April 1 is right around the corner, but I’ve never been one for pranks. It’s not that I get offended, I’m just too much of a softie. I even think some of the dumb phone call pranks you hear on the radio are a bit mean.
While I may not like pranks, that doesn’t mean I’m against anything silly. I just find I enjoy silly cartoons more than silly pranks.
Last month, I watched DreamWorks Animations’ “Dog Man,” a movie based on the kids’ book series by Dav Pilkey. I hadn’t read any of the Dog Man books, as they came out in 2016, when I was in my junior year in college. I did read his Captain Underpants books as a kid, so I was expecting something just as fun.
Sure enough, the movie ended up being really funny and surprisingly heartfelt. It was easy for me to be endeared by the world of Dog Man, going with the flow of each silly story beat, laughing at most of the jokes, and enjoying its lovable characters.
Even if the movie was made specifically for younger kids, it wasn’t too hard for me to get into that carefree, kid-like mindset as I watched, perfectly understanding why the book series was such a hit. Just a few weeks later, I felt this again when I watched the latest Looney Tunes movie to hit theatres, “The Day the Earth Blew Up.”
The film takes a page from the older Looney Tunes shorts – back when Daffy Duck was more crazy than greedy and cynical – and because of it, it’s easily the looniest feature-length movie ever made with these guys. There are aliens, goofy slapstick, over the top reactions, perfectly timed 4th wall breaks, lots of bubblegum, and it’s all depicted in that classic 2-D art mixed with gorgeous hand-drawn animation.
Looking at these two movies, I think there’s something to be said about indulging in something silly. On the surface, it may seem a quick farce or wacky shenanigans. But there are moments of heart, effort that comes from people who obviously care about their craft, and above all else, a willingness to just be fun!
Sometimes it’s nice to just dive into something lighthearted and silly – to have a good laugh over something positive, and forget about your troubles.
Andrea Grubaugh reports for the West Liberty Index, Wilton-Durant Advocate-News, and North Scott Press. Contact her at adnews@netwtc.net