I used to, like a lot of people, enjoy the wacky nonsensical humor of Woody Woodpecker, a bird that didn’t talk much but had an instantly recognizable laugh. Someone got the right to him, and has no idea what to do with him, so we get the most random and generic storylines. Neither of these films connect, so you don’t need to see one to see the other. The first Woody Woodpecker, which skipped a noticeable theatrical domestic run, lacks anyone you’ve ever heard of in the cast, which is shocking considering Justin Timberlake was in yogi Bear, and basically has a shitty dad forced to take his kid with him on a trip with his new wife to a vacation property where Woody lives in a nearby tree. hilarity does not ensue.
The second film goes “fuck it”, and figures let’s turn Woody Woodpecker into a Medea/Ernest type character, so he goes to camp. Inevitably, his next film will have him saving Christmas. Christmas films always play well, and both Madea and Ernest saved Christmas. Woody is part of a camp for nerds, so naturally they are pitted against a camp for kids who don’t read books but can bench an electric car, and they have a battle that is super important to the story.
The second film has less annoying humans, so it wins. The first film is morbid, and features these villains who keep trying to kill Woody so they can mount his head on the wall. The first film also has this avante garde audio description. the narrator’s voice is intriguing, as there’s just something about it, but the choices he makes feels like the description was written by your dad, who isn’t really sure what audio description is, but he’s gonna try. Iota (or whatever that company is) produces the first films track, and they’ve allowed some really interesting narration in the past, but this one really takes the cake. But, I’d listen to Stephen Hughes narrate something again. he might be good on horror titles. I did feel like there was a presence stalking me while watching the film.
The sequel, improves the audio description, rather thanklessly, because I can’t imagine anyone other than a critic watching the first film and thinking ‘I can’t wait for a sequel.” The sequel is done by Descriptive video Works, written by Jeff Heck, and narrated by Liz Mason. The sequel has more characters to follow, as there are a little herd of campers, plus some adults, and a random villainous vulture I’m pretty sure flies a helicopter at one point. Again, these are hard working narrators doing something that not only do I think very few people are watching (certainly from beginning to end), but then the percentage of users of audio description will also be low. Netflix, which is hosting Woody Woodpecker, as it is not an original, made sure that the world had access to the first film, when it was probably better to just let people think this was a stand alone feature that popped up out of nowhere.
This franchise deserves to have the same bullshit treatment as the live action adaptations of Scooby Doo, The Smurfs, Alvin and the Chipmunks, Yogi Bear, Garfield,I know it is too much to hope for Casper level of greatness, but can we at least get Underdog?Inspector Gadget? Why does this franchise seem to not only never have a sustainable budget, but it can’t attract talent behind or in front of the camera?
Final Grades:
Woody Woodpecker- D
Woody Woodpecker Goes To camp- C-