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As Good As It Gets

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

. . . for Warner Bros. because that's all the Looney Tunes creators needed to tell America everything it needed to know about the State of Michigan. This Wolverine frog title character can sing and dance to beat the band--but only when no one is watching. That's Michigan all over. The U.S. government made the "Mitten State's" Mackinac Island America's third-ever National Park, in 1896. A few years later Detroiter Henry Ford invented a car that could get Americans to National Parks in droves. Michigan promptly banned cars on Mackinac, and became the only state to defrock a National Park. A few years earlier Michigan's most famous Civil War Hero, Gen. George Armstrong Custer, made exposing Republican corruption in their dealings with the Sioux Indians the cornerstone of his Presidential Campaign. He told everyone his plan--except Sioux leaders Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse, who had their women ream out Custer's lifeless ears for better Afterlife Communication Skills. One-time Aviation Hero Charles Lindbergh was America's next Michigan J. Frog hero. No one heard a word he had to say after he hobnobbed with Hitler. Michigan high school dropout Thomas Edison invented the movies, but lost his shirt because no one heard them--Mr. Phonograph forgot to include sound with his pictures! Jerry Ford finally gave Michigan a Wolverine in the White House, but the only time America heard him say anything was when he pardoned "I'm-A-Crook" Milhouse Nixon. Even the Michigan J. Frog State football team got into this Silent Treatment Act Thursday night vs. Alabama. As America watched, no one heard a peep from the Spartans; the National Semifinal Cotton Bowl ended Tide 38, MSU 0. It just goes to prove that the U.S. will NEVER hear Michigan J. Frog!

We are so fortunate. We get to see the frog sing and dance. This is the remarkable tale of a man who finds a box. In the box is a frog who is an accomplished song and dance man. He performs at a high level but only when his owner is around. This cartoon takes us on an uncomfortable ride as the poor man who has been victimized by the frog embarrasses himself over and over, trying to get people to see his amphibian act. Unfortunately, those who get to see the little guy only get a croaking piece of sludge with almost no personality. The way this is put together is wonderful. Once again, Chuck Jones couldn't be matched for creativity. I first saw this at a movie theater in 1956 and it has stayed with me for all time.

A man futilely struggles to make his fortune with a frog that sings and dances, but only when it is alone with the owner.The cartoon's premise closely follows that of the 1944 Columbia Pictures film "Once Upon a Time" starring Cary Grant in which a dancing caterpillar is kept in a shoebox. It was common for Warner Brothers to mine well-known live action films for its Merrie Melodies productions.Whether it borrowed from another film or not, the funny thing is how they ended up "winning" in the memorable film category. Everyone has seen the frog sing and dance and can reference it. Few have seen the Cary Grant film.

The J.C. Wilbur building is being demolished by the Acme Building and Wrecking company. When they are down to just the cornerstone, a foreman discovers a proclamation, so to speak, about the building being erected in 1892. Suddenly, a frog climbs out of the cornerstone, slowly stretches and then dons top hat and cane and starts belting out a stage tune! The foreman raises an eyebrow and pictures himself a rich man by exhibiting a singing frog.The rest is pure hell for the foreman. He goes to the Acme Theatrical Agency (everything was "Acme" back in these '50s LT; just ask Wile E. Coyote). Of course, the frog does nothing now, just gives a huge belching noise and lies limp. The foreman is booted out, and instantly the frog comes back to life again!The gag continues, and could get tiresome and frustrating but the frog is so darned funny I didn't mind how many times I kept seeing the same schtick. In fact, the frigging frog wouldn't shut up....until other people showed up. I actually felt sorry for the poor foreman. The frog ruined his life.....and will keep doing it to others years from now, as we see at the end of the cartoon when the little monster is re-discovered in the middle of this century! This is a very sadistic story. How nasty can you be? That foreman should have had frog legs for dinner early on and saved himself a lot of grief.