This is my first look at this series, just shy of 40 years after it came out. I got a deal on the DVD and decided to take a chance. I see that two stories combine to make each episode. What we have is an auto race of wild characters and their machines all competing for the title of "The World's Wackiest Racer."
The first thing I noticed, which almost made me a bit nostalgic for the period, was the psychedelic writing in the backgrounds as we were introduced to the racers. The titles of the drivers and their automobiles were colorful. One was a parody of the '60s British film called, The Lavender Hill Mob." Here, it is "The Ant Hill Mob," but the men certainly aren't British. One of the contestants is Penelope Pitstop, who had her own show, I believe. The same holds true for the obvious villains, described as "that Mean Machine with those double- dealing do-badders, Dick Dastardly and his sidekick, Muttley." This looks like fun
After watching this one, I discovered each segment involves a race, with a winner declared, but they keep going all over the country for the whole season Anyway, this first race is to Mustard Spread, Arkansas. The main side story is the Ant Hill Mob winding up in the home of the Seven Dwarfs.
First-look observations: The humor looks kind of weak. The only thing I laughed out loud at was the dog. I enjoyed the visuals - the cool cars, one of which (Professor Pat Pending) changed shapes. I appreciated hearing no laugh track and hope that's the case for the whole series. I also appreciated having English subtitles available, if I missed any dialog.
The next stop is Lemon Twist, Nevada, which has a population number of one. Along they pass through the ghost town of "Spookane." The villains try to stop the others with a road stand offer of "Free Koo Koo Kola."
"That gets them every time," says Dick Dastardly. The two ghosts in the town, "Morris"" and an unnamed one, wind up spooking a number of the entrants until one scares them out of town
Overall, not much was really that funny yet it was oddly entertaining. I am disappointed the humor is geared more for little kids, but I'll watch the whole thing It's colorful, if nothing else.