The Dingles

There's no story to speak of in "The Dingles", which is about Doris Dingle and her three cats, Donna, Dale, and Deedee, and the time they had to retreat from the backyard into the house in the face of a ferocious storm. Emma Levine's narration is entirely fitting for what amounts to a tall tale, complete with colorful descriptions and impossible events; the three cats are given clear (and very feline) personalities, and the animation, while very old-fashioned, is well-done, and features some good gags and acting. People looking for innovative or raucous animation will be disappointed; "The Dingles" is nothing more than a sentimental crowd-pleaser, and it does its job quite well.

While I would agree with one of the reviewers who said this film isn't innovative or raucous, to me this is not a problem--I still highly recommend this sweet little cartoon from the Canadian Film Board. While the story is simple and the artwork relatively normal, the way the story is told had me captivated.

The story is about a day in the life of Doris Dingle and her three beloved cats. I loved the animation style as it made me smile--being very cheery and charming. In many ways, it looked almost like a greeting card come to life. The narration, music, special effects and animation all worked together perfectly to create a film that makes you smile despite its simplicity.

I must-see film that sadly is relatively low rated--perhaps because it's less artsy than many films sponsored by this famous agency of the Canadian government. But for the average person who just wants to be entertained, it's quite a film.