Happy-Go-Nutty

The best of the Screwy Squirrel series, Happy Go Nutty has the most coherent storyline as well as some of the best gags of the series.

Screwy Squirrel has been incarcerated in Moron Manor, a mental hospital with four buildings of very appropriate shape. Screwy breaks out (which isn't hard but which is done with typical Tex Avery flair) and explains that they think he's crazy - because he is, as he demonstrates in hilarious manner.

Meathead, the dog assigned to chase escaping patients, gets word of Screwy's escape (how he gets word is another of Avery's best gags) and the chase is on, complete with news headline of the dumb dog who falls for a corny old gag, commando stuff, the explosive apple (PC alert; Meathead's reaction after it blows has been wrongly cut out of modern airings of the cartoon), the telephone (you don't say!), and even a soda break, before the short's end pops up unexpectedly, and Screwy learns just what the legacy of Moron Manor really is.

From all reports, Tex Avery was not terribly interested in doing cartoons using continuing characters, such as the Tom and Jerry series. Droopy was probably his big contribution in this vein. He did a few others, most notably the series with George and Junior and this series with Screwball Squirrel, but Avery was more interested in gags than he was in developing a set of continuing characters. Screwball Squirrel was exactly that-a screwball squirrel. These cartoons were among the most violent that Avery directed and this one is probably the most violent of the series. I personally like Screwy. Most recommended.

In this cartoon, Screwy Squirrel busts out of a nut house and is chased by the dumb dog Meathead. It's a familiar cartoon plot, but it's helped by some original gags...especially the one you can't see. Still, there were times I had trouble laughing. Screwy Squirrel just seems to be one of the most annoying cartoon characters ever created. I think one of the reasons he bugs me is that the things he does to his co-star are not accompanied by the spirit of fun you'd see with Bugs Bunny. Screwy just seems very mean-spirited and hateful.

This movie is the logical end point of all those Bugs Bunny cartoons that Tex Avery had worked on at Leon Schlesinger's cartoon factory: the innocent prey turns on the predator, pulling whatever he needs from just outside the frame, and follows it up with a continuing series of ever more absurd gags.

That last part is the essence of Tex Avery shorts, of course. There's never any real plot in the best of his cartoons, just an ascending series of gags, like KING-SIZED CANARY, that ends when they have enough film to ship out to the theaters. Neither does he believe in the little guy being oppressed; Screwy Squirrel starts the proceedings by breaking out of the nuthouse and attacking Meathead. Motive, story, what did it matter? It's funny, isn't it?

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. Screwy Squirrel's second cartoon, after 'Screwball Squirrel', 'Happy-Go-Nutty' is just as good. There is not much happy here, but it is nutty, creative and despite its violent nature entertaining. Despite being a compelling, much more anarchic than his sweet appearance and funny character, as well as being charismatic enough to carry his cartoons as a lead character (as he does here), it is somewhat easy to see why Screwy didn't click and didn't last long, being a brash character with few sympathetic qualities. His opponent is a lot of fun.

Tex Avery does a wonderful job directing, with his unique, unlike-any-other visual and humour style all over it once again.

'Happy-Go-Nutty', as with 'Screwball Squirrel', is wonderfully over-the-top, very creative in its violent nature and some of it is hilarious (like the explosive apple, the telephone and the soda), avoiding the potential trap of being too cutesy.

Once again, 'Happy-Go-Nutty' as always with Avery is beautifully animated. 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.

Voice acting is very good. My only real complaint is that the cartoon ends a little too abruptly.

Otherwise, a great cartoon. 9/10 Bethany Cox