Hottoceame The Age of Commercialism
Gutsycurene Fanciful, disturbing, and wildly original, it announces the arrival of a fresh, bold voice in American cinema.
Mathilde the Guild Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.
Geraldine The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.
Horst in Translation ([email protected]) "Bob's Birthday" is a 12-minute movie from 12 years ago by the National Film Board of Canada. David Fine and Alison Snowden wrote and directed this Oscar-winning little movie and they are mostly known for their work on "Shaun the Sheep" (the series, not the new movie). Anyway, this one here has some dark humor, but also some truth to it. A woman invites all her and her husband's friends to surprise him on his birthday. Unfortunately, the husband does not have his best day, walks around with no pants and calls all their friends boring while they hear it still being hidden to surprise him. Lots of awkwardness in this movie and some pretty funny moments I thought. Decent watch and I recommend it. The animation is very simple, but I liked it too.
Kristie Ann Webb This short disgust me. Totally sickening. I can't think of another cartoon that has a character imitating an elephant with his crotch. I bet the main reason why this short won an award is because of its sexual content. When I first seen this on Cartoon Network that one time, I was shocked and disgusted. Lately and recently, I never saw it again. Now, I have no love for elephants, no thanks to Bob. Trust me on this. This is not a cartoon for kids and well- minded adults, like myself. Man, I wished Cartoon Network never aired this crap (The time they've aired O Canada). In fact, I wish Adult Swim was separated from Cartoon Network.
bob the moo Margaret Fish is busy putting the finishing touches to a surprise 40th birthday party for her husband Bob. Meanwhile, still at work, dentist Bob is in the grips of a middle aged depression where he wonders where his life is going and if he should really be as bored and disaffected with his lot as he is. While the guests gather in his home, Bob takes his time coming home and, when he eventually does, Margaret finds that Bob is deep in the throws of a crisis and keeps the surprise a secret In what is now regarded a pilot for the animated series "Bob & Margaret", this short film is wonderfully amusing but with a real heart for the characters and emotions involved. It is a simple plot but it is consistently amusing, occasionally very funny and mostly quite moving. The script paints Bob and Margaret as convincing and real people whom the audience easily identify with and feel for; they are funny but never in a cruel or mocking way. The animation matches this, providing a fuzzy warm style that has plenty of amusing little touches around the edges particularly the pair of dogs in the house! I have never seen more than an episode of the series but consider it to be good and continues the themes and characters established in this film. Overall this is a touching and funny little short about middle age nothing of any great consequence but enjoyable and entertaining nonetheless.
LeRoyMarko Funny animated short film that gave birth to the series, which I must admit, I haven't really followed. In this short, Bob turns 40. Margaret organize a surprise party, but she'll get a few surprises of her own! While she's preparing kebabs and the dogs are choking on the same ball, Bob is hit by middle-age crisis. His fear is to "wrinkle up like a piece of fruit". Maybe it's time to have children. Maybe Margaret doesn't find him sexy anymore. Maybe he should fall to temptation and have an affair with his younger secretary. Maybe ophtalmology is really his destiny! Lots of question and lots of laughs in this one.Seen at home, in Toronto, on December 29th, 2004.79/100 (***)
