[9.4/10] So many Pinky and The Brain escapades end in failure because of some unfortunate mishap, some bit of hubris or bad luck or unfortunate coincidence that dashes the whole scheme. But in their X-mas adventure, the show takes the fun, seasonal left turn of the plan falling apart not because of some unforeseen obstacle, but because of the shared affections between these two demented mice.
Most of “A Pinky and The Brain Christmas” is a heap of the show’s usual enjoyable zaniness, with the duo planning to use Santa’s Workshop to manufacture and distribute dolls that will hypnotize the entire world. But that one last (admittedly a bit over-the-top) twist, where in the midst his megalomaniacal zeal, The Brain realizes that his dimwitted pal only asked for one thing in that letter to Santa he’s been so concerned with -- that Brain be happy. The fact that Brain is so touched that, on the verge of completing his diabolical plot, all he can do is wish everyone a Merry X-mas, is sweet enough to be itself touching, but also silly enough to be saccharine. And Brain giving Pinky a spell-checker, while Pinky gives Brain a globe keychain is the perfect button.
The rest of the episode is the show’s typical fun and zany humor. It’s fun revisiting this show as an adult and getting bits that went over your head as a kid like references to William F. Buckley and The Donner Party. There’s an irreverence to the whole style of humor that goes down smooth whether you’re a kid or an adult, like the North Pole pilot reminiscing about her propane tank boyfriend. It’s comic setpiece after comic setpiece, with stellar and expressive animation, and tons of great gags.
Overall, this is one of those specials that you liked as a kid, but can never be sure holds up as an adult, that turns out to knock it out of the park. I shouldn’t have expected anything less.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParent2017-12-11T04:37:49Z
[9.4/10] So many Pinky and The Brain escapades end in failure because of some unfortunate mishap, some bit of hubris or bad luck or unfortunate coincidence that dashes the whole scheme. But in their X-mas adventure, the show takes the fun, seasonal left turn of the plan falling apart not because of some unforeseen obstacle, but because of the shared affections between these two demented mice.
Most of “A Pinky and The Brain Christmas” is a heap of the show’s usual enjoyable zaniness, with the duo planning to use Santa’s Workshop to manufacture and distribute dolls that will hypnotize the entire world. But that one last (admittedly a bit over-the-top) twist, where in the midst his megalomaniacal zeal, The Brain realizes that his dimwitted pal only asked for one thing in that letter to Santa he’s been so concerned with -- that Brain be happy. The fact that Brain is so touched that, on the verge of completing his diabolical plot, all he can do is wish everyone a Merry X-mas, is sweet enough to be itself touching, but also silly enough to be saccharine. And Brain giving Pinky a spell-checker, while Pinky gives Brain a globe keychain is the perfect button.
The rest of the episode is the show’s typical fun and zany humor. It’s fun revisiting this show as an adult and getting bits that went over your head as a kid like references to William F. Buckley and The Donner Party. There’s an irreverence to the whole style of humor that goes down smooth whether you’re a kid or an adult, like the North Pole pilot reminiscing about her propane tank boyfriend. It’s comic setpiece after comic setpiece, with stellar and expressive animation, and tons of great gags.
Overall, this is one of those specials that you liked as a kid, but can never be sure holds up as an adult, that turns out to knock it out of the park. I shouldn’t have expected anything less.