The writing for both is atrocious but the effects are…not bad. It kind of makes me want to see a good Marvin the Martian movie (maybe a parody of '50s Sci Fi or something). Watch here (Marvin starts about 2 minutes in if Karate dogs are not your thing).
BTW Yep that is Eddie Murphy voicing HKP.
Hmm, I gotta vote thumbs down on both.
I am amazed that Hong Kong Phooey has somehow lived on in people’s memories. It ran for one season of 16 episodes. And I do remember it. I attribute its longevity to having a kickass theme song, and the once-in-a-generation voice of Scatman Crothers. Although it’s hard to see how this new version could have made use of his talents, it just ain’t the same without him.
The Marvin one also misses the mark. And it’s not because it’s CGI and live-action; they just don’t understand why the character worked. Marvin was never really a bumbler; he was competent, but was essentially the foil for the hyper-competent Bugs Bunny or the hyper-incompetent Daffy Duck. Now he’s tied up in a cardboard box, with a malfunctioning gun, and can’t even defeat some self-entitled brat who’s alone on Christmas morning because his parents are probably sleeping off an egg-nog bender. How did he get there? Is he still trying to destroy the Earth? Is he just worried that they didn’t keep the receipt? What part of this is actually supposed to be funny?
Both pretty pathetic. Hong Kong Phooey was third-grade level grossout jokes where aren’t even funny with that low bard. Marvin didn’t get the point of Marvin – he was designed as a foil, and is far too bumbling to be funny. Not to mention the fact that the entire sequence is belabored beyond belief.
Indeed.
It makes me very angry.
I want to punch that kid in the face. Repeatedly.
I think I missed something. In fact, I know I did since the video got taken down.