Review of Cramp Twins: Vol. 2

Introduction

I didn`t know much about `The Cramp Twins` until I got this volume to review. I thought the name sounded pretty cool though and a quick Google search showed me that it was a potentially `cultish` cartoon spin-off off a `cultish` comic book. (It was based on Graphic novels by Brian Wood). It sounded like it had all the potential for being one of those really cool series that are not only amusing to kids, but have many layers of humour and entertainment for more mature viewers too. This expectation was sort of right - and sort of wrong too. Which for a review is a really stupid starting point, giving you no useful foot-hold on whether this is worth exploring or not. So I`ll try to do a little better at communicating what I mean…

The show is one of those primitively stylised animations where music, great voices and funny dialogue make up for lack of detail. On that level it works just fine. The colours are vibrant, the characters fun and the general look and feel is upbeat. So far so good.

The Cramp Twins are Wayne and Lucien Cramp, ten year old twins who are polar opposites in almost every respect, starting with appearance and moving on from there. In broad terms, the bluish-purple faced Wayne is a snot-ridden terror who likes scrapping, trouble-making and bullying his brother.

Lucien, on the other hand, is a namby-pamby pink skinned bespeccled Dudley do-right; a vegetarian keeno who also prefers to play with yucky girls than boys. He`s also the subject of his brother`s constant derision. He`s not too keen on his brother either.

Despite the fact that this feels very American from the outset, it`s actually a British show, clearly aimed at the US market. Woods got the idea for the show when he was in France and it became an instant hit there in 2001. It didn`t air in the US until two years later, probably following a thorough US re-dub.

Brian Wood was nominated as the best cartoonist in France and won the competition after being nominated two years in a row.

As the series progresses, it`s not these two fairly predictable stereotypes that give the show it`s quirky air so much as the supporting cast.

The first of these is obsessive Mother Dorothy (`Sometimes Dot, never Dotty`). She`s an obsessive hygiene freak, always cleaning and on the look out for germs or stains. Father Herman is over-shadowed by Mrs. Cramp, yet has a curious compunction to figure out the impossible - regardless of the chaos it causes. (The male stubbornness trait of `I can do it Dammit`).

Perhaps funniest of all is Tony Parsons (I wonder if the ex-muso journalist turned author knows of this?) who is the tiniest ten year old in the world. He`s also an `alternative therapy` enthusiast, who is easily talked into anything with his soft, kind nature.

The female contingency is further supported here by Wendy Winkle, daughter of Walter Winkle (Mr. Cramp`s boss), who is the archetypal spoilt-brat with a soft-spot for bad boy Wayne.

Mari is Lucien`s other friend. She works with Lucien on his various `do-good` operations though a little power-struggle with him is never far from the surface.

So all the ingredients are correct and present for some madcap capers. To a large degree they are delivered, though personally I was left feeling that the show never quite reaches its full potential.

This disc, entitled `Haircut Horrors & other episodes` contains six `2-in-1` episodes` including `Date Daze & Agent X`, Sick Daze & Picket Picket`, and `Twin Studies & Birthday Blues`.

Video

This is a very good transfer of a colourful animation, in original 4:3. No signs of artefacting or wear.

Audio

Standard broadcast stereo, though a nice full, rounded sound with a fun score and theme.

Features

None.

Conclusion

For fans of this madcap cartoon show, this disc delivers value for money with over two hours worth of material for an RRP of £5.99.

For me though, despite it seeming to have all the right ingredients in perfect measure, it never quite satisfies. Episode after episode I felt that it would inevitably get better. But unlike, say, `The Simpson`s` or `Family Guy`, this one never delivers the laugh aloud punch-line.

I watched some of the episodes with my two daughters, one now a teenager and the other ten, and, though they found it perfectly diverting, I got the impression that they could take it or leave it too.