The love-dating premise, a subject that is pretty much universally relatable, for "Dating, Acme Acres Style" could have gone either way. It could have been a sweet, charming and amusing episode. Or it could have been too cutesy and sentimental, the "Love Stinks" segment being the one closest to potentially fall into this particular trap (the summary for that segment is enough to make one feel very mixed on what to expect from it).
"Dating, Acme Acres Style" is on the most part in the former category. It is not one of the best 'Tiny Toon Adventures' episodes and falls slightly short of being great, despite having so many great things. It is not quite one of the more consistent segment-structured 'Tiny Toon Adventures' episodes either, a case of two segments being great and one not quite being as good in my view. It is a very enjoyable outing though and mostly avoids the traps that this premise can come with.
It is at its weakest with "Love Stinks". It is charming and amusing enough and Calamity and Fifi are nice characters with an interesting dynamic that recalls the Pepe Le Pew cartoons. It just lacks the razor sharp wit and energy of the other two segments (the others being "Buster's Guide to Dating" and "The Dream Date Game"), which also had more interesting characters and dynamics, and felt a bit too cute and slightly bland.
Little Beeper also seemed pointless and too much of an underused plot device.
"Buster's Guide to Dating" however is a treat for anybody that loves Buster and Babs as characters and their chemistry together, speaking as one of those people on both counts. A premise that sounds somewhat mundane on paper reading the summary for the segment is though lifted by very witty writing and the dynamite interaction between Buster and Babs. An interaction that shines even more in the episode's wonderfully screwy take on 'The Dating Game' "The Dream Date Game" providing that you can just about buy what anybody would see in Elmyra when it comes to being a love interest.
As to be expected, the animation is dynamic and colourful and the music is as hip and catchy as usual. The theme song is one of the best for any animated show of the 90s. The writing has much of the razor sharp wit and wackiness one associates typically with 'Tiny Toon Adventures', especially in "The Dream Date Game". Anybody that remembers all the date/game shows that have been around since forever may find themselves going down memory lane. The episode has a good deal of energy, the characters are near-completely nailed (my only reservation being Little Beeper) and the voice acting is on point all round. Especially from Charlie Adler and Tress MacNeille.
Overall, very good fun. 8/10
"Dating, Acme Acres Style" is on the most part in the former category. It is not one of the best 'Tiny Toon Adventures' episodes and falls slightly short of being great, despite having so many great things. It is not quite one of the more consistent segment-structured 'Tiny Toon Adventures' episodes either, a case of two segments being great and one not quite being as good in my view. It is a very enjoyable outing though and mostly avoids the traps that this premise can come with.
It is at its weakest with "Love Stinks". It is charming and amusing enough and Calamity and Fifi are nice characters with an interesting dynamic that recalls the Pepe Le Pew cartoons. It just lacks the razor sharp wit and energy of the other two segments (the others being "Buster's Guide to Dating" and "The Dream Date Game"), which also had more interesting characters and dynamics, and felt a bit too cute and slightly bland.
Little Beeper also seemed pointless and too much of an underused plot device.
"Buster's Guide to Dating" however is a treat for anybody that loves Buster and Babs as characters and their chemistry together, speaking as one of those people on both counts. A premise that sounds somewhat mundane on paper reading the summary for the segment is though lifted by very witty writing and the dynamite interaction between Buster and Babs. An interaction that shines even more in the episode's wonderfully screwy take on 'The Dating Game' "The Dream Date Game" providing that you can just about buy what anybody would see in Elmyra when it comes to being a love interest.
As to be expected, the animation is dynamic and colourful and the music is as hip and catchy as usual. The theme song is one of the best for any animated show of the 90s. The writing has much of the razor sharp wit and wackiness one associates typically with 'Tiny Toon Adventures', especially in "The Dream Date Game". Anybody that remembers all the date/game shows that have been around since forever may find themselves going down memory lane. The episode has a good deal of energy, the characters are near-completely nailed (my only reservation being Little Beeper) and the voice acting is on point all round. Especially from Charlie Adler and Tress MacNeille.
Overall, very good fun. 8/10
