The Roland and Rattfink series is inconsistent and never reached classic status with any of the cartoons, and none of the best cartoons were as good as the best of Pink Panther, The Inspector and the Ant and the Aardvark (the three best of the studio's numerous theatrical series). But it was always watchable and never reached terrible or mediocre at best depths which some of the other theatrical series from DePatie-Freleng Enterprises did. All the lesser efforts were ones that left me mixed.
'A Fink in the Rink', the series' penultimate cartoon, evoked a mixed reaction from me with both good and not so good. Not one of the best Roland and Rattfink cartoons like 'A Pair of Sneakers', 'Robin Goodhood' and 'War and Pieces' and closer to 'A Taste of Money', 'The Foul Kin' and 'The Great Continental Overland Cross-Country Race' level if anything, but definitely worth a one-time watch with the same general strengths of the series and also the same general cons.
Will start with what worked. The light-heartedness of the music is always endearing and the main theme is another memorable one (have neglected to mention that in other reviews for other Roland and Rattfink cartoons). There are some nice colours here and there. Rattfink's snideness amuses.
Likewise with Rattfink, who was always the funnier and more interesting character between him and Roland and that is obvious here in 'A Fink in the Rink'. The final third has energy and is the funniest the cartoon gets. Lennie Weinrib doesn't disappoint.
Did think that Roland was bland and it did feel, unlike Rattfink who is in a type of role perfect for his personality traits, like the studio/writers were experimenting with him in putting him in a more authoritative type of role. One that Roland is too generic and lightweight in and his rhetorical and no-nonsense approach doesn't quite gel. While picking up in the final third, the story doesn't properly come to life and is very typical formula-wise of the series that by now was pretty tired.
Final third aside, the gags are not particularly funny and are derivative of gags from other cartoons but without their freshness. The pace is again erratic and generally the animation isn't great and looks rushed.
All in all, very conflicted here. 5/10
'A Fink in the Rink', the series' penultimate cartoon, evoked a mixed reaction from me with both good and not so good. Not one of the best Roland and Rattfink cartoons like 'A Pair of Sneakers', 'Robin Goodhood' and 'War and Pieces' and closer to 'A Taste of Money', 'The Foul Kin' and 'The Great Continental Overland Cross-Country Race' level if anything, but definitely worth a one-time watch with the same general strengths of the series and also the same general cons.
Will start with what worked. The light-heartedness of the music is always endearing and the main theme is another memorable one (have neglected to mention that in other reviews for other Roland and Rattfink cartoons). There are some nice colours here and there. Rattfink's snideness amuses.
Likewise with Rattfink, who was always the funnier and more interesting character between him and Roland and that is obvious here in 'A Fink in the Rink'. The final third has energy and is the funniest the cartoon gets. Lennie Weinrib doesn't disappoint.
Did think that Roland was bland and it did feel, unlike Rattfink who is in a type of role perfect for his personality traits, like the studio/writers were experimenting with him in putting him in a more authoritative type of role. One that Roland is too generic and lightweight in and his rhetorical and no-nonsense approach doesn't quite gel. While picking up in the final third, the story doesn't properly come to life and is very typical formula-wise of the series that by now was pretty tired.
Final third aside, the gags are not particularly funny and are derivative of gags from other cartoons but without their freshness. The pace is again erratic and generally the animation isn't great and looks rushed.
All in all, very conflicted here. 5/10
