Waldo's Last Stand

I give the writers credit for one thing: they made a film that doesn't emphasize a lesson (read "Family Troubles," "Good Bad Boys," etc.). Plus, they used a story line that (almost) can't miss: going into the lemonade business.

That's the good news.

The bad news is that the attempts at humor just fall flat. When Froggy, the only would-be customer, is asked why he doesn't want to buy any lemonade, responds: "I don't have no money, and besides it's too hot in here." (ha ha?)

At the end of the film, the mule spontaneously brays, followed by hysterical laughter from the kids. What's funny about a mule braying??

Even the joke where Spanky explains why nobody came to their show ("because everyone in the neighborhood is IN the show") is rather lame.

This was Waldo's last appearance in the Our Gang series. He did an adequate job; the only problem is that the character he once had (an erudite rival for Darla's affections) simply disappeared in this short. He wasn't the Waldo we all grew to know and love.

On a more positive note, Darla was a fine singer and dancer as usual. Her talent definitely improved as evidenced by her performance in this film. And, of course, Alfalfa's bad singing came in handy when he and the Gang sang "How Dry I Am."

Otherwise, there's not much else to recommend in this film.