Buckaroo Bugs

This classic cartoon is full of great gags. Red Hot Ryder makes Elmer Fudd look like a Rhodes scholar. The "lookit me, I'm-a ridin' sidesaddle...well I am!" sequence is hilarious. And the Grand Canyon cliff-jumping sequence near the end is a brilliant mix of comic timing and Carl Stalling's musical genius. What prevents me from giving this a 5-star rating is the same criticism other reviewers have stated, in that Bugs' characterization is just a bit off. He really has nothing to fear from Red Hot Ryder, and doesn't have to work too hard to get the best of him. That caveat aside, I'd say this is a fun ride from start to finish.

It's a good thing Red Hot Ryder's not really human, but just a dumb little schmuck......probably even less than that. Otherwise, Bugs' bullying antics here would reduce that poor soul to tears. The "Arkansas Traveler" sequence, where Bugs uses a magnet to undo Red's pants, is funny--but it's a GUILTY kind of laughter. I'm docking this cartoon by a full star because of Bob Clampett's repeated claims for creating the Yosemite Sam character--a claim which his real creators, Friz Freleng & Mike Maltese, have vehemently denied.

It's a good thing Red Hot Ryder's not really human, but a dumb little schmuck--probably even less than that. If someone truly human endured Bugs' unmotivated humiliating of his adversary, that poor soul would be reduced to tears. The "Arkansas Traveler" sequence, where Bugs (twice!) reduces Red Hot to just a G-string, is a delight--but it's a GUILTY kind of delight. I'm docking this cartoon by a full star because of Bob Clampett's continual claiming of the credit for creating Yosemite Sam (a charge which Mike Maltese and Friz Freleng vehemently denied).

This is not Bugs' personality. However, I enjoyed the dopiness of Red Hot Ryder.