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

Anyone who encounters the green clay character Gumby is sure to like him. Even though people may assume that all things Gumby-related are for kids and NOBODY else, it's clear after a bit of investigation that Gumby can appeal to a variety of ages.

Gumby: The Movie was originally released to theaters in 1995. Though it was by no means a great success, die-hard fans have been longing for its DVD release for quite some time. That wish came true at last a few shorts months ago, when Gumby: The Movie finally got officially released on DVD.

Previously, I had noticed several false versions of the movie on eBay and many other online stores, so all consumers should be aware that phonies are out there -- avoid them. Anyway, much to my delight, this DVD came with a bonus 2" Gumby figure. Despite the fact that this small figure is identical in size and appearance to my Gumby keychain, it is always a delight to add another Gumby token to my ever-growing collection.

Gumby: The Movie takes place in Gumbasia, a land of clay, bright colors, and general happiness. It has a simple plot that's certainly easy and interesting enough for even the shortest attention spans to follow. After the optimistic Gumby discovers that local farmers may be evicted from their homes, he gets together with his band (The Clayboys) to organize a benefit concert. Now, there are plenty of twists along the way, the first one being that The Blockheads (Gumby's infamous archenemies) simply don't want any part of it.

After watching Gumby and The Clayboys rehearse, The Blockheads realize that Gumby's music makes his pet dog Lowbelly cry. What's so special about that, exactly? Lowbelly's tears are actually valuable pearls. Anyone who's familiar with the Gumby series will immediately know that The Blockheads are greedy and tend to jump at any opportunity to steal -- so you can only imagine where that goes.

Through multiple scenes of kidnapping, dognapping, knights, and robots, Gumby exudes a cartoonish charisma that is difficult to ignore. Alongside his trusty friend, the horse Pokey, Gumby always comes up with a clever way to overcome evil without the movie getting too predictable. The soundtrack is fitting, as it conforms to whichever type of good/bad adventure Gumby is currently involved in. Through everything, children are exposed to the different causes and effects of human emotions; it's hard to imagine that a film consisting of colorful chunks of clay could evoke that type of thing, but I am certain that children will have learned many lessons after watching Gumby: The Movie.

As a side note, I have to say it's refreshing to know that this Gumby film was written and directed by none other than the creator of the little green figure himself, Art Clokey. It can be exasperating at times to see classic characters put in the hands of newcomers, and usually never works quite as well, so it's a good thing that Clokey's trademark Gumby/Pokey creativity gets a chance to shine in this movie.

In addition to the adorable 2" Gumby figure I mentioned earlier, Gumby: The Movie contains some other extra features. Included within the DVD's Bonus Features are a few Gumby episodes from the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. These have clever titles, I must say, my personal favorite being As The Worm Turns -- a humorous nod to a certain TV show. I'm also pleased that there's instant chapter accessibility, and it's quite easy to navigate through certain scenes. The DVD setup and packaging is perfect for all Gumby admirers.

With a running time of 117 minutes, Gumby: The Movie doesn't overstay its welcome. It proves itself worthy time and time again of entertaining young children, the young at heart, and of course all longtime Gumby fans. Each time I watch this movie, I notice something new and interesting about the claymation, or I pick up on a funny moment. For the easily amused, it must be impossible to ever tire of this movie. And what could possibly be wrong with that?

Highly recommended!






Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD