Bring Me the Head of Dobie Gillis

This film reminded me what made the series so connectible, unique and charming - the "time-outs" where Dobie was being totally frank and honest while speaking to us personally in the park where a copy of Rodin's "The Thinker" holds court.

Quite a bit of subtle humor designed to float over the censors heads and the head-knocking between sweet and decent Dobie and the townspeople's turning on him for the chance for a big check is too close to reality to be considered entertaining. This film illustrates the vast chasm of America's naiveté of then compared to our youth knowing too much too soon now.

Connie Stevens' was perfect here (and still looked awesome). Bob Denver seemed to be less than attentive, bless his soul, but he managed to recreate Maynard Krebbs as a beatnik who ended up a wealthy capitalist while still having no real clue. Too bad they couldn't get Warren Beatty in on this (in 1988 he still thought he was above his roots). All in all a nice return project worth seeing.

I found a recording of this on an old VHS tape and surprised myself by watching the whole thing. It suffers from the same problems most reunion shows have. A story that can be stretched into a long feature never feels quite right for characters you would normally deal with for a half hour. And, the problem of dealing with replacement actors who just aren't quite right, even if they aren't "bad", per se. Maynard having Gilligan hair also bugged me more than it should have, probably! :D

Repeating the old Dobie/Zelda unrequited love comedy dynamic with their son Georgie and Chatsworth's daughter Chatsie feels a little forced. The big difference being that, while Chatsie is ever-present and pushy, she's also absolutely ADORABLE! I mean, she's played by Princess Leia's half-sister, c'mon! This in contrast to Zelda, whom I believe Maynard once described as a "spooky-lookin' chick"!

Still, as reunion shows go, it's one of the better ones, mainly due to the returning actors, and Dwayne Hickman in particular. If you loved the original, you'll probably be okay with it. If not, I probably we wouldn't bother.

The plot of this film was lifted directly from Friedrich Durenmatt's play, Der Besuch die Alten Dame (The Visit of the Old Lady). It was an indictment of capitalism by Durenmatt, a radical Swiss socialist. Ironic that someone chose this as the plot device in an obvious attempt to cash in on America's preoccupation with its youth.

Though "Bring Me the Head of Dobie Gillis" wasn't the best, it was a delight to see most of the original cast reunited: Dwayne Hickman, Sheila James, Bob Denver, William Schallert, and Steve Franken. Missing, of course, were Dobie's parents, Frank Faylen and Florida Friebus. Warren Beatty didn't return, nor did Tuesday Weld. The role of Thalia was taken by Connie Stevens.

The script is a take-off on the play/movie "The Visit." We find that 25 years after the last episode, Zelda and Dobie are married, and Dobie, who has graduated from pharmacy school, is running the market, now also a drugstore.

The couple has a son, Georgie, who is following in his father's footsteps - hand in the cash register, chasing a pretty blond, while Chatsworth's daughter Chatsie (Tricia Leigh Fisher, Connie's daughter) is chasing him. And Dobie, as always, stands in front of the Thinker to work out his problems.

The town is very financially depressed as someone has been buying up all of the businesses and closing them. Thalia returns to town and propositions Dobie. Dobie, despite his fantasies about Thalia, turns her down.

Thalia then calls a town meeting during which she reveals herself as the person who has been buying up the town, and she now has the wealth of the town and its citizens in her hands. If they want it back, there's one condition: Dobie must die!

Silly, and not particularly well written or acted, this is strictly for fans of the 1959-1963 show. And today, 25 years later, Denver, Franken, Kathleen Freeman, and Dody Goodman, who appeared in this TV movie, are gone.

For ER fans, Scott Grimes is a teenager in this, and gets to show off his wonderful singing voice -- the high school is doing a musical version of Romeo & Juliet.

Dwayne Hickman and Sheila James look amazing.

I doubt you'll stick with this if you were born too late to enjoy the original.

This movie was so badly acted and so corny I had to laugh at it, and that is exactly what I mean I laughed at it not with it, also there seemed to be few subtle references to other sixties shows, but as I was drifitng in and out of the house I did not get a chance to really concentrate on the whole movie, I give it 2 stars for the cheese!