Plot Details: This opinion reveals major details about the movie's plot.

After searching for years for this movie, MGM finally brought it out of their basement for a DVD release. Now, if you have seen the documentary "Crumb", artist Robert Crumb explains that he didn't want the film to be made. He hates Hollywood and everything it stands for. So, we have a film about Crumb's classic character, without Crumb writing it. But, after you jump that mental hurdle, you could really get this movie.

From the word go, you can see that Ralph Bakshi went for Crumb's artistic look, and he succeeds there, but all his time on the Spider-Man animated series five years prior to this has left this film very episodic. In fact, I'm going to review each "episode" one at a time. Let's begin.

The first third of the film, we'll call it "Fritz & The Fuzz" gives us an intro to the world of Fritz the Cat, an NYU student who loves his women and drugs. While trying to score with three lovely ladies in a bathtub (yes, a bathtub) when all of the other stoners in the apartment (who were all doing a study-group sorta thing) jump in the tub and have a huge orgy, With Fritz left there to just watch.

But, the orgy is soon ended by two cops. These bumbling pigs (yes, in the world of Fritz, cops are pigs) break in and stop the pot party. But, Fritz escapes to a synagogue. I'll let you watch the rest of this one on your own.

The second part of this I will name "Fritz's Harlem Adventure". Here, Fritz is befriended by Duke, a small time pool hustler. With Duke's help, Fritz is hoping to see the light. This leads to Fritz getting bombed off his @$$ on weed and going at it with the area dealer.

NOTE: THIS FILM CARRIES TONS OF DRUG REFERENCES, IN CASE YOU DIDN'T NOTICE.

After a day of sex and weed, Fritz finally sees that there has to be a revolution, so he starts a race riot in the middle of Harlem, and the only cops to stop the riot are the same cops from earlier (they were transfered).

The third part to this film will be named "Fritz's Revolution". Here, with the help of Winston (I'm guessing she's the same Winston from earlier in the film, but she seems older here. Much older.), Fritz gets out of the city (where his riot and his pot party have him labeled as a fugitive) and get into the country. There, Fritz meets up with a Nazi rabbit named Blue who is a member of a revolutionary (terrorist) group. Now, entangled in their web, Fritz has one mission, blow up a power plant.

Now, this movie was made in 1972, and as was the way in the day, certain movies were made with the idea that the viewers were to have been high to enjoy the film, at certain points in the movie, you feel that this movie is one of those types. With weird backgrounds and strange scenes, those of you not stoned (like myself) will feel like you just missed something.

The sound on this movie also has it's issues. There are times when it seems that the microphone was held a few feet away from the actors and you can barely hear them. Thank God this is only in the throw away scenes used to take up space (like the crows at the start of "Fritz's Harlem Adventure").

DVD extras are as scant as a $10.00 disc (and I paid $20 for this). The original trailer and subtitles, that is it. No commentary, no easter eggs, no nothing. If MGM had any smarts, they would of at least had a "making of" documentary. But, that's their mistake.

Overall, loyal reader, if you are into controversial cinema (like me), then get the first widely released X-rated (although the film never recieved an official rating) cartoon in history. If you can get past it's flaws, you just may love this movie. But, rent it first, just in case.

Trust me on this one. You'll thank me later.



Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Good for a Rainy Day
Suitability For Children: Not suitable for Children of any age