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Once More, The Crimson Avenger
Reviewed: 08/06/2011
This Is Your Last Impression.....
So we end the marathon of Gummi Bear episodes with the final saga of the Crimson Avenger plot. Well; this is as good as anything; although the last Crimson Avenger story wasn't so hot. So let's rant on shall we....?
This episode is written by Duane Capizzi. The animation is done by Walt Disney Animation Japan.
We begin this one inside a village as we pan over to see a little kid with a red cape and a wooden stick as he is cosplaying the Crimson Avenger; even though he doesn't have the Zorro hat to match that. Wait; so CA has a papercut attack? Really? The cosplayer ruin a marble game being played by two kids his name who blow him off in kind. We find out that his name is Milton. I know that I once said that R.J. Williams was his voice; but it's not. Milton is voiced by Aeryk Egan who started with cameos in Rags to Riches and Family Ties in 1987 and then Madhouse as C.K, Flatliners as Young Nelson and Book of Love as Peanut in 1990. Plus he was Warren Butcher/Berger in Brooklyn Bridge. Gummi Bears is his only DTVA appearance. He has 34 credits to his resume. Demon Island as Larry and Providence in 2002 are his final appearances. Kid #1 does his Gruffi pose and Kid #2 claims that there is no such thing as a Crimson Avenger. Milton blows them off and then Milton's mother comes out and she has really good blond hair for a peasant (June Foray) as she gets on his case on not getting that sack of sugar from the marketplace. Oh and Milton is wearing glasses by the way when he takes the mask off as he claims that it does exist. Mom doesn't care as long as he gets the sugar back before nightfall and Milton runs off stage left as the kids mock him again. Milton blows them off in kind.
So we head to the marketplace as it's AFTER HAPPY HOUR (after dark) as he tries to open the door; but it's locked. So Milton pulls on the door harshly and it flings open as a nightgown man with a red cape yells that he has been robbed. Milton drops on the ground and has a Velma flashback. For those who don't know; Velma got a lot of spots where she would have to find her glasses on the ground after they dropped from her eyes. We then see a horse and wagon gallop away as the man yells that they have stolen his sugar. Then we cut to the roof as we see the Crimson Avenger in the flesh. Ah; I see Cubbi has screwed Gruffi good from the last episode. Good for Cubbi too. It's time to swing into action as CA knocks over some boxes beside the horse in which the power of suggestion scares them. Heh. Cubbi swings to the other side and demands that they surrender the sugar. So one of them throws a bag of sugar right in the kisser of Cubbi and since Cubbi weighs less than a bag of sugar he falls back on impact. We discover that the two henchmen are French and has stereotypical French faces wearing a red tunic and a blue tunic. One is Corey Burton; the other is Frank Welker.
The heels bail stage right as Cubbi manages to jump down onto the ground and calls them out. He drinks the vial of roided juice and IT'S BUTT BOUNCING TIME barely 90 seconds in. Cubbi then notices that the horses are going to squash Milton so he tackles Milton away from the horse and Milton takes a decent bump into the boxes. Milton protests this outrage; but CA gleefully retorts for me before bouncing away. Milton puts his glasses on the rebound and sees the cape of the CA and then is excited and runs off to tell everyone who would listen. So we head back to Gummi Glenn as Grammi is asking where he has been and Cubbi claims that he get held up. Grammi blows it off because she was going to teach Cubbi and Sunni how to make Marblenut Cake or something that is at least more appealing to their tastes than most of Grammi's cooking anyway. Sunni is stirring in the kitchen as Grammi was generous enough to whip the egg yolks for him and now it's time for him to add the cornstarch as she gives him the bowl and the box of cornstarch. Cubbi is not amused as he mixes in too much cornstarch and Grammi doesn't like it because too much would make them harder than Gruffi's head. I don't think that is possible Grammi as Cubbi tips the bowl over and it's like harden cement on Grammi's feet. HAHA! No male on female contact? What no male on female contact?
Grammi hops around like Gruffi on a bad day as Sunni blows him off and Cubbi apologizes. Grammi is holding her foot while sitting down as we have to start all over again. Cubbi is clearly too tired to continue as he opens the pantry and the eggs are on top of the shelf. Grammi wants to get them instead; but Cubbi climbs up anyway and if you cannot guess what happens next; you have no business reading this rant. Damn; I'm so good as Sunni laughs at his expense. I see Sunni is getting the full amount of pleasure in this episode. At least I have mellowed out with Sunni in recent episodes; so a little mockery from her isn't all that bad. Grammi joins in with the laughing and Cubbi storms out blushing proclaiming that they wouldn't laugh if they knew he was the Crimson Avenger. Wait; I thought they already....Oh; never mind.
So we head to a water wheel mill as we hear a really bad voice asking why there was a small problem. We head inside as Henchmen #1 (the guy with the green tunic) lining the place with bags of sugar while he explains that a certain Crimson Avenger tried to interfere. The boss of doom blows them off as we see in the shadows a French Chef with a drumstick for a ladle. He blows them off because he's not the Little Cheese; it's because he's the Big Cheese. In French he's Le Grande Formage and he's voiced by the late Edmund Gilbert himself! This is odd; because if Milton was voiced by R.J. Williams; it would be the third time that combo existed, albeit in a cameo role. Man; he's big as he so disgustingly points out. The henchmen beg for mercy as Big Cheese (no relation to Seymour Big Cheese from Samurai Pizza Cats) uses the dullest thin sword ever to cut the sugar open as he has big Krackpotkin plans. And he demands no more interference or the henchmen get slain as the SHADOW OF DOOM demands. Ooookkkkaaaayyyy; whatever sir.
So we head to the Gummi Bear kitchen as Grammi and Sunni are scrubbing the floor while Gruffi fixes the door. Gruffi actually tells them that laughing at Cubbi wasn't a good idea. Grammi claims that she couldn't help herself and Gruffi blows it off as a lack of self control BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Projection much there Gruffo? Anyhow; Cubbi returns with a basket of eggs from the store room and Sunni mocks Cubbi's scramble egg skills. Cubbi counters with the CHEAP CHEEKS OF HEAT because he's not amused. Sunni shows him a pink apron and now we have gone way too far for Cubbi's liking as Sunni distracts him while he walks in. Grammi tries to warn him about the conveniently placed soap on the ground; but Cubbi is too distracted by Sunni; so he steps on it and....you guessed it. At least we know who to blame on THAT one. Hint: She's the one who can cook. Gruffi does save the eggs in the basket though as Cubbi has a bucket over his head and he's all wet. Heh.
Cubbi has the curly bubble hair and I have to admit that is too funny; so sorry Cubbi as the GANG OF GUMMI WAY laugh him out of the door. Cubbi is not amused and he storms off stage right. See; Gruffi WAS projecting after all. So Cubbi goes to his room; opens the closet and brings out the Crimson Avenger outfit (How many does he make?) as he wants some action. So we head to a fence near a tree as we pan west to Cubbi in a tree wondering if there is some action around. Cubbi hears some cows in distress and then notices two henchmen stealing cows on their backs. Apparently; the henchmen have good eyes; because somehow they notice the Crimson Avenger right away despite the cows in the way. Logic break #1 for the episode. So we segue to Milton's room as Milton's mother tucks Milton in for the night. She is grateful for Milton to see his hero; but it's way past his bedtime as she gives him the kiss..and then the cows moo as we see the heels chased by the CA in the background. Milton is excited to point out that his hero is here; but Milton's mother is too dense to turn around in time to see him anyway. Mother blows out the candle and claims CA wants him asleep anyway. Mother leaves as Milton puts the glasses on and runs out of the window in is Pjs. Oh goody. So the heels are about 100 feet from the river boat with two cows on them. The henchmen call it a ferry and the cows stupid. So the CA gets in front of them to block on behalf of cow intelligence the world over.
CA demands that the cows are surrendered to him; but the heels no sell. So Cubbi backs them up with six inches of tempered wood. Yes; because somehow a wooden sword is going to invoke fear other than fear of splinters. Anyhow; Cubbi's cape is fluttering and it's red; so the conveniently placed bull behind the tree. Oh goody; it's time for Lemon Pio to make another appearance after the Aussie Stereotype buried his ass good. Milton runs in to warn Cubbi; but Cubbi ignores him. Lemon Pio breaks through the fence and it's the SCOOBY DOO CHASE SEQUENCE THE LEMON PIO EDITION~! I don't expect Capizzi to make up to Eric Lewald's gaffe of not having the finish involving lemons in that Rescue Rangers episode; but it would be nice as a token spot. Lemon Pio chases CA up a tree as he realizes that wearing a cape isn't such a hot idea as the heels row away with the cows blowing CA off. Cubbi is not happy of being laughed at as Milton kneels onto a rock and tells him that he'll get them yet. He even recalls the CA making Dukie eat his hat which is logic break #2 for the episode since Dukie doesn't have a hat. It would be funny though if he did.
Cubbi paces on the branch waxing about the old times with Milton as the bull continues to pace below the tree as we return to the mill of doom as we pan over to the stolen sugar, cornstarch and the milk from cow as Mr. Cheese takes an account check. Cheese pets the cow's head as he only needs one ingredient to complete his recipe as the henchmen are huddled together complaining about the Crimson Avenger again and Cheese is PISSED off as he grabs the henchmen. He is going to crush the Crimson Avenger himself as the lights go dark and his eyes are only shown. Cue evil laugh and we end the segment eight and a half minutes in. Whatever Cheese; you are still not cool.
After the commercial break; we head to the village as Milton is following Cubbi who is happy the bull is gone. Milton wants some more stories as he climbs into his room; but Cubbi has to go. Before he leaves though; he thanks Milton for helping him and Milton responds in kind. Sadly; we hear a peasant in the background yelling because someone is stealing the eggs as we cut to a far shot of a farm as we head to outside the chicken coop as the chicken flies out and both henchmen come out with a basket of eggs. Henchmen #1 proclaims that this is easier than candy from an infant. And then they get the LASSO OF BANE TO ALL ACTION CARTOONS EVERYWHERE. The Crimson Avenger is on the roof as he jumps down and blows them off for laughing at him. Then we see the Big Cheese appear from the shadows of the Egg Wagon as he's dressed like the Crimson Avenger, only in green. Okay; he's trying, I'll give him that. He brings out the dull epee known as the cheese slicer. You call that a cheese slicer sir? That thing doesn't look like it can cut soft butter; let alone soft cheese. CA brings out the sword with no name (nor heat) as we en grade as Milton brings his friends from behind the barn to prove that the CA does exist. Cubbi dodges and gets on the fence (HA!) and asks if he can “fence”. Cheese then jumps on the fence which somehow breaks all logic and reason by breaking and see sawing Cubbi into the air. Oh yeah; that was not contrived in the very least, no siree. CA gets dropped as Kid #1 (the kid with dark brown hair and purple hat) blows Milton off.
Milton defends CA as he is backed up and Cubbi gets drowned in eggs. OUCH! That's three times now that Cubbi has had the eggs screw him. The egg yolks blind him as Cubbi's mask comes off (TOUCHE indeed!) as Milton protests this level of unfairness. Milton; he's a heel. Heels don't play fair. Kid #2 claims that he has egg on his face; which would have been funny if he said that BEFORE the mask came off. Mockery ensues as Cubbi runs away with the cape over his face (but not his eyes sadly) as the kids minus Milton are more content with just laughing their asses off; then exposing CA. Milton pleads for him to come back; but no dice as we head to Gummi Glenn inside the living room as Cubbi burns his Crimson Avenger outfit to complete the humliation. Oh wait; he's wearing a daisy chain apron; that's worse as he proclaims that he'll have lots of time to cook. Okay; this is just a wee bit contrived to my liking that Cubbi would give up so easily WITHOUT Gruffi pissing in his ear. Anyhow; we head to the mill as we get the worst parody of singing ever from Cheese who is stirring up his ingredients in the bowl on the sky shot. The singing sucks; although his cooking rich quick scheme is working at least. The henchmen are milking the cow on the pan shot (I'm sure the Moral Guardians got wise over the use of cows in this one too) as they cut a promo of not having milk chocolate without the milk. Which would have been fine as a pun; if they had stolen chocolate alcohol. I wonder if this is the Gummi Bear's version of Chocolate Chips; without the zombie musqutios.
They bring the buckets of milk over to Mr. Cheese and he pours it into the bowl and then brings out the coco powder...and HOLY CRAP! The Hershey label IS ON the box! Well; half of it anyway. How out of sync can you get?! More French words that didn't get the French speakers to watch this show as Big Cheese wants to see the fruits of their labor as the henchmen start up the AUTOMATIC MACHINE OF DOOM and Cheese apparently pours the mixture into something as we steam and puff our way to the heelish version of How It's Made. He grabs one of the circle chocolates and paints it gold proclaiming that his latest invention is chocolate coins. Okay; what?! That's heelish?! Just to create something cool to sell? He flicks it into the air and that segues into Cubbi flipping the cookie into the air and it lands in his mouth to chew on. He stirring more mixture as the cookies are piling up on two plates. Sunni comes in wondering if he has made enough cookies for one day and Cubbi doesn't seem to care at all. This is what happens when eggs get splattered on your face three times and get laughed at as a result.
So we head to the living room as Grammi is knitting and Sunni is warming her hands at the fireplace. Sunni is worried about Cubbi not being himself as Grammi has something to cheer him up. Cubbi then walks in with a pile of cookies stack so high that cookies are tumbling down on the floor. Grammi then shows her latest knitting work to Cubbi which is the Crimson Avenger costume. So she does KNOW about the CA which contradicts Cubbi claiming that they didn't know. Cubbi is in shock and he throws the stack of cookies and runs run out of the room. Grammi cannot believe this as she goes to Cubbi's room as Cubbi is visibly shaken and crying on the bed with the pillow over his head. Grammi consoles her as Cubbi doesn't like to made a fool of by anyone. Grammi doesn't think he's a fool and needs to believe in himself. Grammi gives him a spool of red yarn and wants him to return it to Princess Calla in Castle Dumbwin...ERRR...I mean Dunwynn. Cubbi sulks out still feeling bad as he swings the rope in his room and no segue happens.
So we head to Castle Dumbwin in the morning as we see Milton getting dragged into the marketplace by his mother; while continuing to proclaims that the Crimson Avenger must return to get the crooks. Mother tells him to settle down since it's tax day and Gregor needs all the help he can get to keep the kingdom running. So we cut to an alleyway as the Big Cheese is wearing peasant gear and has removed the mustache as he rubs his hands to get ready to sell....something. The henchmen has also changed clothes as they are wearing browner colors now. Okay this makes sense in a way. Big Cheese goes to a person selling vases and such and the man drops on his ass on recoil of Big Cheese's presence. Big Cheese is now named Mr. Commondier as he's here to maintain the integrity of the Dumbwin treasury. The noblemen pawn shop guy has a medallion around his neck. Big Cheese claims to be part of the tax committee as the nobleman has a sack of gold coins plain in view and sparkly. Oh swell. Big Cheese reminds the Dumbwin denizen that they take pride in the treasury as the denizen recoils on cue. Big Cheese wants an exchange of old dirty coins that he has into sparkly new (chocolate) coins that the Big Cheese has. The denizen checks the money calling it not dirty and the henchmen pour chocolate powder all over him and the coins. I wondered what use they would be.
The denizen protests this outrage as Big Cheese puts the sack of chocolate coins beside it and the Dumbwin denizen lives up to it's castle name as he takes the chocolate coins and gives the real ones to Big Cheese. Big Cheese goes over to the Gruffi posed henchmen and shows off the spoils as calling it easier than chocolate pie. So we fade to black to turn Michael Eisner on and return to the stage as Lazybones is collecting the taxes like a generous Sheriff of Nottingham. So we see the denizen from earlier pouring the gold coins into the CHEST OF DEMONS as Lazybones calls these the cleanest coins ever. So we scene change to various denizens getting ripped off by Big Cheese and his goons. We then see Big Cheese talking about the integrity of the treasury to Milton's mother and she's buying it hook, line and stinker near the cafe. Milton has the Gruffi pose on and is not amused. He apparently has seen that windbag before. Umm; you're confusing him with Drake Mallard son; Drake's a duck, not a human. Then the denizens realize that the chocolate is melting as they think it's the golden coins. UH OH! I see Big Cheese forgot the tiny flaw in his Krackpotkin plan of chocolate melting. Anyhow; he apparently steals Milton Mother's sack in the confusion and runs off; but the cheese slicer of dullness bounces to the ground. He grabs him and basically blows his cover to Milton since Big Cheese called it his cheese slicer. D'OH!
Milton pulls on his mother's arm claiming that he's the one who defeated the Crimson Avenger. Considering that he has two other kids who didn't believe him to verify the story; I would believe him mother. Milton's mother drags him away claiming that he is playing games again. So we cut to the terrance as Cubbi notices a problem; but then blows it off because they will just laugh at him. Milton notices the melted chocolate coins and decides to run off to catch the crooks himself; much to the disdain of his mother. We then get angry denizens of Dumbwin getting on Lazybone's case and Tuxford blows them off because the money is perfectly fine as he grabs from the sack and it's nothing but melted chocolate. Yeah; you showed them Lazybones, sure! So we return to the horse and wagon as Big Cheese arrives in a huff as he didn't plan such a hot day today. Their cover is blown as the henchmen have somehow changed their clothes to the old colors and they throw the sacks of money into the back of the wagon and Big Cheese wants to get the hell out of here. Milton jumps in front of them and tries to yell for reinforcements; but gets shut up by Big Cheese and carried away as Milton's mother screams for help.
So we return to the tax stage as the denizens continue to yell at Lazybones on the west pan shot as we see Cubbi dropping down from the trapdoor claiming that the Crimson Avenger could come; but he's not here. Then in runs Milton's mother in a panic as Tuxford tries to calm her down. Mother proclaims that her son has been kidnapped as three man put him into the back of a wagon and he wanted the Crimson Avenger to save him. Cubbi pops up and decides to arrange it. Logic break; Cubbi pops back down underground; but on the next shot; he's climbing up a steel pipe to the roof of one of the buildings in Dumbwin. That is just sloppy continuity guys. Cubbi walks on the roof for a while and then notices the wagon and tries to give chase; but stops as there is nowhere to go afterward. So Cubbi slides down into the conveniently placed barrel of laughs (complete with eye hole and uses the barrel to glide around on the street. HEE HEE! We continue this for a while as Big Cheese is forced to dodge a peasant in a green tunic pushing a cart of fruit and the horse is forced to turn left to dodge that. So Cubbi's barrel makes it to the gate as he's posed to get onto the wagon; but a fat man who might be the poor man's Pacaha as he places the barrel of laughs in the wagon with barrels of laughs in them as Cubbi blows it off and opens it as he is away from the gate now. OUCH!
So we segue to Cubbi chasing the tracks in the forest BEFORE HAPPY HOUR (sunset) as they didn't cover their tracks; but he comes to the fork in the road and the tracks are everywhere. OUCH! Cubbi kicks some coins in frustration as the dumb bad luck continues. However; he notices that the coins are coming in just one direction which is towards the east and Cubbi thinks he's a genius. Nah; it sounds like Milton since Milton was in the back trying to get out earlier before Henchmen #1 grabbed him on the rebound. So we head to the windmill as Big Cheese and his heels have the sacks of money on the table as he declares victory and is leaving the country. And Milton coming with him as he's tied to the chair which looks so loose that he could easily get out. Wow; Milton really is a wimp. No knot busting skills out of that boy. Then the wall breaks and here comes the Crimson Avenger in the flesh! And no shock at all Milton is happy to see him. Big Cheese on the other hand isn't at all. He orders the henchmen to attack and they blitz in with epees of doom which look sharper than the cheese slicer. When the henchmen are sharper than the guest heel; you have no heat left.
So Cubbi struggle to the back of the wagon and opens the back which allows the coins to drop out and entomb the henchmen. Nice for them to slide in just in time to get entombed eh? Cubbi proclaims that they are in the money now (sadly; they aren't assholes) as Big Cheese brings out the cheese slicer because he means BUSINESS BABEE! I cannot take this guy seriously wearing chef clothes. He was better off when he was dressed as the Gaia Avenger earlier on. At least his cheese slicer looks more like the REGAL CUTLASS now as he will show no mercy. Cubbi counters with a bag of cornstarch; but Cheese cuts through and yanks him onto the bread molds of the MACHINE OF DEATH. Big Cheese blitzes him; so Cubbi pulls the lever (WRONG LEVER!) and we go up. Big Cheese follows and nearly kills the machine in the process as Milton cheers him on. Cubbi gets onto the catwalk part and unleashes the sword as he wants the hooligan to surrender. What is hooligan in French? Oh yeah; it's the same. Anyhow; Cubbi backs up as they are over the vat of hot chocolate as Big Cheese want to spread him on crackers. Cubbi blows him off hoping this works as he drinks the vial of roided juice again and it's BUTT BOUNCING TIME!
So the vial drops as Big Cheese seems distracted and Cubbi jumps up and nails him behind the biggest damn ass in this series...for a human anyway. He loses the cheese slicer and after a little tip; he falls into the vat of hot chocolate easily. Cubbi calls it sweet revenge and I agree as Big Cheese blows him off because no chocolate can stop him. So Cubbi takes the bag of cornstarch (the same one he used as a shield earlier) and throws the contents into the vat and since cornstarch thicken everything into a sticky mess; Big Cheese climbs out and is in a sticky chocolate tomb of his own partial doing. Cubbi gleefully mocks him for me as he climbs down the same way he came up thanking Grammi's cooking for this as he goes over and unties Milton. Milton is happy to thank him as Cubbi admits that Milton had every right to doubt him since he didn't think he was up to it anymore; but Milton's faith in him brought him back to his sense and Cubbi thanks him for that. They shake hands as we head outside as the kids are blowing off the Crimson Avenger, Milton's mother is sobbing like a baby and Lazybones is leading his knights to the windmill. Even funnier; the animation has Milton's mother blowing her nose and she's still moving because looking very still and still walking at the same pace as Lazybones. How about that for laughable animation.
So Lazybones kicks the door down assuring that he'll recover Milton and we cut to the Crimson Avenger on top of the situation as the thugs are hanging by a rope; Milton shows off the real MONEY, MONEY, YEAH, YEAH...and CA cuts his usual promo as Tuxford swears on Gregor's name that the Crimson Avenger has done it again. The kids are in shock which is funny considering that they saw the Crimson Avenger with Milton earlier when Cubbi was getting his ass kicked by Big Cheese. Milton and his mother embrace together and have their reunion; Mother thanks CA and CA calls it all in a days work for him. CA swings out the window as Milton notices the wooden sword on the chair and runs towards the window to remind CA to take it. CA is in the tree and tells him to keep it as a keepsake reminder as everyone is in awe and CA runs away towards the moon to end the episode at 21:07. I love this episode and it deserves perfect marks; but the logic breaks and bad animation bogged this down like cornstarch on chocolate. Still a much better episode when Gruffi stays out of it and Cubbi is allowed to do his thing pathos wise. **** (80%).
THE REVIEW LINE
So the Crimson Avenger does get a great swansong of an episode after all. While having Cubbi display pathos wasn't the best of ideas considering Up, Up & Away; I still felt bad for Cubbi after getting embrassed by Le Grand Formage and his troops and I wanted Cubbi to snap out of his BSOD badly as he built it up well enough for Milton to be his guiding light. I'm surprised that they didn't use R.J. Williams as a voice here for Milton because it's not like Egan can top Williams as a child character; and it's not like they hooked up Williams and Gilbert already in TaleSpin and Kissyfur. I know those two have great chemistry together; so why not R.J.? Some of the animation didn't look all that good (most so near the end with the knights coming to the windmill) and the heels weren't all that endearing and too much of a French Stereotype to be taken seriously at all. Overall; the episode was well written in spite of the continuity errors and it did makes sense in the context of the episode and the Crimson Avenger got all his heat back and won. He's still cool and that's all that counts. Of course it helps when Gruffi only appears for one scene too.
So next weekend; I will continue season six with Queen of The Carpies and Tummi Trouble. However; this weekend; I'll be returning to season five to complete Beg, Borrow & Steal plus Let Sleeping Giants Lie/A Gummi A Day Keeps The Doctor Away. So.....
Thumbs up for this episode and I'll see you all next time.