All Rise...

Judge Franck Tabouring isn't crazy about this cat-and-mouse duo anymore. Just cage them, already!

Editor's Note

Our reviews of Tom And Jerry Tales: The Complete First Season (published April 30th, 2010), Tom And Jerry Tales: Volume 3 (published February 6th, 2008), and Tom And Jerry Tales: Volume 4 (published April 16th, 2008) are also available.

The Charge

It is a dance, dance demolition with these hilarious hijinks.

The Case

The cat-and-mouse duo of Tom and Jerry are back for another round of mischief in Tom and Jerry Tales, Vol. 6. While the two still seem to have plenty of fun feuding in a variety of exotic settings, this reviewer thinks it may be about time to retire the short-tempered cat and energetic mouse.

Here's what this latest volume has to offer:

• "The Declaration of Independunce"
It's July 1776, and Tom chases Jerry in order to retrieve his master's Declaration of Independence.

• "Kitty Hawked"
Tom and Jerry wreak havoc in the Wright Brothers' plane shop.

• "24 Karat Kat"
Tom and his cowboy cat buddy Butch figure out a plan to steal Jerry's gold.

• "Hockey Schtick"
Tom and Jerry battle it out on the hockey field.

• "Snow Brawl"
It's cold outside, and Tom and Jerry launch into a ruthless snow battle.

• "The Abominable Snowmouse"
Tom and Jerry encounter a giant snowmouse.

• "DJ Jerry"
Tom is supposed to watch over a record store, but instead he ends up crashing Jerry's music gig at a mouse night club.

• "Kitty Cat Blues"
Tom turns to music to win over his charming cat neighbor.

• "Flamenco Fiasco"
Tom and Jerry engage in a flamenco dance battle.

• "You're Lion"
Tom and Jerry go on a safari.

• "Kangadoofus"
Tom and Jerry take it up with some kangaroos.

• "Monkey Chow"
Tom and Jerry visit an exotic monkey garden.

• "Game of Mouse and Cat"
This time, Jerry has to catch Tom if he wants to keep a roof over his head.

• "Babysitting Blues"
Tom and Jerry are busy babysitting a little cat and mouse.

• "Catfish Follies"
Tom and Jerry go fishing and encounter a mean catfish.

Tom and Jerry Tales, Vol. 6 is part of a recent television update of the classic Tom and Jerry adventures, and although young audiences may certainly enjoy these new cartoons, I have to admit I rather prefer sticking to the classics of the '40s and '50s, back when the series was still wildly original and both humorous and intriguing. Tom and Jerry were two of my favorite cartoon characters during my childhood, and even though I still like to revisit some of their great episodes on DVD from time to time, I find it impossible to warm up to this new TV reboot.

One of the central problems I have with this new series is its lack of innovation. While most of the classic Tom and Jerry cartoons were just filled with wit, fun, and even suspense, these newer adventures are often too tedious for my taste. I certainly gave them a fair shot and made sure to watch all of them, but more often than not did I found myself checking how minutes I had left before the start of the next episode. In other words, hardly any of these tales really caught my attention, and I really never laughed or even put on a brief smile. Alas, the funniest thing about these new cartoons is their silly titles.

Just like the previous volumes, this set includes fifteen cartoons that are divided into several categories. While the first group places Tom and Jerry into historical settings, the second category takes them into the snow. The third follows them as they explore the world of music, and in the fourth group, they head to some of the world's most exotic places. Finally, the last category is a broader one, following Tom and Jerry as they go fishing or struggle with babysitting little versions of themselves.

In the last Tom and Jerry volume I reviewed, I found at least a couple of cartoons I mildly enjoyed, but this time, I found it very hard to pick any that entertained me more than others. The degree of goofy slapstick and boring feuds between the cat and mouse has increased dramatically during the past years, and most of the great elements from the classic tales are long gone.

The cartoons in Tom and Jerry Tales, Vol. 6 are presented in a solid full-frame format with reasonably strong colors, and the disc's audio transfer works just as fine. The DVD does not include any special features.

Like I said before, investing in this volume may pay off if you've got a bunch of kids who enjoy pretty much every cartoon out there, but if you're looking for the classic Tom and Jerry deliciousness and fun, stick to the great Tom and Jerry: Spotlight Collections instead.

The Verdict

Guilty.

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