Rating: G
Genres:
Adventure
Fantasy
Children's/Family
Release Date: 04/22/2008
Dubbed: English
Sound: DD2
Run Time: 117 min
Flags: Suitable for Children
Distributor/Studio: Classic Media
Good old lovable
Gumby, that odd green shape changer with a perpetual look of wonder, has been delighting children and adults with his fantastical adventures on television for over 40 years. Now he and his pliable pals, Pokey, Pickle, and Goo embark upon their greatest adventure: a feature film of their own. Unlike other more contemporary animated offerings such as
Toy Story, which offer fast-paced, at times hip and sophisticated, stories
Gumby remains true to his innocent, 1950s roots. The adventure begins when the nefarious Blockheads steal Lowbelly, Gumby's beloved dog, to harvest the valuable pearl drops he makes whenever he cries. To keep Gumby from finding out, they replace Lowbelly with a robot dog. This works and so they make doubles for Gumby and all his pals causing all sorts of fun and confusion when the heroes find out and begin fighting their "twins" inside a variety of storybooks.
~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
After making his television debut in the mid-'50s on the
Howdy Doody show, the optimistic boy of clay makes it to the big screen 40 years later with
Gumby: The Movie. The
Gumby TV show by
Art and
Gloria Clokey brought an experimental handmade style to mainstream kid's cartoons, and not much has changed with its transition to feature-length film. To the delight of purists, the crude animation and episodic story line reflect the original show, preserving the innocent appeal of
Gumby and his pals in the charming storybook world. However, the pace is very slow and the story dull, making viewing difficult for young children used to action-packed adventures and quick-witted dialogue. Released the same year as the technologically innovative
Toy Story, unfortunately, the good-natured and rudimentary
Gumby suffers in comparison and is relegated to a good nostalgia piece.
~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide