Scrambled Aches

The Roadrunner shorts are an example of a "formula" series-a very well done "formula". My comments about this short in particular will be a relatively small portion of this comment, because I want to talk a bit about the series itself.

This short is actually fairly representative of the series and why it works so well and why the shorts are generally very good, even though they follow a formula. The viewer knows going in that certain things will (or won't) happen: The two primary characters, as a rule, do not speak. They will occasionally hold up signs, but they don't talk in these shorts-unless you stretch a point and call the Roadrunner's "Beep Beep" dialog.

Each short shows ersatz Latin "names" for both characters. The ones for Wile E. Coyote usually revolve around hunger and the Roadrunner's usually revolve around speed and his edibility.

No matter what happens to Wile E. in a scene, after fade out, in the next scene, he's fine and plotting again.

His equipment generally comes from Acme. Here it's dehydrated boulders, among other things.

His attempts to capture the Roadrunner (at least in the theatrical releases) always fail. They invariably end badly for the Coyote. Some attempts are very brief, lasting seconds, like a dehydrated boulder which expands almost instantly, crushing Wile E. Sometimes, Wile E. doesn't think his plots through to their logical conclusion, which invariably hurts him.

In addition to these basics, there are things which occur in most of the shorts which are a large part of the success of the series, in spite of its predictability.

The reactions by Wile E. make him an incredibly sympathetic character. There's a melancholy air about him that is conveyed by his facial expressions as his well-laid plans explode (often literally) in his face. There are a number of set situations which are made successful because of Wile E.'s reactions.

First, there's the "astonishment piece. Wile E. almost always gets very close to the Roadrunner (usually in the first minute or two in a short) and seems close to his goal, only to have the Roadrunner kick in an extra gear and leave him eating dust and gaping in surprise and astonishment. He then begins plotting out how to catch his prey.

Then there's the occasional "relief which transmutes into horror" which happens when Wile E. either thinks he's been successful or thinks he's escaped disaster, only to discover that he's in deep trouble. There's a "puzzlement turning to horror" plot device which follows the same arc.

There's the long and intricate trap that either fails to work or unfolds slowly which starts in the middle of a short which comes back later with spectacularly devastating consequences for its initiator. In this short, for example, a steamroller used to trick the Roadrunner into a trap has negative consequences for Wile E. later on.

Most importantly, there is often a moment where a situation develops where Wile E. has advance knowledge that he is soon going to suffer something calamitous and very painful, with enough time for it to register that this really was a day he should not even have bothered waking up that morning. It is these situations where the animators knock one out of the park, as the expressions and body language shown in these moments almost always convey a mixture of resignation, sorrow and the dawning realization that he's failed-again-and must pay some cosmic penalty. It's a look of doom, sometimes accompanied by a sign which is both poignant and heartbreakingly funny. These moments make Wile E. a character the viewer can actually care about, because we all understand that sinking feeling in the pit of our stomachs we get when something goes WRONG and we're powerless to stop it, or even slow it down. A mix of persistent and dogged futility.

This short is available on the Looney Tunes Golden Collection, Vol. 2, along with a number of other Coyote and Roadrunner shorts. It and the Collection are well worth having. Recommended.

They aren't kidding when they call this cartoon "Scrambled Aches"! The most original gag here, at least in my opinion, is the dehydrated boulder (and you know what happens during combinations of Wile E. Coyote and boulders!). As a previous reviewer noted, a notable aspect of this cartoon is that the backgrounds have an almost mystical feel to themselves. Of course, there's no reason to get all hung up on that when you can luxuriate in WEC getting his just desserts for trying to harm Road Runner. If ever I'm driving through the southwest United States, I'll just keep my eye out in case there is a coyote chasing a road runner; maybe I'll witness the sorts of things that these cartoons portray.

All in all, another classic cartoon.

Scrambled Aches (1957)

*** (out of 4)

Tenth film in the series has Wile E. Coyote up to the same old stuff but this time out we get a few new tricks with the best one being the dehydrated boulder. This is a pretty routine entry in the series but you can't expect too much out of the tenth film especially considering this was pretty much a one-joke series with the same type of jokes being used over and over again. The action is certainly top-notch as our beloved coyote finds one way after another to hurt himself. The small steam roller and escape hatch are very well done. Another thing to mention is the colors used here, which are extremely warm from start to finish. I'm going to guess this was done on purpose and isn't just the work of the remastered DVD since this short is on the same disc as the others.

They don't waste any time here as the opening scene is in the middle another chase as The Road Runner (Tastyus Supersonicus) stays ahead of Wile E. Coyote (Eternali Famishis) who meets his first "demise" when he takes a wrong turn and disappears under the "Danger: Bridge Out" sign. He climbs out of the hole he made many feet below, discards his bib, knife and fork and goes back to work thinking of other ways to catch his prey.

At first, the coyote uses old-fashioned non-expensive methods such as simply tripping him, or a lasso with some TNT or cheap rollers skates with a sail and a fan tied to his torso. Later, he employs his standard boulder, anvil, springs, etc. Actually this was best of the anvil gags I've seen and the "dehydrated boulders" was something new and extremely clever.

Finally, he gets to the expensive "Acme" purchases, this time a "junior steam roller" with an outboard motor, which is pretty funny.

Overall, it was the routine story, but entertaining, and part of the Looney Tunes Golden Collection Volume Two DVD set. I still laugh at the idea of a "dehydrated" boulder!

Admittedly the story is formulaic, but that can be said for all the Roadrunner/Wile E Coyote cartoons. You could go as far to call the series a "formula" series. Scrambled Aches for me was one of the best of the series as well as one of the funniest. Scrambled Aches is one of the better-looking Roadrunner/Coyote cartoons, the stylised backgrounds do not look cheap at all, the characters look good especially Coyote with his facial expressions and the colours are appealingly warm. The music is energetic and characterful as usual, and the orchestration is clever and beautiful, enhancing the action rather than slowing it down. Scrambled Aches is well-paced and while you do know the outcome of the gags the gags are still really funny, and this is of the non-stop hilarity kind. Especially good were those of dehydrated boulders, steam-roller and the escape hatch. The rocket and rope/dynamite gags are quite familiar but were still funny and not rushed or drawn out. Roadrunner is good, but Coyote has always been the much more compelling character and he doesn't disappoint. Have always loved his sly but frustrated facial expressions and his effortlessly funny and cunning personality, because all the bad stuff happens to him and he is the character that provides the laughs essentially you do feel pangs of sympathy for Coyote as well. In conclusion, those who enjoy the Roadrunner/Coyote cartoons should have no problem having fun with Scrambled Aches. As someone who generally enjoys the series, although there were a few duds in the later years, I do consider Scrambled Aches is a definite standout. 10/10 Bethany Cox