User Reviews

. . . Mr. Walker when he climbs into his yellow convertible and turns into Mr. Wheeler during MOTOR MANIA is 3-X-2749. Is it possible that this plate is to cartoon vehicles what the black monolith was to the Kubrick epic live-action science fiction feature 2001? In other words, are these the same plate numerals that had graced THE FLINT-STONE's foot-powered auto, and that would be affixed to THE JET-SON's sky ride? Sounds like a query for Tom Terrific.

When I was a kid, my grandmother ran a driving school and it worked out of the same office as my mom and uncle's shared insurance office (in other words a family business right in Manhattan). I would sit around without too much to do, except that there was always this short, Motor Mania, on a VHS tape - students had to watch a video as part of the class to get their licenses (still do fyi in New York state) - and I would watch it many, many times to the point where I could recite it by heart. But it wasn't simply boredom and it being the only cartoon-centric thing available (there was also a Phil Donahue special about drunk driving I watched too, but I digress) - this is genuinely brilliant comedy AND as information.

Is it exaggerated? Well, yeah, it's a cartoon! But it doesn't mean that there isn't a sense that someone like "Mr. Wheeler" out there (it's a Jekyll and Hyde scenario where a nice guy, "Mr. Walker", leaves the house and as soon as he's behind the wheel he turns into a hideous, rage-filled MONSTER). It's narration over a lot of mad incidents that happen to "Mr Wheeler" as he goes about on the road getting into accidents, getting impatient and horrible while in traffic, and other nightmare scenarios.

What makes it so effective is that its a well-paced and quick movie, except that there is a beat where it shows how the monster Wheeler can be an ass even while being slow on the road (at one point he drives slowly as a giant back-up is behind him honking relentlessly), and that the comedy comes from a very real place, almost too real. If you've been in a family where this kind of thing was normal - having family members who get so mad behind the wheel and anxious even as they have been driving their whole lives and can/should know better - it's relatable. It's not something that is out of place to show at a driving school, even as it has its share of gags, all leading up to Wheeler's (relative) demise In other words, it's a great pre-driving ed for a pre-pubescent, and aside from the personal connection to it it's among the finest work Disney studios did at the time.

IN REAFFIRMING THE long standing idea that there are only so many plots, MOTOR MANIA brings our favourite bumbling everyman, GOOFY, into a sort of DR. JEKYLL & MR. HYDE of the mid 20th Century. Instead of the application of some dangerous serum, the transformation comes to our hapless hero due to his being alternately a pedestrian and a motorist.

AS WITH ALL of the Disney Short subject cartoons, there is nearly not one frame of film wasted. Characterization is quickly established and the story is off and running. We need only a short trip from the Goofy home in suburbia to downtown to observe the transformation. Comic versions of what we really experience in our driving experiences are paraded forth and we laugh, out loud even.

THE NAMES GIVEN to the Goofy split personalities are fittingly: Mr. Walker & Mr. Wheeler. With Walker we have the laid-back, easy going and peacefully stable man next door. He goes out of his way to be kind and genteel to everyone; be they animal, vegetable or mineral. Mr. Walker would not harm a fly or step on an ant, as was demonstrated in on screen action.

ONCE BEHIND THE wheel of the car, a sudden and extreme change takes place. Walker the meek becomes Wheeler the constantly irate and overexcited. His is a life of constant competition and racing with any and all drivers who may be near. His every instinct is tuned in on every aspect of the ride. He is keyed on being the first and only one to get where he wants, when he wants.

AS WITH ALL well made cartoon stories, we are treated to a morale; which is made all the more palatable by the freely distributed gags that accompany the story. As is usually the case, Goofy pays the price in the end.

ONE THING THAT has only now come to our consciousness is how much these GOOFY Cartoons of that period resemble the sort of on screen live action short subjects that were so successful for years. In example we offer the format and style of on screen humor that is the backbone of such exponents of the voice-over and visuals in familiar series such as the ROBERT BENCHLEY Series, the PETE SMITH SPECIALTIES and the JOE McDOAKES (BEHIND THE 8 BALL) Comedies.

IN CLOSING, WE were reminded of having viewed this Disney Cartoon so many years ago. It is just a funny, amusing and relevant today as it was in the 1950's when it was made.

IT IS OUR verdict that it should be screened by every driver at least 2 or 3 times each year. If I had done this, Lord knows how many of those troublesome fender benders that I could have avoided.

Leaving a long gap between disc 1 and 2 of the Completely Goofy collection, my interest got re-awakened by the delightful Goofy Gymnastics,which led to me going out on the road.

The plot:

Resting after work at home, Mr. Walker gives everyone the image of being relaxed and mild-mannered. Getting behind the wheel of a car,Mr. Walker completely changes into being a speed demon.

View on the film:

Standing out from all the shorts of the era which had Goofy on his own, director Jack Kinney draws a vibrant town of Goofy's, each being given their own quirk to stand out. Taking over from Goofy regular Pinto Colvig, Jim Backus gives his version a gruffness, which fits in perfectly with the hilarious speed demon in the screenplay by Milt Schaffer & Dick Kinney, which reveals the drive angry Goofy.