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Normie's Science Project
Reviewed: 08/20/2008
Someone's been watching TaleSpin too much!
So now we have to deal with Professor Nimnul for the first time in a non-pilot episode and now it's his son that turns evil. For some reason; it cannot be any worse than Norton acting like a whiny dork so I'll live. And of course; it's the debut of Don Karnage.....'s voice and the debut of Baloo's favorite song. So let's rant on and find out about these crazy TaleSpin connections shall we...?
This episode is written by Mark Edens. The story was edited by Bryce Malek and supervised by Tad Stones. This one must clearly be one that was written by a debut writer. Bryce Malek (sounds like a Yu-Gi-Oh anime dub name to me) was a writer for the Kwicky Koala Show, Transformers and Defenders of the Earth. He did write episodes for Gummi Bears which I may or may not have ranted on. Mark is one of the Eden twins who wrote several episodes together for TaleSpin. He is about average from where I stand. Believe it or not; Dev Ross used to be the dialog director a full year before she started writing episodes for Disney and broke through with the episode A Star is Torn for TaleSpin. And sadly; it had to happen sooner or later as Sun Woo animation is doing the animation here. Time to blow spots!!
Interesting Moment #1: This episode uses the first opening sequence. This is getting really silly now.
We begin this one with a shot at a school in some area of the city with a badly designed US flag. I guess even Disney cannot get the rights to the American flag either (I thought that was public domain?!) without screwing it up. Then again; Sun Woo is animating so there you go. We head inside the gym as various kids are doing a science fair hence the title. One of the kids is wearing a red baseball cap; because I like pointing out pointless things. We pan to the left to an open window as the Rescue Rangers are standing on it. Here's a question of pointlessness: How can the adult look square at the window and NOT notice rodents wearing clothes? Or maybe he's a friend of them? Never mind; my head hurts as Chip calls this junk. For a guy who likes using scientific deduction; you would think he would be more respectful to a science fair. Gadget gleefully blows him off for me as Dale is giddy because it's a fair see. I betcha Chip bonks him on the head for that..I check the DVD...Damn; I'm good as he calls Dale a dummy because it's a science fair; not a real fair see. I like to take Drake Mallard to a life fair; just to see his reaction. Gadget invokes the makeshift pencil pulley to lower her and Monty down as she explains why she is here: To steal the inventions and call them her own...Okay; it's not, she needs them to make technology to help the Rangers. She even found a machine in the trash can that sadly stopped moving. Yeah; I hate it when THAT happens. The Rangers sneak in as Monty and Gadget land on the table; and it's the SMELL OF DOOM barely two minutes into the episode. And it's the CHEESE ADDICTION OF DEATH for Monty. Nice to see that Sun Woo loves to annoy me by NOT screwing up that spot somehow. Today's target: Blocks of Swiss Cheese attached to a battery.
Monty runs over and takes a gulp of cheese and gets SHOCKED and APPALLED by the electric cheese. Now there's one security system I LOVE to use. Monty flies like the wind stage left and takes a really wussy bump into the Rescue Rangers complete with shocking mouth as he calls that sharp cheddar. Gadget goes over and notices a wire snapped. She calls it an electrical cheese tester and goes into her educational line for the episode because cheddar conducts electricity better than provolone. I like to call that bull crap; but with Gadget around that will be difficult to do. She gets off the first Golly of the episode by the way. And when are the animators going to learn that Cheddar is not like Swiss Cheese in that it has HOLES OF AIR?! Chip looks around and then sees a goofy glasses wearing kid wearing matching Professor Nimnul gear heading towards them. Chip and the gang hide into the model volcano's mouth which is the classics in terms of science fair projects everywhere. Nimnul Jr. takes out his science fair project which looks similar to that science fair project next to him. I smell a cheating dork coming. However; Nimnul Jr. takes out his record and slips up as it falls and breaks. Oh come on guys; like any record would shatter like glass! Logic break #1 for the episode. At the very least; have the kids unintentionally step on it and break in a couple of pieces instead of thirty.
Nimnul Jr. has to think fast; so he steals the record from the science fair project he counterfeited from. The original project is created by Marvin as Normie (Nimnul Jr. for those who wonder where the joke is coming from) mocks him and Monty calls him out as a blinkin thief. I just love how Monty can swear in DUBBED ANIME STYLE and still sound like a bad Aussie stereotype. Normie bails as Marvin appears who is wearing the same goofy glasses, red shirt and blue pants. He must be starting college early as he even has the geek haircut going there too. As he pasts Normie; Normie blows him off because he claims his project is better than his. Well; you stole his idea from him; so you are the heel and Marvin's the babyface here as Marvin claims that he worked three months on his. He is voiced by Jim Cummings and he is using his Don Karnage and Bonkers voice. More towards Bonkers since Bonkers speaks perfect English while Don Karnage speaks some of the funniest dialog I have ever heard. No wonder the Animaniacs have a hard time finding a funny episode of Bonkers for their Treasure Hunt. Normie of course finally admits in a veiled sort of way that his uncle made the project and he's a genius. Yeap; Normie is Norton's son and we all know it despite Disney's badly failed attempt to claim that he's not. If it's about sex as the idiots claim; then explain Rebecca being Molly's daughter? Or Pete's family in Goof Troop? I think the sex excuse is basically a bad attempt by the haters to find something to be offended by. I haven't said this before but I'll say it now; Liberty is the ONLY thing saving the offended from being oppressed themselves and they are the ones who want to destroy the very cover that protects THEM from being oppressed themselves. Irony is such a fickle muse.
The Rangers realize who it is; but they have to pop down into the volcano because the judges are coming. One male; one female as they ask Marvin about his science fair project. Marvin does the clear throat spot to annoy me and proclaims that his project records sounds of the city and it's a homemade recording machine. I got to admit; he's got Gadget's skill down to a fault. Problem is; Normie stole his LP record and he gasps in horror as he turns around and notices his record is gone. Marvin claims that he left it at home. Oh sure he did even though it was clearly ON the turntable before Normie stole it. Marvin NEEDS some of my irrational thoughts when I get things missing and then he impresses me by jumping right onto the male judge and yelling like Mr. Hardcore on steroids. Now that is funny as the male judge controls him and tells him that he can judge his project later. Marvin jumps off and bails to his locker to find it which makes him look really weak since it's clear that HE put it in the turntable. Maybe he should have kept it in the backpack UNTIL the judges arrive and then Normie COULDN'T steal it. Geeks are very interesting human beings as Normie does some English mocking to rub it in because Marvin cannot stand ruthless competition; or is unable to keep people from stealing his stuff. Normie shows him the molecular audio emphasizer. Now that is classic dork talk as the judges are unimpressed as Normie states that it does stuff; so he flips the switch and bless Marvin's soul he remembered to put his name and voice at the beginning so he remember what his record is.
Sadly; the judges are even MORE STUPID than Drake is and completely ignore the recording even though Normie puts a bad effort into moving the needle. It seems that Tad Stones productions have authority figures that are more stupid than the hero. Even Magon doesn't stoop to that low although he came close in Bullethead Baloo. So the recording makes sound effects and the GREEN WAVES OF BREAKING DOOM go towards the volcano and the babyface rodents are forced to exit and it blows only oatmeal. Well; that was completely pointless as the judges blow him off for giving a fancy name to a science project that isn't science and he gets an F. I guess even the POWER OF THE DORK cannot save Normie from failure. Then again; his father is Norton Nimnul so it makes perfect sense. Normie cranks up the volume and the device goes haywire as the soundwaves destroy anything that is glass and causing a complete mess along with an ant stampede which turns into an auto racing car. When it doubt; do cartoon spots with real animals I guess. All hell breaks loose including the engine breaking from bondage and flying around the gym as the male judge swears in DUBBED ANIME STYLE (What in Einstein?) and he is forced to run and take the PROPS OF DEATH right in the ass. Wow; Normie is MURDERING Norton in heel heat here. Maybe being a dork works better as a kid; who knew?
Normie is loving this so he cranks it up again and now it's windy because that what this episode actually needs: More windbags. As if Monty wasn't enough. The Rangers are forced to hang on as Monty grabs Zipper in such a way that would squash him like a bug in real life; but the windbags force the humans out of the school as it's a full blown tornado. The tornado breaks the glass window and it's more forceful than Stone Cold as the Rangers are inside. Now in real life; they would be torn to pieces; but this is DTVA so it's FUZZY CARTOON LOGIC rearing it's head. Gadget then claims that tornadoes do not last very long and of course the tornado dies right on cue. I just LOVE Gadget now as the Rangers free fall right into the duck pond with a resounding splash. The ducks quack but nothing else comes of it as the Rangers pop up and Dale loves it because he got a ride out of it after all. See; make the joke and then pay it off. Chip blows water in Dale's face because his function in life is to show Dale that he hates fun I guess.
And now we head to the Rescue Ranger Headquarters (at 6:50 no less) as the Rangers open the door and walk inside still selling that they are all wet. I guess the school was only a half a block away. Chip wants a bathing suit while Monty wants a towel. Gadget then goes to her personal hairdryer (Huh?!) and dries her hair. Now that was different since I cannot recall a geek ever treating his/her hair in any way. Gadget proclaims that they are going back and the chipmunks aren't so thrilled of that. Monty admits that they must because they need to get Marvin's record back from Normie. See; Marvin might grow up to be a wonderful scientist one day and a setback like that could frazzle him. So that is where SquareEnix got their new spell name for Dragon Quest IV DS from?! See; rap had NOTHING to do with it at all. So we head outside with a storm brewing which is the setup for the heels to wreck chaos and destruction as we pan northwest towards the VANCOUVER CRYSTAL BALL OF DEATH and then inside the place as the machine is being dramatically turned on by Norton as the golden pipe is launched from the crystal ball towards the city. Norton laughs like a dork as he even invented a sliding chair because exercise is beneath a dork I guess. Norton is going to crumble walls, make people scream and make the denizen hear his whiny dorky voice. Okay; that would be an effective torture method to oppress the city I do admit. However; before he can push the golden buttons; the door bell rings. Don't heel just HATE that when someone DOES that?! I mean; you're like three seconds away from becoming a dictator and then someone rings the door bell?!
Norton pushes the black button and then slides the chair to the front position so he can get off. You would think that IGNORING the doorbell until AFTER you wreck havoc would make more sense; but then Norton is a whiny dork rather than a serious heel. Norton does the dramatic suspense rant of people bugging him and it sucks so I'll ignore it. I betcha it's Normie behind door number one and therefore is more over than Norton by default. I check the DVD....and I am so good as Norton demands answers for disturbing his plans for city conquest..or something like that. Normie actually responds with the most honest answer a heel could give: The fair is postponed for repairs. Normie is so evil that Norton should be shaking in his leather shoes; but he's too much of a dork to realize it. Norton takes it surprising well despite groaning because he is going to flatten the city anyway. Norton re enters as Normie wants him to flatten the school and kill the teachers. Well; it doesn't involve guns so that's why Disney didn't take it off the air. We head inside the crystal dome as we return to Norton in the sliding chair going towards the black lever (WRONG LEVER!) and declares that once it is thrown the city will be in his power. He does his short form speech because it's pretty obvious anyway so at least Norton knows when to shut up. He pushes the lever (WRONG LEVER!) and spins around his face as Normie and Norton put their fingers in their ears like a bunch of deniers who sing so they don't want to listen and there is NOTHING ...AND THE ROCK SEZS NOTHING! Norton pops from his chair and checks the wires and discovers that the molecular audio emphasizer (Now that is so ironic on SO MANY LEVELS!) has been stolen. He wonders who is sneaking, dishonest, conniving enough to....Now I'm sure Molly haters would accuse her of stealing it; but we all see that it's Normie because he's more over than Norton is.
Norton goes to his remote control as Normie tries to escape; but gets caught by the LONG ARM OF THE DORK'S LAW by the ear. Okay; that is a really funny spot and Normie sells it like he's Norton's girlfriend. Norton yells at him for using super power weapons because he could destroy himself. Considering that a 12 year old kid said the word die on a DTVA cartoon; saying you'll kill yourself from an adult would have been better here. Although devastate would be a good word in it's own right so I'll let it slide. Normie admits that he used it for the science fair and gets the other ear squeezed on by the LONG ARM OF THE DORK'S LAW. Now that's how you abuse a henchmen! Norton has actually been funny for at least a minute and the he uses it to throw Normie DOWN THE FREAKING STEPS! All the bumps are pretty good despite being off-screen. Norton tells him to go back to school and get the weapon and don't stop to play on the way either. Normie sells back so that logically leads to the recycled scene of doom as we cut to inside as the Rescue Rangers enter just after the cleaning crew exits the gym. The wooden doors slam shut behind them. Chip tells Gadget to get the record and get out of here as Dale wonders of that device caused all the ruckus. Gadget climbs onto the device and blows the suggestion off because no school project could do this. Unless it was stolen of course; but she's still right anyway as she likes the stuff on the device.
Sadly; Gadget slips on the polished steel pipe's edge and throws herself into the pipes of the device. Okay; that was a weird spot as Monty yells for his friend and Gadget yells back to tell him that she's all right and she'll be out in a jiffy. Sadly; she doesn't even have that as Normie opens the door and enters the gym. Boy the security in this building is piss poor as Normie giggles and practices the art of not being seen which is pointless because only the Rangers can see him and no humans are inside the gym. Well; points for effort though. The Rangers hide behind some science stuff as Normie puts the device in his backpack while Gadget cannot see a damn thing and gets off Golly #2 for the episode. .The Rangers gasp in horror as Marvin walks off easily and slams the doors right into the babyfaces' umm...faces. The Rangers are locked inside as they try to push the door open but no dice since it's one ton in their world despite being only 20 pounds in the real world. They are stuck and so is Gadget according to Chip as the segment ends almost 12 minutes in. Okay; this is much better than Creep in The Deep; but then again, Normie's more believable than a fish so he wins by default.
After the commercial break; we get a shot of Normie walking down the front steps of the school. I guess the science fair is on a weekend since he should be in school by now. Oh well; it doesn't matter as we head up to a shot of the second floor as the Ranger wipe the dust from the windows. Geez; does this school have a dirty reputation or what?! And a gym is on the second floor?! That is just weird as the male Rangers watch helplessly as Normie gets on his red bicycle and places the backpack on the basket in front. Chip wonders how to get out of the gym and Monty wants to take charge. He has the rope and gives it to Zipper as he has a MIMI JOKE ZONE PLAN that he learned from Rocky. Okay; he doesn't say his forbidden name; but we know he's referencing Rocky and Bullwinkle here. He tells Zipper to nip out of the window and attaches it to the kid's bike. And then Zipper goes through the open window with the rope. Now there is logic break #1 for the episode. On the one hand; it's not a CONTINUITY ERROR since the window was open in the previous scenes; but the window is not shattered and second; the Rangers could have left from the window easily and made it to the bike BEFORE Normie does. Normie gets on his bicycle and rides. Zipper ties the rope to the tail end of the bike and it's Kite flying time as we see the other Rangers on a yellow kite as the string unwinds from the handle. Monty relates the story claiming that he was in Frostbite Falls looking for moose berries. This is where I realized that Monty's stories are complete BS; but the plan still works as the kite flies out the window and somehow doesn't bump into the tight space.
Monty grabs Zipper's red shirt on the whiplash and Monty sits on the kite without a care in the world as Normie does the rest for them. So after about a minute of riding Normie finally stop at the crystal dome as Normie pants and whines about not living in the suburbs like everyone else. Maybe it's because he doesn't want to be ARRESTED for terrorist acts Normie. Then again; you're better than him so the question is valid. Normie goes inside as Gadget bounces around inside the backpack (It's not what you think you sick freaks?!) as the kite lands around the golden horn. Chip points out the bloody obvious and Dale points out the obvious problem of getting in: getting down. Monty has an answer for that and rips a portion of the kite which allows the kite to go right inside the golden horn. Man; the cartoon logic is weird today as the Rangers take some decent bumps and land with a wussy bump onto the record player which indicates that Normie quickly put it in while Norton wasn't looking. Now THAT'S a sneaky heel. Gadget pops out of the steel pipe. Huh? I thought she got out and there's logic break #2 for the episode as Monty is lying on the record. He points out that it's Marvin's as we cut over to Norton doing his speech again with Normie just to show how dorkish he really is and Normie gleefully blows him off for me. Good for him; pandering is such bad taste. Breaking the fourth wall is better. The machine starts up (complete with dramatic needle sparkle which Sun Woo loves to animate coming down) and it screams out Marvin's voice on the record and then the record scratches as Norton whines about the thing not working.
Chip gets the record off the turntable which I guess they removed the needle beforehand explaining the sound at the end. Norton is angry now because that record wasn't correct as Chip passes it to Monty and bails. Norton demands answers from Normie and Normie does a really funny over dramatic sell of mercy because it was Marvin who broke his record. HAHA! Now that is classic heel: Deny that you broke something. Normie calls Marvin bad. If it's the haircut; you got a case there Normie otherwise you are such a nasty heel. Norton blows him off because he has another copy thus rendering the spot pointless. At least Professor Nimnul is a heel and therefore it really doesn't matter if he buries his or not. If he were babyface; I'd be worried by now. Chip realizes who it is as Norton goes over to the wall which is where the conveniently placed gold button is located. Norton calls his MAE simple complexity at it's finest. That's codeword for oxymoron if you catch my drift. Norton pushes the gold button and it opens the wall to feature a three shelf record case filled with records. He takes one out and laminates that it plays music to put people to sleep which he doesn't want so he bashes it on Normie's head. Now that makes more sense than Normie dropping the record on the floor unintentionally. Chip realizes then that it's Professor Nimnul and Gadget proclaims that he's up to no good. NO?! REALLY?! As if the matching outfit and goofy glasses didn't ALREADY give that away. Nor Norton's first name?!
Chip should really recheck his deduction there; Monty seems to be infecting it. Norton finds the record he is looking for and grabs it. The heel run to the jukebox (which will be recycled for Paraducks and Ransom of the Red Chimp no doubt) and place the deadly record in the turntable and then go over to the sliding chair. The Rangers must stop this fiendish wall crumbling sound plot as Monty has a MIMI JOKE ZONE PLAN and gives Marvin's record to Zipper. So Zipper now plays Kit's role of handling stuff that is bigger than his body weight. And they break logic here as Zipper cannot handle the record. But he can open a oven from the previous episode. The roids must be wearing off by now. The rodents make it to the bottom level of the shelf as Monty looks for a record and likes to boogie. Sadly; the record flies and Monty becomes the human wheel as he flattens Zipper along with the other Rangers stomping on the record. And they say Jymn Magon was mean when they claimed that in TaleSpin; Zipper got eaten by a fish (which was completely false by the way.). Monty takes a spill and is dizzier than Hardcore gamer on an acid trip. The Rangers help Monty up and then they get the record up and onto the turntable with little effort. Now all they need is to move the needle according to Gadget. That's the easy part as Norton is in the sliding chair and tries to do his speech but realizes that even he cannot pander anymore and pushes the lever (WRONG LEVER!). The Rangers gets thrown off the turntable as Monty grabs the needle and is hanging from it. Monty grip slips and he falls right onto the record as the needle slowly begins to come down to pierce Monty's heart to end the segment nearly 17 minutes in.
After the commercial break; we repeat the last fifteen seconds of the spot as we cut down to Gadget and the gang noticing that Monty is passed out. You mean knocked silly Gadget as the Dale finally gets off death reference #1 for the episode thus making Norton look even wussier. The needle sparkles (because it's Sun Woo animating see) as it comes down fast and Chip yells Cheese and Monty instantly jumps from the turntable and is in his CHEESE ADDICTION MODE~! WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?! You expect me to believe that Monty can have a cheese attack simply by saying cheese when Monty sezs cheese and NOTHING HAPPENS?! Logic break #3 for the episode and the first one I don't accept. Monty recovers realizing the logic break and blow it off as a dirty trick. When MONTY shows common sense; you are hosed. Why not just have the needle MISS him? It's not like Sun Woo can animate a spot properly without screwing up. The other Rangers breathe a sigh of relief for logic breaking beyond reason. This is Chuck Tately style of logic breaking folks. The green sound of doom plays and THEY ARE PLAYING MY SONG. It's Baloo's favorite song which was played in Double Or Nothing. I'll leave the song's name as an exercise to the fans since I am still reeling from the obvious logic break.
Norton is confused as Normie asks him why he wants to destroy the city. Norton answers that because by leveling a city; they'll take him seriously and therefore they will sway to him. Norton grabs the binoculars and peeps into them and sees the city building swaying like something out of House of Mouse. See; make the joke and then pay it off with a bundle of truth. Normie asks the obvious as Norton swings around realizing that he is screwed and runs down to check the jukebox as Normie mans the binoculars. Chip pops from the back of the jukebox and it's time to shut this thing down while Norton is distracted. It's Rescue Rangers Away which means the finish is at it's hand. Normie plays with the binoculars loving how City Hall can boogie. My opinion of Norton just went up a notch; let's be honest here. The Rangers climb up to the controls where the levers (WRONG LEVERS!) are and Gadget gets off Golly #3 for the episode. She seems to only say it every 7 minutes on average rather than the eight seconds haters seem to say which shows that they really don't know much about timing. They decide to hit all the levers (WRONG LEVERS!) and they pounces on them. Sadly; Chip's lever (RIGHT LEVER!) is stuck. You know the writers are making fun of you when THAT happens. The golden horn goes inside the Crystal Dome as it closes breaking the binoculars. I hate it when that happens and Normie agrees with me as he sees the Rescue Rangers MINUS ZIPPER struggling to pull the lever (RIGHT LEVER!) with no dice.
Normie sees them as defenseless little animal and uncorks his plunger gun. Okay; this plunger thing is overplayed. The gun design is really manly; but make it a water pistol for goodness sake. I can understand not using a bullet shooting gun; but give me a break here. Normie goes up to sneak up on them as the Rangers cannot pull the lever (RIGHT LEVER!) down because it's stuck according to Gadget. Normie gets into position and points the plunger gun of doom (yeah like I'm taking that weapon seriously) at them; but here comes Zipper (who managed to keep the record from breaking) and he goes at great-neck speed and pulls the lever (RIGHT LEVER!) down at last. The awesome music stops as the plunger misses and bounces around and lands right on Norton's nose as he comes in mad. Well; madder than a mad scientist anyway. Yeah; like that was unintentional; surrreee! The Rangers bail as Norton protests this outrage as Normie is screwed. The Rangers grab the record and Dale wants to get out but Chip has his own MIMI JOKE ZONE PLAN in store. Norton blasts Normie for pulling the levers (WRONG LEVERS!) down and I betcha Normie blames the Rescue Rangers for it...which is true by the way. I check the DVD...damn; I'm good as Norton blows him off anyway. For a guy who is paranoid about little rodents; he is sure not buying Normie's story here. Must be in full burial mode sezs I. Norton pulls the golden horn's lever (WRONG LEVER!); but Normie points out the obvious and the pipe bounces down off the roof and down as Norton goes to it. Yeah; he's not only a dork; he's REALLY STUPID too.
The Rangers put on Marvin's record and Norton is officially screwed as a train whistle plays. Norton tries to throw...THE SWITCH...but it's way too far away and the LONG ARM OF THE DORK'S LAW jackhammers the floor causing Norton to free fall into the basement. Norton pops up and his machine finger device completely tears the place asunder. Gadget and Monty bounce around as she gets off Golly #4 for the episode. Average time is one every five minutes now. Monty calls this a pogo stick with the hiccups as Normie takes a seat with the sliding chair coming towards him. Norton gets a weak bump off the sliding chair which looked pretty contrived and then the chipmunks celebrate and then change it to windbag mode as the golden vacuum pipe sucks everything in sight. Nice spot as Gadget and Monty look to be MURDERED by a flying piece of metal; but the metal piece bounces in front of it to shield the Rangers. Gadget yells that they need to find the chipmunks as Chip and Dale remove the record and use it to fly away from the jukebox. It's tornado sucking time as the whole place is getting destroyed. The tornado reappears for a second go around as the record flies around. Chip and Dale find the remaining Rangers and they hang. They leave the Crystal Dome and fly down the road with complete perfection (now there's a gravity twister if I ever saw one); as the crystal dome completely blows up and the tornado whizzes away without a care. Norton is hanging around on the big lever (WRONG LEVER!) and Normie is on his back on the floor.
Normie pops up and bails as he is going back to school like a good heel should. Norton blows him off and cuts his allowance which shows that he is a terrible father (He destroyed an entire lab and he only gets his allowance cut for a week?!); and then the hands of irony strike him as the lever breaks and he takes a nasty bump off-screen onto the floor. That is just great as we cut to inside the gym as Marvin sulks towards his project carrying the steel cart as we get a shot of the Rangers popping out of the trash can. Marvin sulks over to his project and there is his record completely intact along with a blue ribbon with the RR logo on it. Marvin takes it and hugs it like it was a small child as we cut over to the trash can as Chip thanks him for saving the city indirectly. Monty proclaims that his project brought the house down. I love real comments that aren't supposed to be real comments. Dale laughs like a chipmunk and then does the Molly flop spot with a decent off-screen bump to end the episode at 21:18. Now that's more like it as Normie was pretty good; Norton didn't suck as much and only a few logic breaks to mar the experience make me a happy ranter. *** ¾ (75%).
THE REVIEW LINE
After a piss poor episode featuring a fish in a fishbowl complaining about air breathers and then breathing air with no problem at the end; I was happy to see this one. Although the big logic break of Monty having a cheese attack without any cheese around and merely shouting cheese to him was really silly; there wasn't much in the way of bad logic breaks. I actually came out liking Normie a lot as he was a dork but he whines a lot less and knows how to play heel even against his own father (I don't buy the uncle thing since he clearly has most of Norton's mannerisms). This is one of Professor Nimnul's better performances as he didn't whine very much and he did a few really good spots involving ear pulling and his Mickey Mouse Arm Machine. Gadget was Gadget and Monty was Monty; but at least Monty was reeled in this time. I still don't buy this guy's stories; most so when Rocky and Bullwinkle are involved.
Chip and Dale were themselves and it shows that no matter how bad an episode gets you can count on them to stay constant. One more thing I found really great and sadly it didn't apply in later shows is that Sun Woo animation actually didn't blow a single spot in this episode. I'm actually pleased with the effort and it tells me that Eisner was telling the animators to blow spots later on in order to please BS&P which backfired in the long run because the parent groups were not as stupid as Eisner thought they were and saw right through it. Overall; a much better episode with nothing really bad (other than Monty's Cheese Shout Attack spot which you cannot blame Sun Woo for in this case) and Normie was good enough for my amusement. Plus; Baloo's music and the future voice of Don Karnage and Bonkers shows up. If only Bonkers didn't get saddled with Lucky....Next up is Seer No Evil which is the episode in which Chip is supposed to die..No; not really....
Thumbs in the middle pointing up for this episode and I'll see you next time.