Feature1978·25m·5.6

A Doonesbury Special

TV MovieAnimationComedy

Garry Trudeau's classic characters (Mike Doonesbury, Zonker, etc.) examine how their lifestyles, priorities, and concerns have changed since the end of their idealistic college days in the 1960s. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in 2012.

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Cast

James Allen Brewer

Jimmy Thudpucker

Barbara Harris

Joanie Caucus

Charles Levin

Mark Slackmeyer

Rebecca Nelson

Barbara Ann 'Boopsie' Boopstein

William Sloane Coffin

The Reverend Scott Sloan

Jack Gilford

Referee

Michelle Browne

Jeannie

Richard Cox

Zonker Harris (voice)

David Grant

Mike Doonesbury (voice)

Richard Bruno

B.D. (voice)

Mark Baker

Kirby (voice)

Rick Elice

Frank (voice) (as Eric Elice)

Will Jordan

Sportscaster (voice)

Linda Baer

Ellie (voice)

Eric Jaffe

Howie (voice)

Thomas Baxton

Rufus (voice)

Lenny Jackson

Magus (voice)

Patrice Leftwich

Virgin Mary (voice)

Ben Haley Jr.

Calvin (voice)

Details

Status
Released
Original language
English
Languages
English
Budget
Revenue
Age rating
Quality
4K UHD · HDR10 · Dolby Vision
Production
Hubley StudiosUniversal Press Syndicate

Crew

Director

John Hubley

Writers

John Hubley, Faith Hubley, Garry Trudeau, Garry Trudeau

Sara Fishko

Editor

Gallery

Reviews

CinemaSerf

3/21/2024

6.0

Summoned from the pool for his dinner, "Zonker" watches a bit of "Thudpucker" on the television before settling down to a dinner prepared by "Mike" that might just be lasagne. It's an extension of this quizzicality that starts to evaluate the changes in society that have occurred since their earlier lives sharing just about everything. Is that era truly finished? Is that even their concern any more? What is worth fighting for nowadays? Steeping in more reminiscences accompanied by some sort of Bob Dylan-esque folky ballads, we take a trip (literally, I think) into their tear-gassed past; play some American football and listen to an increasingly meandering, anodyne and frankly quite annoying tirade of dialogue that I found just a bit too contrived and not at all funny. Spaced out or timed out? I didn't really care after ten minutes of this overlong depiction of things "totally incoherent". It might well resonate better with US audiences, but not being one of those I found it all a bit facile. Sorry, but my heart and mind was elsewhere, especially when it went into philosophical crêche mode followed but the worst parody of a nativity play I've ever experienced. As ever with Hubley animations, there is a quality of animated continuity that cleverly reflects the narrative - there's just way too much of that chat.