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Have A Laugh: Volume 4

Score: 92%
Rating: Not Rated
Publisher: Walt Disney Home
                  Entertainment

Region: 1
Media: DVD/1
Running Time: 65 Mins.
Genre: Animated/Comedy
Audio: 5.1 Dolby Digital (English,
           French, Spanish) - Restored
           Versions; Dolby 2.0 (English) -
           Original Versions

Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish

Features:

  • 5 Full-Length Original Shorts
  • 3 BLAM!s
  • Re-MICKS featuring "Play My Music"

I'm a Disney fan, but I'm also a major animation fan, especially when it comes to older classics. I mentioned it in my Volume 3 review, and I think it bears repeating here. Have A Laugh!: Volume 4 is the sort of DVD content I want to see more out of Disney. I know the current trend has been entrenched in 'tween shows with budding Disney stars and CGI, but I'd hate to see the company completely give up on it's past. After all, how better to inspire new animatiors?

Similar to Volume 3, Volume 4 collects five vintage Disney shorts, presented in both their original and re-mastered versions. The cartoons included Volume 4 are:

  • Mickey Down Under (1948)
  • Hawaiian Holiday (1937)
  • Trailer Horn (1950)
  • How to Swim (1942)
  • Pluto's Surprise Package (1949)

Volume 4 is another great release. The cartoons are old, but they still work and are genuinely funny. One or two shorts even manage to top some of the stuff on TV today. Not that animated shows are in a bad place, but there's a sense of craft here not seen in most of the stuff kids are consuming today.

Of the two versions available, I have to go with the original versions. You could accuse me of being a traditionalist, but for whatever reason, the re-mastered versions have been edited. The originals run about 7 - 9 minutes while the re-mastered versions are about 3 - 5. The changes were a mild annoyance with Volume 3, but after an episode or two of Volume 4, it really bothered me because I can't find a reason for the edits. I think they were used as bumpers a few years ago on the Disney Channel, but even then why include them on the set? I'll take whatever classic Disney content I can get, but I'm starting to think another round of Disney Treasures releases are in order.

Volume 4 also includes a set of "BLAM!" vignettes, which are clip shows of other Disney shorts. These are sometimes set to music, but also include narration. I definitely remember these from a few years ago and like them for the short form animation studies. Yes, I'm that much of an animation nerd.

Finally, there's a "Re-MICKS" featuring "Play My Music" from Camp Rock. I was okay with Volume 3's Re-MICKS send up of the "I've Gotta Feeling," but I really didn't like this one.

Despite my misgivings about the edited versions and attempts to "modernize" vintage cartoons for a new audience, Have a Laugh!: Volume 4 is a solid purchase. Yes, the cartoons are old, but I think some parents (and executives) will be surprised at how well kids will take to the shorts. They're funny, non-offensive and a lot of fun.



-Starscream, GameVortex Communications
AKA Ricky Tucker

Related Links:



DVD Movies Have A Laugh: Volume 3 DVD Movies 13 Assassins

 
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