Woody Woodpecker (1996 film)

Woody Woodpecker (also known as Steven Spielberg Presents: Woody Woodpecker) is a 1995 American traditionally animated jukebox musical adventure comedy film produced by Steven Spelberg's Amblimation studio, directed by Simon Wells, and released by Universal Pictures. It was released on November 22, 1995, coinciding with the namesake character's 55th anniversary. However, the film was only a moderate success at the box office, earning $31 million at the box office, largely due to competition with the much more successful ''Toy Story. This makes it the second-to-last film to be produced by Amblimation (the studio's final film, Balto, ''would follow one month later). Despite its underperformance at the box office, its strong sales on home video spawned a television series spinoff titled The New Woody Woodpecker Show which debuted on Fox Kids four years after the film debuted in theaters - though it was made without Spielberg's involvement - and uses the same character designs and most of the same voice cast.

Cast

 * Billy West as Woody Woodpecker, Wally Walrus
 * Andrea Martin as Mrs. Meany
 * Mark Hamill as Buzz Buzzard
 * B.J. Ward as Winnie Woodpecker
 * E.G. Daily as Knothead
 * Nika Futterman as Splinter
 * Pat Musick as Andy Panda
 * Dom DeLuise as Papa Panda
 * Cathy Cavadini as Miranda Panda

Musical numbers
The film mainly features three standards used constantly in films released during Hollywood's golden years (mainly due to the fact that the Woody Woodpecker character was created in 1940). Only one number, Zoot Suit Riot, is an original song written for the film by the jazz group Cherry Poppin' Daddies, who would cover the song in their 1997 compilation album of the same name.

The Woody Woodpecker Song - sung by Natalie Cole

Everybody Thinks I'm Crazy - sung by Billy West

Make Someone Happy - sung by Dom DeLuise

Anything You Can Do - sung by E.G. Daily and Nika Futterman

Zoot Suit Riot - sung by Billy West

Dream A Little Dream of Me - sung by B.J. Ward

Route 66 - sung by Billy West and B.J. Ward

Reception
Woody Woodpecker received a 21% approval rating on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, making it the lowest rated film released during Amblimation's short 6-year lifespan. Gene Siskel of Siskel and Ebert gave the film a "thumbs down", saying, "It talks down to either very very young kids or the generation who grew up on Walter Lantz's classic cartoon shorts, and doesn't know which audience it wants to please. Not to mention outside of theme parks and television, the Woody Woodpecker franchise has completely run its course." Roger Ebert however gave it a "thumbs up", comparing it favorably to Animaniacs, a television program Spielberg was producing during the time the film was released.

The film was a box office failure, earning just $3 million on opening weekend, and earning the #10 spot, way behind Disney and Pixar's Toy Story, which opened the exact same day.

Quotes
MS. MEANY (Angry at Woody for coming home late): Woodpecker, do you have any idea what time it is?!

WOODY: You know what Ms. Meany?

MS. MEANY: WHAT?!

WOODY: (sighs) ...nothing.

WOODY (quoting Clint Eastwood as he faces Buzz Buzzard and Tweaky): ''You're just gonna have to ask yourselves one question, "Do I feel lucky?" Well... (pulls out cartoonish weapons) Do ya? Punks?''

PAPA PANDA: ''If you don't catch that woodpecker by tomorrow, you're grounded for two months. No dating that girlfriend of yours, no TV, no nothing.''

ANDY PANDA: But, Papa...

PAPA PANDA: ''No "buts" Andy. I want him here tomorrow, alive!''

WOODY: Hey Andy, guess who?