A Doonesbury Special main backdrop
A Doonesbury Special main poster

A Doonesbury Special

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5.3/10 • 6

1977-11-270h 25m

TV MovieAnimationComedy

Garry Trudeau's classic characters (Mike Doonesbury, Zonker, etc.) examine how their lifestyles, priorities, and concerns have changed since the end of their idealistic college days in the 1960s. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in 2012.

Directors
Faith Hubley, John Hubley, Garry Trudeau
Writters
Garry Trudeau
Editors
Garry Trudeau, Sara Fishko

Top Billed Cast

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  1. James Allen Brewer

    James Allen Brewer

    Jimmy Thudpucker

  2. Barbara Harris

    Barbara Harris

    Joanie Caucus

  3. Charles Levin

    Charles Levin

    Mark Slackmeyer

  4. Rebecca Nelson

    Rebecca Nelson

    Barbara Ann 'Boopsie' Boopstein

  5. William Sloane Coffin

    William Sloane Coffin

    The Reverend Scott Sloan

  6. Jack Gilford

    Jack Gilford

    Referee

  7. Michelle Browne

    Michelle Browne

    Jeannie

  8. Richard Cox

    Richard Cox

    Zonker Harris (voice)

  9. David Grant

    David Grant

    Mike Doonesbury (voice)

Reviews1

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CinemaSerf Avatar

CinemaSerf

Mar 21, 2024

6/10

Summoned from the pool for his dinner, "Zonker" watches a bit of "Thudpucker" on the television before settling down to a dinner prepared by "Mike" that might just be lasagne. It's an extension of this quizzicality that starts to evaluate the changes in society that have occurred since their earlier lives sharing just about everything. Is that era truly finished? Is that even their concern any more? What is worth fighting for nowadays? Steeping in more reminiscences accompanied by some sort of Bob Dylan-esque folky ballads, we take a trip (literally, I think) into their tear-gassed past; play some American football and listen to an increasingly meandering, anodyne and frankly quite annoying tirade of dialogue that I found just a bit too contrived and not at all funny. Spaced out or timed out? I didn't really care after ten minutes of this overlong depiction of things "totally incoherent". It might well resonate better with US audiences, but not being one of those I found it all a bit facile. Sorry, but my heart and mind was elsewhere, especially when it went into philosophical crêche mode followed but the worst parody of a nativity play I've ever experienced. As ever with Hubley animations, there is a quality of animated continuity that cleverly reflects the narrative - there's just way too much of that chat.

Media

  • A Doonesbury Special poster
  • A Doonesbury Special poster

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Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
--
Revenue
--
Keywords
politics1970scomic stripwoman directortelevision specialshort filmtv specialpreserved film