Fearless feature!

>> >> The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle works

by MATTHEW HAYS

Filmgoers could be forgiven for being mighty worried about the feature version of The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle. Filmic adaptations of TV stuff really haven't been that good--in fact, they've been downright crummy. Think of the litany of lost opportunities like Lost in Space, the Flintstones movies, Wild Wild West and--perhaps worst of all--The Mod Squad.

And there was even more room to flop here, seeing as the source material wasn't merely quaint old crap which had gotten funny with age, but rather the truly great, unapologetically silly cartoon series launched in '59 by the late Jay Ward. Originally airing on U.S. network TV as Rocky and his Friends, the show featured nutty, inspired storylines and starred the flying squirrel Rocky, his rather stupid moose sidekick Bullwinkle and their nemeses Boris Badenov, Natasha and Fearless Leader (the show included sketches involving other characters, like Sherman and Mr. Peabody, who travelled through time). Since its original air dates, the show has deservedly won a cult following, with talent as significant as Matt Groening (Life in Hell, The Simpsons, Futurama) citing its cynical and self-conscious style as a major influence.

The feature based on the show, much to my relief, manages not to sully the memory of the original series. In fact, screenwriter Kenneth Lonergan's clear love of the show has moved him to inject some new ideas into the movie while maintaining the twisted spirit of the original.

There's certainly enough talent here, that a miss would have been all the more mysterious. Robert De Niro plays Fearless Leader and Jason Alexander and Rene Russo play Boris and Natasha, all with hilarious results. Best of all, however, is the return of the original voices of Rocky and Bullwinkle, June Foray and Keith Scott, respectively, who breath life into their 40-year-old alter egos.

Not all of the sight gags work entirely, and the film does suffer from a lag in its final lap. But it's still laudable, and well worth seeing; I suspect it will sate everyone's inner child and please R&B buffs/purists simultaneously.

Go see it. A film review like this is a feat to write: I've managed to recommend a funny movie without giving away any of the good lines, gags or plot twists. I wouldn't want to ruin the fun for you. :

The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle opens Friday, June 29