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4.3/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 4.3/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Gopher Trouble remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you like old-school animation where logic is treated like a suggestion, sure. It’s perfect for anyone who misses the era of slapstick violence, though people who prefer coherent stories will probably hate it within thirty seconds. 🐰💥
Honestly, watching Gopher Trouble feels like witnessing a slow-motion car crash in technicolor. Oswald and Elmeer show up with the best intentions, but they have the combined tactical intelligence of a wet paper bag.
The gopher isn't even that mean. He just wants to exist, but the duo decides the only solution is total environmental collapse. Why use a trap when you can just turn the farm into a crater?
There is a point where the cartoon just stops being about a gopher and starts being a showcase for how many sticks of dynamite you can fit in a single frame. It’s almost impressive. Almost.
It reminded me a bit of the frantic energy in Pardon My Pups, where things also spiral out of control for no good reason. Except here, the property damage is just… aggressive.
I found myself staring at the background art during the explosion sequences. It’s actually quite detailed for a short that is clearly just looking for an excuse to blow things up. It’s a shame the characters spend all their time setting fuses instead of, you know, just talking to the gopher.
There is no lesson here. There is no moral. Just a very tired Henrietta Hen and a lot of smoke. It’s weirdly hypnotic in the way that What a Knight managed to pull off, but without any of the charm. Sometimes you watch these things and realize the animators were just having a bad day and decided to take it out on their creations.
Don't expect anything profound. Just expect a lot of noise. And maybe bring some earplugs if you’re watching this on high volume.