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Little Bears Lost/Guess Who's Gumming To Dinner
Reviewed: 08/10/2007
The First Shrinking Episode of DTVA and the Gummi's screw Sunni. GET ALL THIS!
I don't need a witty retort for this one as the caption sezs it all. Let's rant now....
Little Bears Lost is teleplayed by Mark Zaslove and Guess Who's Gumming to Dinner is teleplayed by the late Bruce Talkington.
Little Bears Lost: We begin this one with the STOCK FOOTAGE OF DOOM (Gummi Glenn) and then inside Grammi's kitchen as Tummi is asking for a little honey. Does he mean the sweet natural type of honey; or his future wife..You the viewer decide! Grammi blows off that request since he ate a jar full yesterday. Again; if he's eating honey then it's time to put him back on that diet. Grammi is dealing with tap water in the sink lest anyone thinks that she was above a stereotype. And in storms the diva herself looking for a brush. Another sign of a teenybopper: Thinking about her hair above all else. I see she's gearing for for her screwing in the next episode review. Grammi of course blows it off and tells her to look under the bed. Sunni storms off blaming Cubbi (for using it as a paint scraper...AS IF!) of course because it's NEVER her fault that she lost something. Another sign of a teenybopper: Never blame yourself for losing stuff. Tummi now has a jar of food which Grammi steals from him. Maybe Tummi wants to practice for being Winnie's alter ego in the next Pooh adventure. Have you ever thought of that Grammi?! In comes Cubbi asking for his Squire Joe doll. Even in the Dark Ages; patriotism was running wild and out of control. Grammi tells him to look under the bed and then Cubbi storms out blaming Sunni for it because she wants to make her mad. Considering how devilish she has become; I don't blame Cubbi for being upset. Now Tummi wants to lick the spoon for Grammi's own sake. Didn't Tummi learn anything from What You See Is Me?!
Grammi blows her off and wants him to go away. Kind of like me hoping for Matt C. to go away after his really stupid article on Nintendo's hype machine for Metroid Prime 3. If there wasn't a Random Thoughts ban; I would have enough material to last eight Random Thought articles just on this Sustainer gamer crap alone. And of course; he comes Gruffi wanting his screwdriver because he wants a screw a human who is annoying him with it. You got to give in to your baser instinct at some point. Zummi also comes in and now he's blaming Tummi for losing it. Tummi is taken aback because he gave it back to him yesterday. Gruffi blows him off and gets right in his face. It's no small wonder why he wasn't jettisoned for one episode. Zummi proclaims that magic will solve this problem. One minute in and he's back to his original character. And he comes Sunni and Cubbi yelling at each other like a bunch of children. I go with Cubbi on this one and now everyone is arguing in lame fashion...and it's getting annoying even for me. Grammi bangs on the kettle with the wooden spoon.
I think a shut up is in order here and she didn't bite. She tries the diplomatic solution of wondering who is the real thief is and everyone yells again in lame fashion. Grammi of course yells back to shut them up; but no use. Zummi goes over and pushes Grammi out of harms way because he's the only one who doesn't have anything to steal. Or maybe he's the thief.. DUM DUM DUM!! They go into the pantry and and close the door as Gruffi gets the last word before Grammi blows them off for being mad. Must be her cooking; it would drive anyone mad at this point. See; tensions have risen to the boiling point and no one trust anyone. Didn't they trust each other to begin with? Must have missed that episode. Zummi has a MIMI JOKE ZONE PLAN in order: Find the thief by using the medallion as an detector and find the stolen good. Grammi loves the idea so Zummi takes out his SPELLS OF SATAN and chants...
Zummi: Mummake tummus proma blummen smummel lummer....
Translation: Mom Make Tum Must Promo Plum Sum Mel Bummer!
Yeah that didn't make sense even to Zummi because he's blowing off the spell. Honestly; these writers are now creating words for the sake of them now....and it's a shrinking spell because every series in DTVA must have at least one of them..and usually it sucks badly. Although TaleSpin's was due to phoning in the episode after the series was pretty much canned. Darkwing Duck is due to being a cartoon about a duck. Grammi and Zummi are now ant size. And logic break #1 for the episode beckons: They are talking like they are small despite the camera being close and personal. They should be talking in normal voices when they are close and higher voices when they are from the bears themselves. And the voice talents don't sound that high at all. Zummi needs the Great Book to find a counter spell and both he and Grammi go to the door and try to push it; but no dice. Then they start yelling at the babyfaces and of course they ignore. Surprisely; Gruffi decides to go to Tummi's closet to find the screwdriver. Tummi does Gruffi's pose and states that he has nothing to hide. Judging by his bravado; he isn't the thief. Everyone leaves as Cubbi wants Sunni's room to be searched next which Sunni blows off while pointing the finger at him.
I think Sunni is the real thief as we cut back to the door while Grammi and Zummi sit down and sulk wondering if anyone will find them. Grammi looks around and finds a mouse hole in the kitchen wall because all Dark Ages homes have at least one. Look great; until Zummi tells her that he cannot cast the counter spell without the medallion; so they run to the medallion and they to push it; but still no dice. Someone get them a prototype of Wii Fit and Wii Balance Board STAT! Grammi doesn't want to break any more bones so Zummi and Grammi go through the mouse hole and into the MOUSE CAVE OF HORRIBLE MOUSE TRAPS! They walk for a while and then they are facing an ant. Grammi gets behind Zummi because she's the stereotypical woman and Zummi threatens it in order to make it go away and it goes away. Grammi hates crawly things. She hates anything outside her zone as a character so there you go. Zummi the recalls the moral message they got from their elders: a promo involving the sticks and stones and stomping on ants. No wonder the ants turned on Drake Mallard in Getting Antsy. Zummi and Grammi were gone; so Drake was the replacement for their revenge. It doesn't make sense but that is COMEDY BABY! Zummi and Grammi walk further into the hole as Zummi recalls his childhood. See they were playmates because they were so terrible when it came to honor and being controlled by their parents. This wastes some time because we make it to the book room as they exit the mouse hole. Wow; that was quick. Then they see the Great Book of Gummi and it's time for the VIALS OF ROIDED JUICE because that is their ultimate crutch. They drink up and it's BUTT BOUNCING TIME!
They bounce up and manage to get onto the pages of the Great Book with ease. This has been a dull episode thus far. Thankfully; Zummi realizes that they need to turn forty pages underneath them to find it so we get the scene changer and we see Zummi and Grammi flipping the pages of the Great Book of Gummi. Grammi doesn't like this kind of work so another scene changer is placed to remove her swearing during this sequence I guess. Finally we cut to Zummi looking on the pages of the Great Book and finally finds the spell for enlarging after about five attempts at reading. I didn't know engoring was even a word. Now Zummi needs a feather, ink and a piece of paper which we pan over to the side of the Great Book to see Grammi carrying the white feather and a piece of paper as her dress is soaked with ink. Well a portion of it anyway. Grammi wishes she was in the Phantom Zone right about now. They put the paper down and Grammi and Zummi start writing together like two love birds having an organism while writing a sexual poetry..Or maybe not. Sadly; Zummi forgets the first word and he has to hold onto the pen while Grammi looks it up. Zummi then states that it is under the paper and Grammi lift it up allowing Zummi to trip and fall over the edge. Yeah sure; she did that unintentionally. Riiiight. Zummi is hanging on for dear life on the SEAL OF APPROVAL saying that they should memorize the spell. Considering that Zummi's memory is shot all to hell; this is a losing prospect I just know it.
We head to the dining room as Zummi and Grammi listen from below the floorboards...Oh I almost forgot; after two hours the spell cannot be reversed. Grammi yells at Zummi for that spot (including a say no evil promo from Zummi) and then the floorboards shake and they go down harder than Matt C.'s writing career. We head topside to see Tummi in the dining room with Sunni, Cubbi and Gruffi. Gruffi points the finger that Tummi stole the screwdriver because none of them other than Tummi had something stolen. Tummi then reminds Gruffi that he asked for the toolbox to put the screwdriver back. And since he did; he's not the thief. So Gruffi concludes that it was either Zummi or Grammi and storm off to find them. Now Zummi and Grammi blow off each other recalling how Grammi did her five finger discount. This is just great and not really in a good way. We cut to the store room while the medallion has been removed from the scene by the FIVE FINGER THIEF OF DOOM as Zummi and Grammi walk out of the mouse hole blowing off each other. This is really the only entertainment I have gotten out of this episode which is seeing the babyfaces blowing off each other.
Then they realize that someone took the medallion and they run towards the room and see Tummi walking away with the medallion. So they accuse Tummi as the thief. Okay; this makes some sense now since Tummi has no reason to take the medallion away. Tummi walks away as Zummi and Grammi cannot reach him. Wow; Tummi is out running two small ant bears. I never thought that would happen. Tummi goes up three stairs which delays Grammi and Zummi some more. Tummi goes into Zummi's room as Grammi isn't so sure about Tuimmi's guilt anymore; but Zummi is sure he's the thief. So we get the thrilling attempt to climb up the stairs routine. She needs a boost so Zummi gives her one..and no he's not Zidane from Final Fantasy IX; so cut it out you sick freaks!
Scene changer and we see the medallion on top of the CHEST OF DEMONS inside Zummi's room. Now even Zummi is having second thoughts as the medallion slips off the CHEST OF DEMONS and it's another footrace inside the mouse hole as they make it to a bigger opening; but now the medallion is guarded by a rat. We go to another angle and we see Squire Joe, a brush and Gruffi's screwdriver (I think!). Grammi is fed up about this situation and it's time for some muscle as the rat hisses even louder. Which allows Grammi to hide behind Zummi. What a coward?! Thank goodness for TaleSpin. Zummi then looks up and sees the saving grace to end the episode: the PRESSURE VALVE OF DESTRUCTION! Grammi volunteers because she's the fearless one...or the lying one depending on what mood I was in when doing these rants. Zummi takes out the WOODEN SWORD OF PINPRICKS from Squire Joe and charges at the rat looking angry...for about three seconds as the rat holds him off. Grammi climbs up the pipes and is having more luck in doing it. I guess the power of plot device is one that gives characters strength they didn't have or know to have. Grammi is near the valve just as the pack rat invokes the SWIPE OF PAIN to eliminate the WOODEN SWORD OF PINPRICKS from the picture.
So Zummi uses his CAPE OF EL TORO and plays bull fighting with it. Please let this episode end. Grammi looks around like a lost soul and then takes the LEAP OF FAITH! She manages to get onto the PRESSURE VALVE OF DESTRUCTION just as pack rat bites Zummi's cape out of his hands. Now you know you are screwed when THAT happens. Or maybe the pack rat hates Mexicans. Now Zummi's scared to death and cornered as Grammi unscrews the pressure valve and here comes the GREAT FLOOD OF SMALL FRIES! The pack rat is washed away as the level of the water rises. Zummi and Grammi (who bounces down) grab onto the medallion and hang on for dear life. We cut back to the kitchen as we see Sunni proclaim that they couldn't have vanished into thin air. Gruffi, Tummi and Cubbi are inside as Gruffi does is annoying pose again. Can't we go through one episode where he DOESN'T DO THAT STUPID POSE?! UUGGGGHHHH! So some crashing occurs and then some water leaks from the cupboards to show Grammi and Zummi. Tummi of course accuses them of stealing right away. Grammi wants Zummi to cast the counter spell and Zummi starts to cast quickly because we are rapidly running out of time here...
Zummi: Ummin fummees wummurd, uh Ummin? Lummarge!
Translation: Unwin funnys were murder Unwin?! Karnage!
I didn't know Zummi knew Unwin that well?! And of course they enlarge just before the episode got too boring..ERRR...run out of time. Zummi and Grammi hug each other which Gruffi blows off because they are the thieves obviously. Of course more water spills out showing the pack rat and the items he stole. Pack rat is SO BUSTED. Pack rat runs away before Gruffi thinks of MURDERING him. He's too busy noticing the screwdriver. Zummi wants everyone to apolopize...ERRR...apologize. Okay; that was cute and Grammi agrees to it. Everyone sezs I'm sorry right on cue and then laughs it off to end the episode at 21:17. I hope they are sorry for creating a dull episode. It wasn't bad or anything; just dull with some character development; but little entertainment value other than the Gummi Bears blowing each other off. Personally; I would have delayed the apology for a few seconds and then do it just to make it suspenseful; but they were running low on time anyway. Once again; another failed shrinking episode; that's three now with Ducktales still to come. I guess Rescue Rangers is the only one who can do it right for obvious reasons. ** 1/2 ( 50%)
Guess Who's Gumming To Dinner: We begin this one in the kitchen as Grammi and Sunni are making candles it looks like. Finally; Sunni is doing some work for a change. Zummi is overlooking the sacks of flour in the cupboard using the white feahter to count. They got 12 as Gruffi, Tummi and Cubbi enter with the saw and the pickaxes saying and everything is pretty much in order. Winter is about to commence as everyone is set because fall's farewell is tomorrow. Sunni the teenybopper of course ruins the occasion because she wants to invite Princess Calla over for the holidays and Gruffi blows it off because it's a Gummi holiday. Didn't he get the memo that Calla is an honor Gummi Bear or is he still in hate human mode. Grammi blows Gruffi off of course because that's her character to do so. Gruffi then submits easily and Sunni cheers up and down like a diva.
Gruffi then warns her to tell Calla that they aren't doing anything special. Sunni leaves as Grammi decides to do the old Mister T smile spot which is still as horrible as ever while Gruffi does his slightly less annoying pose. We head over to Castle Dumbwin..ERRR ..Castle Dunwyn AFTER HAPPY HOUR (at night) and I see logic break #1 for the episode as it still seems like Summer. If it is Fall; there should be no leaves on the trees..and I doubt climate change is an issue at this point of time. We cut to inside the hallways as we pan over to the statue and the midsection opens to allow Sunni to look around. I was hoping that she would get stuck in that tin can but it sadly doesn't happen. She jumps out and we cut to Princess Calla soaking her feet in a wash bowl filled of hot water (check the steam). Now there is something I SHOULD be doing after a long days work; but I have to do this rant so I'm screwed.
Sunni comes in to invite her to Fall's Farewell tomorrow and then notices that her feet are soaked. The animators don't show her feet sadly; but she's all right just a little bit tired from dealing with King Gregor's attempt to make her a true princess. Princess Calla was actually dancing in her first grand ball as she gets out of her chair and TMS somehow manages to prevent us from getting more than one second of showing her barefoot. She then takes her Snow White gown (seriously; it's looks like something out of Snow White) and starts dancing with it. Those feet are fine do you not think?! And now she dances with Sunni in a really funny spot as Sunni is hanging on for dear life of course. Of course TMS had to fully animate the scene and had no prop to cover her feet of course. Which made the BS&P decision pointless. They let go and Sunni lands on the bed while Princess Calla lands in the wash bowl using her can allowing a really realistic shot of her feet and they even allow TMS to animate her toes as well. That's why TMS rules of course. Sunni grabs a towel and gives it to her as Princess Calla wants an explanation of the holiday. So Sunni basically lies to her completely which starts at first with the it's no fancy or anything; but then contradicts herself by claiming that they decorate the place. Princess Calla wants her to explain some more; so Sunni basically makes up some more stuff as she goes along. I mean come on! She's thinking about it the whole time.
We don't get to hear the story because we are running short on time so we head to the faraway shot of Gummi Glenn as we see Grammi knitting on a love seat because she's teaching DAVE THE CLEANING BARBARIAN OF LAUGHS how to knit I guess. Which she has little love for Gruffi judging by the purple yarn she's using. Zummi is sleeping by candle light with the red book on his midsection. I guess the Liberals cut dry plan to take over Stephen Harper put him to sleep. Tummi and Cubbi are doing wood work and painting while Gruffi rests in another loveseat with his feet up. Memo to Gruffi: Flint called and he thinks his stolen spot sucks when you do it. And here comes teenybopper Sunni in the room to ruin the peace and quiet that the room was getting before she came in. Princess Calla has agreed to come and Grammi thinks it's nice. Sunni walks across the room and tells the Gummi Bears that she told Princess Calla that there will be banners and lanterns put up and everyone falls out of their chairs in shock at this revelation. Gruffi of course blows this off because they never do that stuff during the Fall's Farewell. Think of it as the Gummi version of Thanksgiving; without the overtones that usually surround a holiday. Gruffi does the annoying pose to annoy me of course as Sunni explained that she wants it to be as memorable as Calla's Grand Ball and that it's Gummi tradition.
As if Sunni had ANY respect for Gummi tradition to begin with. And people say Gruffi is the one who should have been jettisoned in the middle of Season One?! Gruffi blows off Sunni because she was mistaken. However; Zummi defends Sunni because it was Gummi tradition to decorate. They were just lazy about it. I didn't know Miss Manners was a Gummi Bear?! There's one for the surprise box. Tummi thinks laziness was what holidays are for. Hear Hear! However; Zummi stands firm and Sunni gets the RED BOOK OF MISS MANNERS which earns a kiss on the cheek from Sunni to make him blush. You old dog; the last thing we need is for you to end up a perverted scumbag. Sunni leaves to read all the dirty secrets and Grammi thinks it's a wonderful idea to spruce up the place for Princess Calla. I would change my tune if I were you once Sunni finishes reading it. Gruffi still does his annoying pose and submits to Grammi's teeth clenching. BECAUSE IT'S GUMMI TRADITION!
So we cut to the living room being decorated with the banner with Gruffi being on the ladder of course to hang the decorations while Tummi mops the floors and Zummi dusts with the red feather duster while Cubbi do nothing but stare at Michael Eisner who is still trapped in the Phantom Zone. Or maybe not as Grammi comes in with her towel to clean her hands. Gruffi comes down to blow off Grammi because she's acting like a diva. Why?! Because they are doing ALL THE WORK while she's reading a stupid book. Even Cubbi hates it. Grammi explains that Sunni went to see Princess Calla to inform her that it was going to be great..and speaking of the evil diva herself; Sunni walks into the living room with the RED BOOK OF MISS MANNERS praising the work of the babyfaces. How nice of her? NOT! She walks down the stairs and basically taunts Gruffi even though she's not trying to. I know BS&P won't allow it; but what the hell, use the freaking hammer on her head Gruffi!! Maybe she'll change into a real Gummi being who respects Gummi Tradition rather than uses it to get approval from Princess Calla. Sadly; this is Disney and Gruffi blushes like a moron.
It's not going to happen you sick freaks (including myself!) so get over it! Then Sunni proclaims that they have enough time to get out the china and silver finger bowls and of course the formal clothes. Zummi is shocked until Sunni explains that she got it all from the RED BOOK OF MISS MANNERS. I guess Reading Rainbow owns the “It's in this book!” catchphrase. Cubbi and Gruffi are not happy to hear this one and quite frankly; I don't blame them. This is Sunni the Teenybopper we are talking about. Gruffi does his annoying pose for the third time in this short no less and then Cubbi blows him off because she's only trying to impress Calla. I love real comments that aren't supposed to be real comments..which are sadly blown off by Sunni with the head butting spot to scare Cubbi. See she's doing it because....it..it...IT'S GUMMI TRADITION!
Sunni is so patronizing that it isn't funny anymore. Sunni basically tells them to do what the book says while calling Cubbi a smarty pants and runs out quickly. Gruffi blows off Zummi saying that she is a monster. Monster Diva indeed as Zummi feels a lot of remorse. That's what happens when you give a liberal book Zummi. It creates a smart ass! AND NO ONE LIKES A SMART ASS! Grammi however; doesn't mind because she's always on Sunni's side. I guess stereotypes do live together as Grammi is going to cook something real special for Princess Calla. Gruffi goes up the ladder getting off death reference #1 and blowing off Grammi's cooking of course. We head into the hallway as the diva Sunni is looking at the blueprints (and they are fowl when Sunni reads them) as we see Grammi and Tummi are trying out formal outfits.
Those outfit would make Tummi a complete tool had it not been for the fact that Tummi is just TOO FAT! Sunni goes over and demands that she know if Zummi iron the napkins and Grammi responds nicely. Sunni blows it off anyway as she checks it off. Well; it took about thirty seconds for her demeanor to change didn't it?! Now she looks like a complete jerkoff as Cubbi runs in and Sunni stops him to tell him to put on the new outfit because they only got an hour left. Cubbi tells Sunni to basically screw you (Nuts to You!) and runs off leaving Sunni to scoff at him. She is becoming a jerk way too fast. If I would have done; I would have her too nice and assertive which makes the Gummi Bear even more annoyed. Here; she is just a diva teenybopper. Oh wait; she is. Never mind what I said. Sunni wants Cubbi to stay in his room during the party and even Grammi refuses that which Sunni curses on that moment. Too bad so sad as Grammi and Sunni discuss meals and Sunni claims that Grammi will make the best meal ever while Grammi is blushing. I expect her to flush with bitterness any second now as Sunni admits that she asks Princess Calla's royal chef to fix the food! I love it when I'm right as Grammi covers Tummi's mouth in bitterness.
Tummi is about the only one who cannot be angry when it's a good time to be angry. Sunni decides to walk away to get Princess Calla and the food. Stupidity question of the episode: Does the royal chef KNOW the Gummi Bears and the writers didn't tell us?! ..and just to make her sound like a diva; she blows off the banners while leaving. Grammi has had enough as she wants Tummi to get the babyfaces as we get the scariest closeup of her face I have seen in this series as she's got a plan to screw Sunni for her little grand party scheme as the segment ends almost six and a half minutes in. Now; we are just warming up for the real fun now as Sunni is the irredeemable jerk off who's about to get her just deserts for thinking that her diva ways can get her any love for her own family....
After the commercial break; we head to the dining room as the babyfaces (in formal gear) walk in. I cannot believe Tummi managed to fit in that horrible thing?! Gruffi somehow looks like a complete tool in his outfit. Cubbi looks fine; Grammi looks great and Zummi looks like himself. Princess Calla is in her Snow White outfit while Sunni gets the green outfit that makes her look like a silly puss. Princess Calla thanks the babyfaces for the invite as Gruffi smiles with his teeth clenched because he knows the mayhem that is going to happen in the next three minutes or so. Everyone except Gruffi, Sunni and Calla are in their seats as Gruffi quickly runs to the table and rings the LITTLE BELL OF DOOM to start the Sunni screw job...ERRR..the feast. Does that make Gruffi gay or what?! Sunni and Princess Calla are at the table as Gruffi tells her to start the toast and Sunni is confused to this toast tradition. LET THE SCREW JOB COMMENCE AT 7:00 FLAT! Gruffi decides to do it for her and Gruffi starts the toast so they stand up with glasses held high and then sit back down with Sunni being a little confused the whole time; still with the glasses raised in the air. I think we know what's going to happen here as the GANG OF GUMMI WAY MINUS SUNNI throw their glasses over their shoulder and someone they don't shatter into pieces. There's screw job #1 for Sunni.
Sunni protests this outrage because they are making a mess. No Sunni Gummi they are teaching you a lesson about being an asshole. I don't use that word a lot if ever; but it needs to be said because that's what Sunni is. Princess Calla takes it rather well. Gruffi then places his foot onto the table; because it's time for some Gummi appetizers. This should be good. Gruffi proclaims that Grammi made this for a special occasion and he reveal behind hidden platter number one: PINEAPPLE FLAM-BEAR! A giant pink Gummi bear (all gummy candies are basically rubbery Jello) with sparklers and pineapple. OOOOOOOOO. Hawaiian culture. SLURP! Finally; Grammi makes something look good and sadly it melts into death. That's screwjob #2 as Princess Calla laughs on that spot while Sunni is SHOCKED AND APPALLED (in that order). I'm DYING seeing this stuff.
Cubbi then invokes screw job #3 by grabbing two tray cover and playing cymbals as the babyfaces trade places. Zummi and Grammi take Sunni and Princess Calla's hand as Cubbi plays cymbals for my pleasure. Now that's an awesome spot as the babyfaces sits down. Sunni gets the turkey leg because she's the turkey getting slaughtered here as Princess Calla wonders why they did that. The answer should be because this is AWESOME to see Sunni get screwed; but Sunni's the one answering so she stutters like Honker after Drake bullies him. Time for screw job #4 as we cut to Grammi dancing with a spoon on her nose. Her humming is so bad it's funny and the spot is funny as well. I'm enjoying this and it is made even better because Sunni is getting what she deserved. Tummi goes for screwjob #5 as he invokes the GRAPPLING FORK OF DOOM to grab Sunni's turkey leg.
Well; that was only okay since Tummi would have done that even if Sunni allowed it anyway. He calls it moby chick because apparently Dick is a swear word in DTVA land. Of course chick is hardly a nice word either. Gruffi then asks the princess if she would like her walnut cracked and Princess Calla agrees to it. Oh; this is going to hurt as Gruffi puts the walnut on the table and basically MURDERS it with the MALLET OF CRACKED NUTS! It's not the real thing where she gets nailed square in the walnuts; but it's good enough to make the point. That would be screw job #6 in case anyone was counting. Princess Calla took that awfully well as screw job #7 commences with Cubbi doing the chicken spot under the table and giving two eggs to Zummi. Zummi goes over to Princess Calla (who is smiling the entire time I should note which pretty much gives away the ending in advance.) and does his SCREWJOB EGG TRICK #8 and it cracks the DOVE OF PEACE on her head. Princess Calla loves that spot because IT'S GUMMI TRADITION! Princess Calla tries the trick on Sunni and she's left with egg on her face. HA HA! Now it's screw job #8 for real! And now Sunni is REALLY PISSED as she screams for everyone to stop. Why?! This is the best entertainment I've had in months...and now everyone is doing something to screw Sunni. Sunni demands answers and Grammi is surprised by her protests because it's all according to the RED BOOK OF MISS MANNERS.
See; Sunni failed to read the entire book. Another sign of a teenybopper: Failed to read a book from start to finish. Grammi then invokes another religious reference (I lost track because of the screw jobs) and goes over to Sunni to tell her that they will cover for her. Gruffi then tells Sunni that there is one more tradition left to do and only Sunni can do it. Sunni feels really happy to do this one so Gruffi puts the BUCKET OF ROIDED SHEBERT on the table and tells her to basically dump it on Princess Calla's head. Welcome to screwjob #10 as Sunni refuses to do it. Cubbi sezs she's got to because IT'S GUMMI TRADITION! Considering that Calla has taken this whole thing well; I don't think this is going to kill her friendship in any way. After all; getting her dress dirty is HER TRADITION to screw King Gregor. And she's ready to resign to her fate as Sunni grabs the BUCKET OF ROIDED SHERBERT as the babyfaces egg her on because IT'S GUMMI TRADITION! Sunni puts it over her head and then puts it down and sobs her heart out. Princess Calla asks if she is not her best friend as Sunni confesses and finally apologizes for what she has done while hugging Grammi. That's it?!
I would have her dumped the sherbert on Calla and then sobbed that she had enough. The best possible screwjob in the whole party and the writers wouldn't allow it?! FOR SHAME JYMN MAGON! Everyone goes back to the table as Princess Calla declares that it's time to make it simple again as everyone takes out their formal clothes and relax. Sunni isn't sure but Princess Calla is having a wonderful time because she really needed the downtime from the Grand Ball anyway. I wish Sunni wasn't so thoughtless to consider that point...Sunni is surprised as Princess Calla decides to show how to be best friends and then she dumps the BUCKET OF ROIDED SHERBERT right on Sunni's teenybopper head! I take back what I said about that blown finish spot. This is much better! TOTAL MARKUP CITY FOR THAT SPOT! Everyone laughs on it because it's the ULTIMATE GUMMI TRADITION. HA HA! Sunni teases a possible hatred for her friend; but then laughs with them as they laugh at her. Go to the far away shot of everyone laughing as the episode ends at 10:39. Now that was tons of fun as this is yet another perfect short. Because it's getting back at Sunni for thinking that backing up old traditions means you can be an asshole. ***** (100%).
THE REVIEW LINE
Two more shorts are in the books as we get a mix of quality in the episodes to end Disc Two of Volume One of Gummi Bears. Little Bears Lost was the first foray into the shrinking plot device and overall it was a dull episode with some good character development which I admit is great; but it had little entertainment value as a whole other than Zummi and Grammi blowing each other off. Even seeing Gruffi, Tummi, Sunni and Cubbi blowing off each other wasn't that good. There was nothing terrible in the episode (like The Incredible Shrinking Molly was or Getting Antsy); but there was nothing to really see other than the character development. This is the third episode using this device and all three are average or below average. I shudder to think when I see Ducktales (or Winnie The Pooh if that series ever comes out to DVD/if there was a shrinking episode to begin with), or Quack Pack (which Disney doesn't want anything to do with and therefore their episode won't be released on DVD) that they will be any better.
On the other hand; Guess Who's Gumming to Dinner was one of the best shorts I have ever seen because it involves my favorite thing in Gummi Bears: Seeing Sunni get what she deserves. I thought most of the spots where Sunni got screwed were unoriginal; but the characters performed them well. They had perfect reason to because Sunni Gummi was at her most diva worst. She was a total jerk; plain and simple, all because Zummi was foolish enough to give her that book. And I loved the finish as it allowed Sunni to get one more punishment for her crimes against the common sense and decency: A bucket of Gummi sherbert over her jackoff head. Thankfully; TMS was perfect on every spot they animated. The beginning was great too; but it pales in comparison once Sunni became a jerk. I didn't need to feel sympathy for her because he did a good job in making sure she came off as a jerk. Plus; the Gummi Bears got to do what they should have done to Sunni a long time ago because it was Gummi tradition. Princess Calla's role was also good too. One of my new favorite episodes; although that was almost a given when I read the episode summary. Plus; it started another tradition: Stories with no heels in it. Sometimes that story does work when you do it right. Like so many TaleSpin episodes later on (Her Chance to Dream. Sheepskin Deep come to mind); this short did it right.
So that ends Disc 2 of the DVD...And sixteen more episodes are in the books. So I gave nine thumbs up; six thumbs in the middle and one thumbs down. A little better than Disc one.....So.....
Thumbs in the middle pointing down for Little Bears Lost and a big thumbs up (plus a sherbert bucket over Sunni's head) for Look Who's Gumming For Dinner and I'll see you all next time.