With Mortal Kombat II and Mighty Morphin Rangers to contend with, a good old-fashioned clown video doesn't stand much of a fighting chance in the increasingly violent battle for children's attention, but that didn't stop the makers of Clowning Around from making the effort. The film gets off to a strong start with an over-the-top skit about a clown named Woody who uses rather unconventional culinary methods to bake a banana cream pie. After Woody bicycles the pie to its destination (a long route that takes him past the Eiffel Tower), viewers watch a trio of clown acts in a circus tent: Lolly by Golly delivering a comic monologue, Snickers and Harvey trading wisecracks in a ventriloquist routine, and Flapjack performing a juggling act (while riding a unicycle, at one point). But, after the zany humor and wacky camerawork of the opening pie number, the visually static monologue and ventriloquist acts really slow down the show (visually speaking). A commendable effort, but pacing problems make this an optional purchase at best. Ages 3-8. (R. Pitman)
Clowning Around
(1994) 35 min. $9.95. Visual Perceptions, Inc. (dist. by Tapeworm Video). PPR. Color cover. Vol. 10, Issue 1
Clowning Around
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