The Bird Who Came to Dinner

Was very fond of Woody Woodpecker and his cartoons as a child. Still get much enjoyment out of them now as a young adult, even if there are more interesting in personality cartoon characters and better overall cartoons.

That is in no way knocking Woody, because many of his cartoons are a lot of fun to watch and more and also still like him a lot as a character. After one of Woody's best cartoons in a while with 'Poop Deck Pirate', Paul J. Smith returns with one of his better Woody Woodpecker cartoons from this period. It is a long way from a great cartoon, but is pretty good. Compared to his original manic self Woody is subdued somewhat, but compared to other cartoons of his there are shades of his original personality and he does have material that serves him well.

Rest of the characters are mixed. Liked the dowager character, but Reginald despite some amusing moments was at times irritating.

Story-wise, 'The Bird Who Came to Dinner' boasts very few surprises and occasionally gets repetitive. The most problematic element is, not unexpected, the animation. Time and budget constraints shows in a lot of the animation, which is very rushed looking in the drawing and detail wise it's on the simplistic and careless side like many of Woody's cartoons from this period continuing through to the 60s.

However, there is more energy than other Woody Woodpecker cartoons from this period, the gags are funnier than most and sharper in timing if not exactly imaginative and the conflict is stronger.

Furthermore, the music is bouncy, energetic and very lushly orchestrated, not only synchronising and fitting with the action very well but enhancing it.

Voice acting is very good, can never say anything bad about Grace Stafford as Woody.

In conclusion, pretty good and better than a lot of Paul J. Smith-directed later years Woody Woodpecker cartoons. 7/10 Bethany Cox

. . . KIDDIE LEAGUE moved into some sort of wit-less protection program, and renamed from "Chester" to "Reggie." As G. Stein famously observed, "A rotund stinker by any other name smells just as odoriferous." Chester/Reggie spends his time during THE BIRD WHO CAME TO DINNER methodically destroying his toys, confident in his belief that his mummy dearest will keep buying him more victims to stretch, whack and saw. During KIDDIE LEAGUE, Chester/Reggie's granny proved herself to be a poor sport, initiating a riot in the stands. Chester/Reggie's mom-stir is equally ill-bred, incapable of exercising the basic discipline necessary to squelch a future Public Enemy Number One Menace to Society. Meaning that Chester/Reggie already is at least a third generation nuisance.

While Paul smith had some real stinker cartoons with woody, it can't be denied that he did make some hidden gems. Case in point, the bird who came to dinner. Who goes back to his old mean, loafer ways, and he's a joy here. The annoying kid deserves all the torture he gets from woody, and doesn't hold back. This one is just plain of devilish! Woody has more of his original demented energy here than in other shorts, and it's a breath of fresh air. Animation is solid, with better work from Les Kline and great animation from ray abrams. Gaga are punchy and timed extremely well, showing that Paul smith did have some great talent. Overall, one of woodys best shorts from this time period and an absolute must watch!