Bosko's Dizzy Date (1932) User Reviews

Interesting (If Just For Its Historical Value)

[MartyD82-1 · 5/10 · 22 August 2006]

After trying and failing to teach Wilbur how to play an old folk song on his fiddle, Honey telephones the drowsy Bosko and invites him to have a picnic with her. Of course, thanks to a rainstorm and Bosko's nosey dog Bruno, the picnic doesn't quite go as planned.

Long before Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and pretty much every other familiar WB character, there was Bosko - WB's first star and answer to Mickey Mouse. Bosko represented pretty much every cartoon cliché at the time - an unrecognizable (and subtly stereotypical) character constantly getting into some form of mischief. The main criteria for a cartoon character's success at the time was his/her charm (rather than originality) - which Bosko, fortunately, had. The theatrically unreleased Bosko and Honey demonstrates this perfectly. Despite its dull plot and jarringly corny jokes (just wait until you see the ending!), the cartoon is reasonably fun to watch thanks to its peppy tone and lively animation. When evaluated critically, it's certainly below par (especially when stacked against the shorts WB would be producing just fifteen years later). But when simply watched, the cartoon is both fun and historically interesting.

If you're expecting something along the lines of Long-Haired Hare or Duck Amuck, you certainly won't find it here. This short is about as simple and inoffensive as they come. Nevertheless, it's certainly worth watching out of curiosity.

Dating with Bosko

[TheLittleSongbird · 5/10 · 9 June 2017]

The Bosko cartoons may not be animation masterpieces, but they are fascinating as examples of Looney Tunes in their early days before the creation of more compelling characters and funnier and more creative cartoons. There are some good cartoons, as well as some average or less ones.

'Bosko's Dizzy Date' is not terrible, nor is it a particularly memorable cartoon. None of the weakest efforts are and all of them have enough to make it mediocre at worst, but 'Bosko's Dizzy Date' didn't do much for me.

As always for a Bosko cartoon the animation is good. Not exactly refined but fluid and crisp enough with some nice detail, it is especially good in the meticulous backgrounds and some remarkably flexible yet natural movements for Bosko. The music doesn't disappoint either, its infectious energy, rousing merriment, lush orchestration and how well it fits with the animation is just a joy.

Sound quality has clarity and the synchronisation isn't sloppy and has imagination. The way Bosko is animated is well done and remarkably natural. A few of the gags are amusing if not much more than that.

Regarding Bosko himself, he is not the most interesting of characters and is not particularly fun or likable. Too many of the gags are pretty limp and are lacking in wit, memorability and sharper timing, which is enough to bring. Wilber is very irritating and the story is thin and dull at times.

In conclusion, average and forgettable. 5/10 Bethany Cox

Bosko should have stayed in bed!

[llltdesq · 6/10 · 4 October 2006]

This is an average short for the Bosko series, in spite of the presence of Wilber, an obnoxious little brat who recurs from time to time in various Bosko shorts. Since I want to discuss some details from this short, let this serve as a spoiler warning:

The short opens with Honey trying to teach Wilber to play the violin. He's 'playing' "In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree"-mangling it is probably closer to being an accurate description. Wilber is particularly obnoxious here and Honey decides to call up Bosko, who is sleeping, so his dog Bruno answers the phone and then wakes up Bosko so he can talk to Honey on the phone. She invites Bosko over.

The best part of the short is Bosko riding over to Honey with Bruno following. The different events which take place on the bike ride are ultimately most of the highlights of the short, so I won't spoil them here.

When Bosko gets to Honey's, he hears Wilber's scratchy attempt on violin and then pulls out a saxophone (watch this scene closely) and plays the same notes better than Wilber can manage. Honey then comes out and she and Bosko do a number, Bosko playing and Honey singing, until Wilber douses Bosko with a tub full of water.

Then comes a sudden shift-the last part of the short is the "date" in the title. It's a picnic, which is essentially rained out. Though there are some decent gags in the last minute and a half or so of the short, it feels almost tacked on in order to justify the title. It's largely anticlimactic and not terribly interesting.

I hope this is eventually released on a future Looney Tunes Golden Collection. Worth watching.