ERRR.Castle Dunwyn enter the castle. However; behind the bushes out of sight is Dukie (complete with a new set of boots) and Toadie trying to hatch their latest MIMI JOKE ZONE PLAN to take over Castle Dunwyn. See; Dukie and Toadie dress up as peasants while Dukie calls himself a genius who has surpassed himself. Don Karnage would surpass him in the “That's so freaking vain” category in TaleSpin so it wasn't that big of a feat Dukie. Dukie tells them to wait in that spot when they get their guest back. The yellow ogre doesn't get it so Dukie nearly crushes his nose in a funny spot for punishment. Yellow ogre confesses that it is Princess Calla who's going to be kidnapped. Ah; the old Bowser trick on Princess Peach. It always works..unless you are a Disney character. I'm sure that anime fans will point out and say that there is no kidnapping in anime; but really that's a lie and they know it.
There's lot of kidnapping in anime as there is lots of violence, language and sex. I think kidnapping is the least of animation's worries at this point. And Dukie calls the yellow ogre oatmeal brains of course just to show Don Karnage how it's done. Toadie and Dukie leave as we head inside to the marketplace as we see Cavin looking around for stuff to poison Sir Tuxford. Okay; he's not. Can't I have a little fun at Lazybones expense?! Cavin walks around and then has a meeting of the minds with Princess Calla. And it wasn't as the water cooler; since the water cooler would be the over flooding moat outside the castle. Cavin notices that it's Princess Calla; and Calla tries to shut him up by running away from the public.
Cavin states that she cannot run away because she's royalty as the awesome force of Calla's hand disallows Cavin to let go of him. Calla wants to be a peasant and wants Cavin to help her. I want to go one episode without the crack Disney Captions teams omitting words from the original script of this series for crying out loud. Is their hearing really that bad?! Cavin was blushing on that spot as Cavin proclaims that he has duties to perform. Calla blows that off because his real duty in life is to teach her to be a peasant. I didn't know Calla wanted to be a slave to King Gregor so badly. Okay; King Gregor is not a slave driver. Cavin groans as he is forced to resign to his fate of taking royal commands from a spunky princess. I guess Calla got out of her room the same way as she normally does so there's no logic break there.
We head outside the castle behind the bushes as Sunni (in Princess Calla mode) and Cubbi as Cubbi has a plan: Become a pet beat for the princess. Cubbi goes over to the mud puddle which was conveniently placed behind them and Cubbi basically strips himself bare naked as a jaybird! OH MY GOD! Are the Disney writers insane?! This is like I'm committing a criminal offense here! UUGGGHHHH! This is the most intentional fan service I have ever seen! And he's only seven years old! Okay; I'm kidding; but come on! The kid just stripped his clothes off right in front of 6-12 years which is Disney's target audience for this animated series. This would be the first major risk Disney ever did in DTVA. While many characters lose their pants; no one stripped naked until Cubbi did just that. Kit teased it in Plunder and Lightning Part Two and Baloo did it for real in Vowel Play and the TaleSpin gang nearly did it in My Fair Baloo later on. Cubbi jumps into the mud puddle and covers himself with a good enough layer of mud like a hog in the sun. Sunni and Cubbi walk right towards the castle gates.
Apparently; Sunni tied a rope around Cubbi's neck by the time as they are at the castle gates. A knight with a lance greets her and asks what is the matter; but allows her into the courtyard away. Sunni and Cubbi walk on in without any incident as Sunni could get use to this. They are dense if they didn't notice that her voice tone is different. Maybe Calla was better off as Katie Leigh since then the illusion of being Princess Calla would have been better pulled off. We head outside as Princess Calla's bad acting of being attacked by a wolf shows that only a dog want to get on her case. Even Cavin doesn't buy it so you know that Princess Calla's acting is lame on this exchange. Calla blows him off for being so pushy; so Cavin decides to sell and does a worse job in acting than Calla. Cavin will never get a job in cinema; so he should stick to being a knight after all. Calla runs over and wonders what is over the next hill and Cavin sezs it's just another hill which earns him the stare from Calla. Cavin reluctantly corrects himself as a mountain full of dragons. Calla is so happy as she runs away from the castle even more and Cavin is forced to follow her. We head inside the dining room as Fake Calla and Muddy Cubbi walk in.
Cubbi then starts to run towards the table; but Fake Calla stops her. OH MY GOD! Disney's finally using Hanna Barbera's running sound effect on that spot. Sadly; Sunni nearly blows her cover because she said Grammi and then changes into her. Sunni then corrects herself and changes back into Calla. They walk further to the dining table and of course they start eating all the food much to the disdain of the slaves of Gregor..ERRR...peasants of Gregor. Of course; they don't know how to use silverware; so they eat with their hands. James Barber would make a killing on that spot; so blame them. They notice Calla and Fake Calla sezs I'm the princess while acting as drunk as humanly possible. Too freakin funny as Sir Tuxford arrives with the ambassador. His name?! I don't know; Sir Tuxford notices the messy Fake Calla and states that she is as graceful as a greyhound. I wonder how drunk Sir Tuxford is to say that since Fake Calla's face is an absolute mess. Thankfully; she gets the LIGHTBLUB OF BLOODY CLAIRTY and notices Ambassador Drivally as Sir Tuxford present him to her. They are a dense pair until Fake Calla wants to shake hands with him (her hand is a complete mess from eating with her bare hands).
Geez; you think he would have noticed since they were eating from the table prematurely?! Sir Tuxford takes Fake Calla away and wipes her face with the white cloth. Drivally (sadly; no voice talent research on him and I cannot tell his voice anyway) notices Cubbi is eating the cheese and that's enough for Sir Tuxford to call on the guard to sic him. Geez; a small pet bear and Tuxford goes nuts?! He is a barbarian of the worst kind. He needs Cavin's kindness more than Cavin needs knight training. Cubbi does manage to run away from the dining area (complete with dish shattering) as Fake Calla calls them out not to hurt him. Fake Calla runs away from Sir Tuxford as Lazybones calls her out. Geez; just run and grab her lazybones. I'm sure Drivally can clean himself up.
We head into the store room as two knights (one looks like Unwin Sr.) tied up and their clothes have been stolen as Dukie and Toadie practice the fine art of Locke stealing. Dukie and Toadie are now bakers and of course this starts an annual tradition of characters being fooled by disguises that would not fool even a six year old. Dukie sezs that this should get them straight into Calla's room. Speaking of Peasant Calla; we head outside as it is beginning to rain and thunder. Geez; the weather in this region changes by the hour just like in Cape Suzette. Must be a Jymn Magon forte I guess. Princess Calla complains that he is cold, wet and starving as she does the Gruffi pose to annoy me. Cavin gleefully blows her off for me as Calla admits that she wants to go home..although she'll try it again someday soon. Cavin feels relived so she offers her a shortcut through the woods to return to Castle Dumbwin … ERRR....Castle Dunwyn.
We head inside Princess Calla's room as Fake Calla and Pet Cubbi walk inside and close the door on the guards...Apparently; Fake Calla admits that she has had just about enough of this life. Sadly; she said Cubbi and Cubbi does the Gruffi pose to tell her to change into Calla again. Sunni does and they both want to go home now because princess life is a chore. However; King Gregor arrives so Pet Cubbi is forced to hide in the basket. Fake Calla addresses him formally and King Gregor comes in looking surprised at the formality. Fake Calla claims she's no longer upset at him which is a lie; but since Sunni is saying it and doesn't know about Real Calla's feelings it's understandable. Gregor and Fake Calla exchange notes as Gregor sits on the basket top which looks so unstable that he's going to squish Cubbi into jam at this point. Gregor claims that he would never hurt Calla which is true in the physical sense I guess.
Fake Calla and Gregor hug each other as Fake Calla claims that the real Calla loves him too. That's a lie if I ever heard one as we head to the rainy forest outside as Calla and Cavin are nearing home. However; they go through the bushes and run into the ogres. Bad move there Cavin as Cavin and Call try to run away; but the ogres grab them. Princess Calla of course blows her cover as the green ogre sniffs her much to the disdain of Cavin not to say anything. Should have told her that about five minutes ago. Calla protests this outrage; but green ogre covers her mouth as the ogres claim victory for the heels. WOW! The ogres aren't stupid after all. Maybe Dukie has hope after all. Or maybe not as they take Cavin and Call back to Drekmore. We return to inside Princess Calla's room as Pet Cubbi is still having trouble with the top of the basket. I didn't know King Gregor's special talent was as a butt sealer. Fake Calla tries to open it; but another knock on the door beckons and Fake Calla is forced to answer it. And of course; it's Dukie and Toadie with the sack wanting to talk to Princess Calla about dinner.
Pet Cubbi wants him to answer it because it's the last attempt to eat real food before going back to Grammi's cooking. Fake Calla foolishly sells Cubbi's request and goes to the door to answer it. She opens the door and of course; Fake Calla is screwed as Dukie lunges at her and scoops up Princess Calla with the sacks as Calla is unable to respond. Dukie and Toadie storm out at once which shows how vain Don Karnage really is doesn't it?! Pet Cubbi does manage to get free from the basket who heard the whole thing and decides it's time to get the other Gummis as the segment ends almost 11 minutes in. Remember that this was his fault that Sunni got kidnapped. Sure; Sunni wanted to be a princess; but it was Cubbi who wanted one last real meal before leaving the castle.
After the commercial break; we head back to Castle Drekmore as the two ogres with Cavin and Real Calla inside their sack make it inside. They throw Calla and Cavin out of the sack and tell an orange and yellow ogre to throw them in prison until Dukie comes back. I think that's the only time they say duke in a serious matter. Cavin states that the princess should be locked up in a royal tower and Princess Calla agrees to it. The ogres decide to put Calla in the royal tower; while putting Cavin in the dungeon. Nice going Cavin as Calla pleads for them to change their minds since she doesn't want to be separated. Now normally; this would be political correctness gone a rye; but it's Cavin's fault that he suggested the princess be locked up in a tower; so screw the purists! We return to Gummi Glenn's table as Cubbi explains the whole situation to the rest of the Gummi Bears. Gruffi blows off Sunni's hopes and dreams which earns a slap on the table and blow off from Grammi. Grammi states it's time to rescue Sunni and the rest sell it like the slaves they are.
Well; that was quick as we return to Drekmore's drawbridge as Dukie and Toadie arrive inside. The yellow and orange ogre (with spear) state that the ogres that deserted him long ago have arrived. Dukie orders them to bring those traitors to him at once..or the rack is in their future I guess. The drawbridge closes up as Fake Calla is thrown from the sackand she takes a decent bump onto the ground. Dukie offers greeting and then gives her a prison as a room of course. The ogres are confused of this since they locked her up once already; but they sell since she probably escaped. They don't suspect a thing as they grab Fake Calla (with Fake Calla struggling) and take her to the tower. The two ogres who locked up Cavin and Real Calla return to salute their master and get their reward for capturing Calla before he did while Dukie flings his hairy porno-tache like Oil-Can Harry. That's a no-no you ogre scumbags as Dukie give them a reward in the dungeon chained up ala Grubby and Gimmick from Teddy Ruxpin which would come about three years later. They don't like that reward of the door slamming either it should note. We head to the royal tower as Fake Calla is thrown inside and takes a wussy bump in the process of course. The door slams shut as Fake Calla dust herself off and admits that her MIMI JOKE ZONE plan was a failure.
I wish characters would admit that as much as Real Calla wakes up from her slumber on the flour sacks and realizes that she's looking at the splitting image of herself. This should be good as Real Calla gets up and let the blow off of each other begin. Sunni is losing this battle fast as she runs off all the people she knows and changing form with each of them by the second. Too funny as Calla is SHOCKED. Sunni blows her off; which changes her into an ogre. Which shocks her even more. Sunni decides to fess up and she takes the hat off to reveal that she is a Gummi Bear. Calla is surprised because they are supposed to be fairy tales. Sunni blows it off because they hide a lot which earns them both a giggle from each other. I love that spot; it's so charming and sweet. So we head to the dungeon as Cavin (who is not in the same cell as the chained up ogres; now wouldn't that be an interesting angle) opens up the trapdoor and hops right in to escape holding his noses. I guess there is more than a moral sewer down there where he is going as we head outside of Castle Drekmore as the wagon arrives at the drawbridge while the Gummi Bears hide behind the pathway and Gruffi see this as the way in.
They climb onto the wagon while successfully practicing the art of not being seen or heard. The ogres allow the yellow ogre on the wagon to enter without any further incident. He asks for the drawbridge to open and the ogres sell as we get that thrilling spot. Oh wait; the HOUNDS OF HELL on leaches almost throw the wagon overboard as the Gummi Bears hang on for dear life. However; the dogs calm down and the yellow ogre proceeds with Gummi Bears in tow without further incident. The drawbridge closes up as the wagon stops and the Gummi Bears (minus Sunni of course) scatter away in order to hide and not be seen. They do a good job of that.
They run into a stone room where Gruffi lays down the plan: Grammi leads a group to the tower while Gruffi leads a group to the dungeon. Fine by me as we see Cavin pop up the steel trapdoor and gets out of the smelly sewer and practices the fine art of sliding against walls and not being seen. He sees the tower and decides to climb up it with the brick walls. Wow; Cavin is really modest since I don't think even Kit could do this without slipping. He makes it up about halfway and unintentionally throws a brick right on top of the orange ogre's (with spear) pinhead. Orange ogre looks around; but sees nothing...AND THE ROCK SEZS NOTHING. I didn't know the rock had that kind of effect on him since Cavin was in his clear line of sight. Logic Break #1 for the episode 14 minutes in.
More climbing and wind howling as Gruffi, Zummi and Cubbi walk carefully into the dungeon as they see an orange ogre (with spear. How many CLONES OF ABOMINATION does Dukie have?) with the keys. So the Gummi's practice the fine art of stealing as Gruffi and Zummi tip toe forward (without twinkle toe sound effect of course) as Cubbi steals the key which almost earns him a whack to the face by the orange ogre. Cubbi dodges it though and runs away. We head to the prison doors as Cubbi, Zummi and Gruffi open the prison doors and find nothing..AND THE ROCK SEZS NOTHING! However; some ogres are groaning so Zummi, Gruffi and Cubbi open the steel trapdoor and head into the sewers. Gruffi hates the sewers and getting eaten by an ogre would be better off. So we head to the tower as Princess Calla notices a small ledge below that would get them to an unlocked room inside. Sunni doesn't like the idea since it's too narrow; however, Princess Calla insists because she's use to it as the wind howls. Sunni and Calla slowly slide against the wall as we head to the ground level of the tower where an ogre is guarding the place of course. I see a tiny flaw in Princess Calla's plan right there as Tummi has a plan to take care of the guard and Grammi blows off the thought that Tummi would ever come up with a plan. Well; his plan to screw Dukie worked before; until he fell asleep at the wheel so to speak so I'm interested to hear his plan here.
Tummi suggests bribing his with a turkey leg. Grammi doesn't approve of that plan. However; Dukie arrives and orders the orange ogre to open the door up. The ogre sells and the door is flung wide open so Grammi and Tummi run like hell and get inside behind Dukie before the door slams shut. I thought it opened from the right side; but it was from the left side which is the ogre's blind spot so there's no logic break there. Dukie goes up the spiral staircase until he's out of sight as Calla and Sunni come out of their hiding place and run down the stairs. Okay; other than getting out of the actual tower; this plan is working. Grammi notices Calla and hides using the apron as the power of her arms struggle backwards whacks Tummi down the stairs and he takes some really good bumps in the process. Tummi tells her to ignore them as they are pigments of her imagination. Too funny and even better since Tummi didn't do the contrived pulling out rainbow spot that Spongeguard...I mean Spongebob would drive to the ground. Sunni assures them that Calla is harmless and Calla greets her by telling one of Sunni's red letter lies to her (She's a good cook).
Grammi blushes and recoils as she accepts the fact that there was really no avoiding fate now with her. Gruffi's not going to like this because avoiding humans is THE GUMMI WAY! Cavin manages to climb all the way to the tower window while Sunni and Princess Calla were kept in for about five minutes. Dukie enters the room and does his usual greeting before getting the LIGHTBULB OF BLOODY CLAIRTY and calls for the ogre guards again. Two ogres enter wonder what the problem is and Dukie calls it a big problem because Calla is missing. However; Cavin enters inside the window and Cavin is officially screwed as the segment ends right there 16 minutes in. Ahh; the writers FINALLY got the hang of this timing stuff. Although Cavin's appearance right there were a wee bit contrived if I do say so myself.
After the commercial break; Cavin seems to be screwed as Dukie orders them to seize him. However; Cavin does the under legs spot again and escapes from the tower room. Well; the smart ogres are back in character with the rest of reality. Whew that was close. I thought that the ogres would be too smart and then turn on our coolness of Dukie. Dukie slaps himself and then orders the ogres to go after him. Cavin runs down the spiral staircase and almost spins Tummi around in the process as he runs past the GANG OF GUMMI WAY. Calla notices him and they follow as Cavin slams the door right into the orange ogre's face almost breaking the ogre's nose in the process. OUCH! That was a sick bump on such a fragile area. Kit should be used to it by now. Sadly; orange ogre gets his nose completely broken by the babyfaces slamming the door right in his face. DOUBLE OUCH! And he gets MURDERED the same way when Dukie does it! That is just awesome as the orange ogre is knocked out cold. These were MAN-SIZED bumps to the door. Dukie sounds the alarms of the ogres are on the loose to grab the princess and to get those Gummi Bears of course. Gruffi, Zummi and Cubbi crawl out of the sewers as Cubbi wants a bath.
A dark SHADOW OF DOOM comes up from behind them ready to capture them and get the gold to be rich! Oh wait; wrong cartoon as Zummi notices someone sneaking up on them. So much for practicing the art of not being seen there Cavin. You know it's Cavin sneaking up and of course they jump in and notice that it's Cavin with a candlestick containing a candlestick. Cavin and the other babyfaces exchange notes on all the confusion as the ogres arrive with weapons in tow. The Gummi's and Cavin manage to hide behind a doorway to each side though as the ogres run past. Yeap; they are back to normal. The remaining Gummi forces (plus Calla) run into the creepy dungeon as they hide inside a room filled with cleaning stuff. I'm sure DAVE THE CLEANING BARBARIAN OF LAUGHS would be proud and happy to blow their cover if he was ever with them. Then Sunni has a MIMI JOKE ZONE PLAN and it involves the hat. Orange ogre manages to figure out that they are hiding inside the cleaning area. I think DAVE THE CLEANING BARBARIAN OF LAUGHS told him that just to annoy me. Thankfully; Sunni successfully disguises herself as an ogre as he grabs Calla, Tummi and Grammi and tells them to go run to Dukie.
The ogres tease thinking that her cover is going to be blown (funny voice); but the yellow ogre just runs to tell Dukie anyway. More running outside as Cavin, Gruffi, Zummi and Cubbi run to the storage room near the drawbridge and Gruffi tells Cavin to distract the princess when she gets here. Ummm..Gruffi?! It's already too late to try the escape clause anyway. Oh well; it's not a logic break since he doesn't know; but it's fun to mock him anyway. The Gummi's hide as Princess Calla manages to make it as the orange ogre (Sunni is guarding her). Of course Cavin; doesn't know that so he pulls her into cold storage. Calla and Cavin exchanges pleasure thoughts until Cubbi sneezes and basically blows everyone's cover in perfect sequence as Gruffi screws up his escapes by slipping on apples. The orange ogre turns into Sunni and Cavin's attempt to hide him is thwarted as Calla sees Cubbi and Gruffi slide out of cold storage. Thankfully; Sunni tells Cavin that they know about her which Grammi chimes in to confirm that...and there is the official confirmation of Calla's first encounter with the Gummi Bears. I'm sure Gruffi's really happy to see that..NOT! Sadly; the green ogre notices them and it's escape time. There's no time to lower the drawbridge so Calla has a plan so he grabs the hat and changes into Dukie. However; the voice sucks so Zummi casts the SPELL OF CHANGE again:
Zummi: Vomoice...ammotummer...lomow!
Translation: Voice auto tuner low now!
Now that one made more sense as Dukie's voice is now higher. Gruffi blows off the blown spell as that was pretty funny to listen to. Zummi undoes it as the ogres get closer. Now you would think that the ogres would have noticed that it's not Dukie but then again; they are as stupid as Drake so there you go. Everyone scatters as Gruffi calls her one brave little girl; while Calla distracts Igthorn. Dukie arrives with ogres in tow and Sunni stops Zummi. Why?! To change Dukie's voice to make it higher. Zummi agrees and casts the HIGH PITCH SPELL OF SATAN and it works as Real Dukie's voice is now a funny chipmunk blowing on helium. Too funny as Fake Dukie blows him off. Oooo....this is getting good. The ogres are confused as hell; which is fitting because they are REALLY STUPID. Zummi pulls the lever (WRONG LEVER!) and that allows the drawbridge sequence to commence again in reverse. But it's too strong so Cavin decides to go to the Gummi Berry Juice because it wouldn't be a Gummi Bear episode without the roids to save them. Dukie and Fake Dukie do the meeting of the minds without bumping into each other as they tell Toadie to decide real from fake. Toadie suggest that they do something mean and Real Dukie accepts it.
You are so screwed Princess Calla since you don't have a mean bone..Oh wait; there was Unwin from the last episode; my mistake. Cavin drinks up and apparently it's only a sip because the VIAL OF ROIDED JUICE is still completely full. Bad animation mistake there TMS. Cavin goes to the GEARS OF WAR as Zummi pulls the lever (WRONG LEVER! I think) as Cavin pulls on the GEARS OF WAR which opens the drawbridge. Fake Dukie offers Real Dukie to go first. So Real Dukie sells by picking three ogres and tells them to run right into the wall and keep going until he tells them to stop. The ogres foolishly run and take a MAN-SIZED bump into the wall which knocks them out. Real Dukie tells them to stop about two seconds afterward which is really EVIL. Fake Dukie is impressed as he attends to his goatee while Cavin continues pushing the gears and of course the juice wears off. You know you are screwed when THAT happens. He cannot hang on and the drawbridge gets destroyed of course taking MAN-SIZED bumps before smashing into pieces and falling into the pit below. Fake Dukie decides to blow her cover and they run away into a room while Real Dukie runs after them. Then Real Dukie manages to squeeze right into the room as the door seals shut by Fake Dukie and grab onto Sunni's elf boots (stripping them off her feet in the process) and grabbing Sunni by her tunic. That was an awesome spot there as Fake Dukie locks the door.
Real Dukie wants to know where the Princess is as Calla takes the hat off and sneaks behind Dukie and puts it on Dukie's head. Dukie than makes the mistake of saying Princess Calla and changes to Fake Calla as Dukie is screwed completely. Sunni manages to get Fake Calla to let go (through the power of suggestion) as somehow; the animators manage to magically get Sunni's elf boot back onto her feet again. Everyone except Fake Calla leaves through the emergency exit door as Fake Call unlocks the door and tells the entering ogres to Bring Him Those Gummi Bears in which he changes to Sunni and the ogres grab Fake Sunni in a neat spot by piling on to her as the hat somehow gets into their hands and they tear it apart. I think Dukie is officially back to normal minus the voice of course. More running from the babyfaces as they make it to the steel trapdoor which Cavin opens and everyone hops in except for Gruffi and Cavin because Gruffi doesn't want any part of those moral sewers and does his annoying pose.
Thankfully; Cavin grabs him from behind after an annoying speech and Gruffi is screwed of course. Gruffi and Cavin hop in as yellow ogre gets his head stuck in the trapdoor of smells which allows the babyfaces to slide down the slide which leads right out of Drekmore and into the moat as they dive into them. Tummi does a funny spot by grabbing a fish out of Gruffi's shirt (which will likely be his dinner for the evening knowing him.) and they wave at Dukie as he is standing there with his ogres angry as hell. The animation of Dukie is so choppy that it is funny when he raises his fist in madness. And that is all for the nightmare as...
We return to Gummi Glenn as Sunni and Grammi show Calla around and ask her if she would like to stay for breakfast. Calla thinks it's great; but she must return to Dunwyn before Gregor gets paranoid...ERR ....Before the castle wakes up to notice she is gone. Tummi offers to eat her breakfast and Calla doesn't mind one bit. Zummi thanks her for saving them from Dukie which she did and deserves excellent props for it. Zummi officially declares Princess Calla as part of the family now and Calla is honored. Gruffi sits on the blue chair as he blows the whole thing off because this is equal to selling tickets to Gummi Glenn. Grammi responds at first by talking nicely and then she basically blows him off by telling him to put a sock in it. The other Gummi's agree with her and Gruffi is screwed big time. Get use to it Gruffi; but thankfully, Princess Calla would be the last one to officially be part of the family as Gruffi sulks at the thought as the episode ends at 21:20. Wow! Two perfect episodes now?! And Sunni is involved directly in both of them?! I must be getting soft here.. ***** ( 100%)
THE REVIEW LINE
This was the first important episode in the series and it delivered with very few minor mistakes that were not worth nick picking. For some reason; Sunni Gummi finally didn't sound so teeny boppy in this one and actually looked like the mature girl that Chris Barat thought she would be. Maybe the writers finally decided to stop making her sound so annoying and if so that is a good decision on their part because I enjoyed her more when Princess Calla was around. Maybe Princess Calla has that effect on Gummi Bears. I don't know. Everything seemed to click in this episode as the timing was where it should be in a DTVA series and everyone performed their parts perfectly. Even Zummi's spell casting was funny and I was having fun seeing everyone screw everyone else for that changing hat. A few mistakes from TMS; but they were too minor. And it wouldn't be a great episode without mentioning the first major risk DTVA took by having Cubbi strip naked and roll in the mud. I'm sure a lot of parent groups were up in arms over that spot. I don't know if it was cut in Toon Disney/Disney Channel releases (since it's been years since I last show this series); but it is in the DVD set though. This would be the second perfect episode for DTVA and next up is the next two shorts: Loopy Go Home and A-Hunting We Will Go. Another episode involving Cubbi and pets which means Can I Keep Him? Round two is upon us....So....
Thumbs way up for this episode and I'll see you all next time.