Doggone Tired

This is one of the better Tex Averys, as well as one of the more violent ones (please recognize that "cartoon violence" and real violence are NOT the same thing, though), most of it directed at Speedy, the unfortunate dog. While I do understand the rabbit's actions and have not one problem recognizing a desire (and need) for self-preservation, I find myself more in sympathy with the dog than the rabbit as things unfold here. Sight gags for the most part and quite good ones they are, too. Well worth watching. Recommended.

It's the Happy Hunting Lodge. Hunting dog Speedy is eager to catch a rabbit but the hunter tells him that he needs his sleep. This scares the rabbit who does everything to keep him awake. This is an MGM Tex Avery cartoon. The only problem is that I don't recognize Speedy. I don't know if he is a recurring character. It would help to create better rooting interest. There is no real rooting interest for either sides in this one. Nevertheless, it is very solid.

"Remember, boy: you'll never catch that rabbit until you get a good night's sleep."

That sentence sums up the premise of this movie as a rabbit - tomorrow's dinner - devises plans to keep the hunting dog awake all night so he won't be able to catch him first thing in the morning. It is said by the dog's master, who repeats minute later, just in case the audience in the theater doesn't hear it the first time.

This cartoon gets funnier as it goes along. The dumb dog gets more and more tired as the smart rabbit keeps coming up with new ideas to keep him awake - one about every 15 seconds! Finally, the dog's eyelids say "out cold," and things get really get tough.

There are a lot of good sight gags in here and the ending is almost guaranteed to make you laugh, too. This is vintage Tex Avery humor. By the way, why are rabbits always pictured as smarter than the dogs. In fact, except for Droopy, dogs are usually shown as stupid in cartoons. Rabbits are always smart and cats are always evil. Have you noticed?

Love animation, it was a big part of my life as a child, particularly Disney, Looney Tunes and Tom and Jerry, and still love it whether it's film, television or cartoons.

Also have much admiration for Tex Avery, an animation genius whose best cartoons are animated masterpieces and some of the best he ever did. 'Doggone Tired' is another example of an animated masterpiece and one of his all time best. Like the best of Tex Avery, 'Doggone Tired' is a cartoon of amazing quality, is very creative, deliciously deranged and hysterically funny as one would expect from Avery on top form like he is here. It is a cartoon so rich in visual detail and with impeccably timed slapstick and non-stop laughter. Even when he wasn't at his best, he still delivered, have yet to see a "bad" effort from him.

Of the rabbit-dog duo, which actually gels remarkably well when one may think before watching that it's an odd pairing, the rabbit is the smarter of the two and is deceptively cute and amusing. The dog however steals the show, he's the funnier character and the one you sympathise with.

Avery does a wonderful job directing, with his unique, unlike-any-other visual and characteristic and incredibly distinctive wacky humour style all over it as can be expected.

'Doggone Tired' has nothing repetitive or anything that will make the stomach churn. It is very violent, but it's very funny, imaginatively done violence and more tasteful than one would think. Instead 'Doggone Tired' is imaginative, wonderfully wild, deliciously deranged and hilarious throughout from start to finish. The sight gags throughout are an absolute joy and are immaculate in timing, with a knockout ending.

It is no surprise either that the animation is superb, being rich in colour and detail. The character designs are unique, Avery always did have creative character designs, and suitably fluid. The music, courtesy of Scott Bradley, is lushly and cleverly orchestrated, with lively and energetic rhythms and fits very well indeed.

All in all, a brilliant cartoon and an Avery classic. 10/10 Bethany Cox

A hunter and his dog arrive at the cabin and the dog is raring to get the rabbit. It's late in the day, and the hunter wants to get some rest, so he puts the dog to bed, saying he'll never catch that rabbit without a good night's sleep. The rabbit, however, is listening, and like all rabbits, is plentifully supplied with mallets, dynamite and other appurtenances of cartoon life.

It's one of Tex Avery's cartoons which runs variations on a theme, and we get to watch the red-headed rabbit torment the red-headed hound dog. The ending is a bit more graceful than Avery's usual, but it comes down to "we've run out of film, folks, but here's a capper joke!"