This film portion of this review was previously published during my coverage of Sundance 2020.
It was during the 1980s that John Kricfalusi looked out on the animation landscape and was disgusted by what he saw. Everything was lifelessly drawn and perfectly packaged to market action figures and other merchandise to the masses in an inoffensive manner. There was no true passion behind the medium that had sparked wonder inside him as a child, and he was determined to do something about it. Ron Cicero and Kimo Easterwood’s Happy Happy Joy Joy: The Ren & Stimpy Story details the creation and destruction of one of the most important shows of the 1990s and the polarizing figure at the center of it all.
John K. originally pitched a variety show entitled “Your Gang” which was passed on by the Nickelodeon executives at the time, but they did take a shine to the characters of Ren & Stimpy, which led to the production of their own series. This initial era of development is showcased as a free-for-all of creativity from a shaggy little upstart called Spumco. The film provides detailed interviews from the creative team that proves to be equal parts “those were the days” nostalgia and “I don’t know how we survived” shell-shock. Most agree that creator John K. was a creative genius who put his entire heart into crafting the best show possible, but the legend of his temper and unyielding demands led to a great number of fractured relationships both creatively and personally.
Kricfalusi would argue that his methods were effective as The Ren & Stimpy Show debuted to some of the highest ratings in cable that had been seen up until that point. The film highlights the genuine love that the fans developed for the show as stars like Jack Black and Iliza Shlesinger explain how this show was unlike anything they had seen before. With this immense popularity came the desire for more content from a creator that was becoming more difficult to manage with every episode. Not only was John K. sparring with Nickelodeon Standards & Practices and encouraging his team to ignore network notes, he was pushing his team to the breaking point and being a perfectionist to the detriment of everyone and everything, including the longevity of the show.
The documentary offers an objective look from all parties involved from the network executives and the animation staff to the prickly creator himself. This footage is what elevates this film from a mere history of one of the greatest animated series ever to air to something more immediate and important. Throughout the film John K. is labeled as many things, but it is not until certain #MeToo revelations in the final act that the film gives you an emotional gut-punch that puts you in a state of stock and reframes the interview you have been witnessing throughout. While he appears to believe that his apologies are enough to wash away the specter of abuse that hangs in the air, the audience is left to reckon with the fact that great art is often tied up with detestable figures, and it is up to them to see what they can tolerate. Happy Happy Joy Joy offers an in-depth look at the development and highlights of the beloved not-really-for-children’s show that should satisfy both die-hard fans and those interested in a story of narcissism run amok.
Video Quality
Happy Happy Joy Joy: The Ren & Stimpy Story comes to DVD with a decent 480p transfer that suits the movie well. This project is primarily a talking heads interview project with clips from the show and archival footage interspersed throughout, which provides different levels of visual quality. The more recent interviews obviously look noticeably better than inconsistent archival footage, but the quality of the episode clips they used seem to be derived from the best elements available. Skin tones look natural and details hold up fairly well. Colors are a bit flat and black levels are subject to some crush and compression artifacting. The image is a bit soft throughout with noticeable haziness around the information on the interview subjects. This film is visually not a knockout, but it gets the information across that it needs to in an efficient and pleasing way.
Audio Quality
The DVD comes with both a Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 track that does everything it needs to do well. Dialogue is pretty consistently clear throughout with only occasional moments where sounds from the clips muddle the clarity of the subject’s words. Surround speakers add a bit of texture to the proceedings, mostly in the form of musical cues. This track appears to be free from any damage or other issues that would lessen your enjoyment. This presentation is about as good as the source material will allow.
Special Features
- Deleted Scenes: A massive 1 hour and 13 minutes of unused material is provided here primarily comprised of interviews with those who worked on the show. This material is incredibly fascinating as you get further details on this period of their lives, specific information on technical aspects of the series, a deeper look into some classic animation memorabilia and more. There is a heartbreaking interview with an artist who confesses his perceived obsolescence in today’s animated landscape as well as grudges he struggles to let go of for the sake of his peace of mind. It is worth buying this disc just for this extra material alone.
- Trailer: The minute-and-a-half trailer is provided here which gives you a good look at what this documentary covers.
Final Thoughts
Happy Happy Joy Joy: The Ren & Stimpy Story is an utterly engrossing documentary that should appeal to hardcore fans of the show as well as those who love hearing crazy workplace drama. The fact that so many of the subjects from that period participated in this feature really makes it worth your time. Kino Lorber has delivered a pretty solid DVD with an A/V presentation that is good for the format. The reason to buy this instead of streaming is to get the copious amounts of unused footage from the film. Definitely check this one out if you get the opportunity. Recommended
Happy Happy Joy Joy: The Ren & Stimpy Story will be available to purchase on DVD on December 15, 2020.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the DVD.
Disclaimer: Kino Lorber has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
