O Vale-Tudo

. . . suitable entertainment fodder for young children. It opens with Woody Woodpecker watching a Friday Night Wrestling show on TV with his giant great Dane. The introductions of the evening's match-ups are more scary than Universal's live-action horror stars such as FRANKENSTEIN MUMMY DRACULA. For example, Hatchet Man's head is shaped like an ax blade, and Hammer Head also sports a noggin belonging in the tool chest. Octopus sprouts many extra arms, and Muscle Brain lacks the protective skull casing needed for his gray matter. Man Mountain versus Quicksand Joe shapes up to be a very dirty picture, and no one would want The Pinch-Her or The Spied-Her sitting on the same sofa. All in all, WRESTLING WRECKS could ruin any kid's peace of mind.

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. He is a lot of fun here and never comes over too much of a jerk. The wrestling setting was put to good use and, while Woody's antics are slightly typical in spirit, that it's a different premise and doesn't have either of his frequent opponents Wally or Buzz makes it somewhat refreshing.

'Wrestling Wrecks' wrestling characters are also used in a way that's entertaining and doesn't trivialise the sport.

As ever, the animation is great. The characters are well drawn, but even better are the rich colours, meticulously detailed backgrounds and smooth backgrounds.

Music is another strength here. It's characterful, lushly orchestrated and is not only dynamic with the action it even enhances it. The whole cartoon goes at a snappy pace, especially in the second half, and there are some very well-timed and extremely funny gags.

Overall, a wrestling-oriented delight. 10/10 Bethany Cox