Gee Whiz-z-z-z-z-z-z

Gee Whiz-z-z-z-z-z-z (1956)

*** (out of 4)

The eighth pairing of Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner is yet another winner, although the beatings poor Wile takes keep getting worse. This time out we don't even get past the opening credits when Mr. Wile is run down by a truck but we then get other attacks including large rocks, falling from cliffs and various bombs. One of the best sequences in the film is when the coyote dressing up as "bat-man" and tries to fly after his dinner. This plan works for a while but what makes the joke so funny is that you're expecting one gag but instead we get something else. Another great gag is the painted version of a broken bridge, which of course comes back to hurt Wile.

I don't have any idea why, but this cartoon can be found on archive.org for free download and is listed as a 'banned cartoon'. However, after viewing it, I saw absolutely nothing potentially offensive about it and think this is a mistake. It's yet another brilliant Roadrunner cartoon from Chuck Jones--and the quality is as good you can get. While it would be pointless to comment on the plot at any length (you just need to see it), the Coyote once again tries many different Acme products in order to catch that darned bird--and, as usual, to no effect other than beating the tar out of poor Wiley Coyote! You'll see him don a bat-man outfit, ride a jet engine as well as paint a scene with the bridge being out (with predictable but very enjoyable results). The bottom line is that this film shows the characters once they've hit their stride--clever and funny all the way. I especially enjoyed the cute ending. Well worth seeing and you have to be dead no to enjoy this one.

GEE WHIZ-Z-Z-Z! is yet another of the classic cartoons starring Road Runner and the Coyote of the 1950's. The Coyote constantly tries to capture the speedy Road Runner, who inevitably escapes leaving the predator humiliated, hurt and simply furious, though he never shows it. In GEE WHIZ-Z-Z-Z! he generally misses the Road Runner when the bird turns suddenly, while the Coyote keeps running dead ahead, usually off a cliff.

Some of the funniest moments in the series appeared in this cartoon, such as the bat-costume and the handheld dynamite launcher. The animation is smooth, detailed and makes watching new cartoons in the series, like WHIZZARD OF OW, seem all the more disappointing. Yet for all the great things about GEE WHIZ-Z-Z-Z!, it isn't any better than the usual Chuck Jones run-of-the-mill cartoon in the series. That's how good they all are. The only thing that really makes this a bit different is the layouts, by Ernie Nordli. Maurice Noble had been art director for a couple of years before this cartoon, so why Nordli was working on it, and making the backgrounds look like Peter Alvarado is beyond me. It's not a fault, it just puzzles me. All in all, you can miss this or watch this, any classic in the series will do.

More of Wile E. Coyote - aka Eatius Birdius - trying unsuccessfully to catch Road Runner - aka Delicius Delicius. Among his Acme devices are a Batman suit, a rocket, and a fake destroyed bridge. Sure enough, they all backfire on him. I guess that "Gee Whiz-z-z-z-z-z-z" doesn't really add anything new; although, they occasionally have Road Runner quickly turn around while Wile E. keeps zooming straight ahead...most likely off of a cliff.

So, even if there's nothing new here, it's always great to see what happens to Wile E. Among other things, it shows that you don't need words to be funny. And it shows that the classic cartoons are the gold standard (the more recent Looney Tunes cartoons just can't reach the quality set by their forbears). So check it out. You're sure to like it.

One of the best Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner cartoons. Lots of memorable gags, including ACME jet bike, "STOP! BRIDGE OUT!," and the famous bat-man suit. That last one is among the series' most iconic gags. Chuck Jones is firing on all cylinders, including an amusing bit that starts during the opening credits. The animation is crisp, the music lively, and the colors are beautiful. The Coyote & Road Runner cartoons were always simple and a bit repetitive but so much fun. Some of the best slapstick comedy ever put on screen, animated or otherwise. This is near the top of the series. Definitely a good one for new viewers to get their first taste of Coyote & Road Runner shorts. Sheer fun from start to finish.