In
this, the second PC stop-motion spook-story, Jeff and Thurston have worked
through some of the kinks in their friendship.
They’re now a bona fide investigating duo, hunting a sasquatch-like
creature through the caverns beneath a golf course (if this film and its
predecessor are to be believed, everything
in Scotland rests on networks of monster-populated underground caverns.)
While
Thurston remains uncouth and self-absorbed, he’s lost a great deal of his
skepticism and takes to the case with relish.
Jeff has changed as well; he’s more confident and forceful than the
pushover of the previous outing. There
are occasional regressions, but overall, his backbone is pretty well
intact. I could imagine PC playing this version of Jeff in a live-action
project (although not with that hair.)
Also, he’s grown into the investigator role right along with Thurston –
he’s ditched the Eleventh Doctor outfit and gone for an all-black look that
suggests he fancies himself a spy. It
amuses me.
There
are chases, moments of derring-do, and several puns on the word “bogey,” which
in the U.K. can mean both “monster” and “booger.” The main thrust of the piece, though, remains
the interaction between Jeff and Thurston.
Jeff has acquired a sweet but accident-prone girlfriend, and Thurston is
feeling a bit possessive of his ole chum.
He attempts to keep Jeff’s girlfriend from playing the Yoko to his and
Jeff’s Beatles, and his machinations distract both men from the bogey-related
task at hand. This allows a big
galumphing monster to slip into their midst unbeknownst, which sets the ball
rolling for all manner of trouble.
I think
I like Haunted Hogmanay a little
better, but this is fun, and I like that it’s not just a repeat of the first
story. Jeff and Thurston’s dynamic has
changed, the presence of Jeff’s girlfriend adds a different twist, and they’re
even chasing a new type of paranormal creature.
Good on them.
Also,
you can apparently use the same equipment for detecting both ghosts and
sasquatch-like bogeys. Who knew?
Last
thoughts on this pair of stories:
Accent Watch
Scottish
(toss two more projects in the BBC Scotland pile.)
Recommend?
In
General
– Sure. If you like animation that isn’t
made for kids (not inappropriate, just seems they’re not the intended
audience,) go for it.
PC-wise – Maybe. It’s amusing and pretty short. I bet PC had fun making this.
Warnings
Add in
a bit of swearing and some cartoon violence.
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