Red Riding Hoodlum

Little Red Riding Hood gets the Walter Lantz treatment as Knothead and Splinter, having been told the tale, are sent to visit Granny. Pulling out out hammers, dumping the wolf in the washing machine, using the artillery gun on him, and so forth, they give him a hard time. The story is eked out with various cameos and decently executed gags, but there isn't that much to this particular version until the final sight gag, which is a good one.

Over all, though, this is not a particularly auspicious cartoon. The whole thing is suffused with an air of mechanical construction with little of the inventiveness that made the Lantz cartoons such a joy in the 1930s and 1940s.

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. Sadly he doesn't make much impression in 'Red Riding Hoodlum', he is basically a supporting/cameo role in a series of cartoons where he's the star and his personality is very toned down, a waste. 'Red Riding Hoodlum' is watchable enough and has fun moments but of the countless cartoon incarnations of one of the most adapted fairy-tales it's hardly the most inspired.

'Red Riding Hoodlum' is not a particularly inventive cartoon and some of it is agreed somewhat mechanical and routine, it's competent but that doesn't feel enough for a Woody Woodpecker cartoon.

Story-wise, it has some fun moments but has little that sets it apart from other versions of the story, freshness is fairly little here. The animation continues to not be great, simplicity once again is taken too far and it does betray hasty deadlines and budget hindrances.

However, Knothead and Splinter carry 'Red Riding Hoodlum' well, and the wolf is the most interesting and most amusing character. Through some very decent and amusing, if never more than that, gags, he indeed is given a very hard time here. The grandmother has some spunk.

Music is bouncy, energetic and very lushly orchestrated, not only synchronising and fitting with the action very well but enhancing it. The ending is the highlight of the cartoon, it's great, and the voice acting particularly from June Foray is solid.

In conclusion, watchable if lacking. 5/10 Bethany Cox