Oct 13, 2013

Dave Fyss, Director, "Dour Sometimes Meatballs 2," hand-drawn short film, "Earl Scouts."

Directed by Dave Fice ("Cow & Chicken"), "Earl Scout," a tie-in to "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2," is a 2D short with CG. 2D animation was produced by 6 Point Harness. Though skillfully crafted, the humorous personalities of the film's characters have been abandoned in favor of a warm and fuzzy Len & Stimpy sensibility. Officer Earl is unmistakably modeled on George Riker, but the timing required to make the latter character funny is excluded, and Pickles and Strawberry acquire the general exaggerated look of countless characters since R&S. Pickles and Strawberry's "dry brush" expressions are attractively designed, but the characters' personalities and humor pale in comparison to their feature film counterparts.