Rude Dog And The Dweebs: U Can't Teach A Rude Dog New Tricks

Frankly, I feared that watching this would be an experience on the order of sitting through an ALA Executive Board meeting. So, I was pleasantly surprised to find that Rude Dog is a fairly savvy character whose heart is not loudly painted on his sleeve (in the manner of the Care Bears), but rather shows his caring in more creative ways. Culled from the popular television series, this compilation of Rude Dog cartoons opens with a charmer in which Winston (one of the Dweebs--social outcast dogs who are almost poignant in their innocence) orders a family tree kit. Thinking the family tree poster is a connect-the-dogs game, one of the other Dweebs draws a line linking Winston to a bad dog across town. Though a bit crestfallen, the honorable Winston feels a familial duty to break bread with his common ancestor. Naturally, problems ensue. In another episode, the other Dweebs are working on a jigsaw puzzle while Kibble sighs that she's bored. Rude Dog suggests she start a vegetable garden. Soon, all the Dweebs (with the exception of Tweek who discovers a bugle) are working on the vegetable garden. When the Dweebs see the fruit of their labor being carried off by crows, they make a scarecrow (which, of course, sends the crows into a laughing jag). Rude Dog has a different idea, however: let Tweek practice his bugle playing in the vegetable garden. Although the stories are fairly simple, Rude Dog shines in its individual touches and snappy dialogue. Watching the tape reminded me very much of another story about helping underdogs to help themselves: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. As Rude Dog himself might say: "It's all in the tone, babe." Recommended. (Available from most distributors.)