Have heard mixed opinions regarding the Roland and Rattfink series. Know of some that have the opinion that it started unsure and became more confident in the latter cartoons. Also know of people that feel that it started off pleasantly enough while never reaching great levels but ran out of ideas later on. Am quite mixed on the series overall and never found myself completely bowled over by any of the seventeen cartoons, and can see both sides.
Did think that a few of the best Roland and Rattfink cartoons were in the latter half, but also that the series, which had little originality anyway, did run out of ideas and resort to recycling. There were laudable attempts at changes in formula, with different settings and experimenting with the characters to allow them to slip into each scenario, which varied on the whole. 'Bridgework' is somewhere in the middle ranking the Roland and Rattfink cartoons, it is better than the previous two cartoons that were lesser efforts while not being among either the best or worst of the series.
'Bridgework' does have a good deal to like. It actually feels like a Roland and Rattfink cartoon, unlike the previous two cartoons, which eliminated Roland (despite a brief cameo at the end of the latter) and featured an inconsistently characterised solo Rattfink, a lot of predictability, stories that felt a bit out of place within the series and unpleasant supporting characters. Rattfink is true to character here, again unlike before where it felt like the writers were not sure what to do with him (which was not a problem here). Roland is back, though not as funny or as interesting as Rattfink while still being appropriately well meaning and likeable, and their chemistry is well handled, their contrasting personalities working well.
While the animation left me relatively mixed, leaning actually towards decent, it is frequently vibrant and quite varied in colour and nicely detailed in the backgrounds. The music is suitably light-hearted and quite nostalgic, fitting quite well with 'Bridgework's' lively energy. Despite originality being barely existent, the cartoon does have amusing moments, namely the ending, and there is a good deal of energy. Lennie Weinrib shows that he has grown into both the characters and makes them more individual from each other.
Roland is not as interesting a character as Rattfink, pleasant enough if a bit bland whereas Rattfink provides most of the cartoon's energy. The boss character doesn't make much of an impression and is basically a weaker, more annoying and incompletely animated version of Rattfink. The fish make more of an impression than him. The animation leans mostly towards decent, but it does lack finesse and care in the drawing.
It is good that 'Bridgework' doesn't feel out of place within the Roland and Rattfink series and didn't feel like it belonged somewhere else, but other than the setting this was like the same plot in terms of formula that we have seen for most of the previous cartoons but with little variation. A formula that was quite familiar ground anyway and this premise is quite reminiscent of something you'd find in Looney Tunes and the Popeye and Bluto cartoons. Although 'Bridgework' is fun and is hardly short-changed when it comes to the gags, the gags are a long way from innovative and it is not hard to figure out how it's all going to turn out and how every gag maps out.
Concluding, not great but not bad at all. 6/10
Did think that a few of the best Roland and Rattfink cartoons were in the latter half, but also that the series, which had little originality anyway, did run out of ideas and resort to recycling. There were laudable attempts at changes in formula, with different settings and experimenting with the characters to allow them to slip into each scenario, which varied on the whole. 'Bridgework' is somewhere in the middle ranking the Roland and Rattfink cartoons, it is better than the previous two cartoons that were lesser efforts while not being among either the best or worst of the series.
'Bridgework' does have a good deal to like. It actually feels like a Roland and Rattfink cartoon, unlike the previous two cartoons, which eliminated Roland (despite a brief cameo at the end of the latter) and featured an inconsistently characterised solo Rattfink, a lot of predictability, stories that felt a bit out of place within the series and unpleasant supporting characters. Rattfink is true to character here, again unlike before where it felt like the writers were not sure what to do with him (which was not a problem here). Roland is back, though not as funny or as interesting as Rattfink while still being appropriately well meaning and likeable, and their chemistry is well handled, their contrasting personalities working well.
While the animation left me relatively mixed, leaning actually towards decent, it is frequently vibrant and quite varied in colour and nicely detailed in the backgrounds. The music is suitably light-hearted and quite nostalgic, fitting quite well with 'Bridgework's' lively energy. Despite originality being barely existent, the cartoon does have amusing moments, namely the ending, and there is a good deal of energy. Lennie Weinrib shows that he has grown into both the characters and makes them more individual from each other.
Roland is not as interesting a character as Rattfink, pleasant enough if a bit bland whereas Rattfink provides most of the cartoon's energy. The boss character doesn't make much of an impression and is basically a weaker, more annoying and incompletely animated version of Rattfink. The fish make more of an impression than him. The animation leans mostly towards decent, but it does lack finesse and care in the drawing.
It is good that 'Bridgework' doesn't feel out of place within the Roland and Rattfink series and didn't feel like it belonged somewhere else, but other than the setting this was like the same plot in terms of formula that we have seen for most of the previous cartoons but with little variation. A formula that was quite familiar ground anyway and this premise is quite reminiscent of something you'd find in Looney Tunes and the Popeye and Bluto cartoons. Although 'Bridgework' is fun and is hardly short-changed when it comes to the gags, the gags are a long way from innovative and it is not hard to figure out how it's all going to turn out and how every gag maps out.
Concluding, not great but not bad at all. 6/10
