Huievest
Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.
Keeley Coleman
The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;
Abegail Noëlle
While it is a pity that the story wasn't told with more visual finesse, this is trivial compared to our real-world problems. It takes a good movie to put that into perspective.
Cody
One of the best movies of the year! Incredible from the beginning to the end.
Edgar Allan Pooh
. . . Dorothy's Mom Ruby Dandridge (as Little Red Riding Hood) demands of the Big Bad Wolf after Ruby's OTHER daughter--Vivian (as Goldilocks)--has run the would-be lupine miscreant ragged during GOLDILOCKS AND THE JIVIN' BEARS. In a brilliant bit of color-blind casting Waaaay before the alleged rapist's BIRTH OF A NATION remake, Warner Bros. serves as the Branch Rickey of the movie business by going out on the limb to colorize the Brothers Grimm. One could argue that the Big Bad Wolf comes off as a potential rapist himself the way that he threatens to "eat" Goldilocks on first sight. But once the latter starts Jitterbugging the tables are turned, and the rest of the story segues into a Sadie Hawkins dance. Even "Red's" Granny horns in on the fun, as the Big Bad Wolf yearns for a sound axle greasing. Naturally, wrong-headed racist Ted Turner failed to recognize GOLDILOCKS AND THE JIVIN' BEARS for the watershed Racial Advance that it was during World War Two, and thoughtlessly consigned it to the Hellfire of the infamous "Banned Eleven" Looney Tunes!
utgard14
Merrie Melodies short, directed by Friz Freleng, notable today for being one of the Censored Eleven. For those who don't know, the Censored Eleven are cartoons that were withheld from syndication because they were considered to be too offensive due to their use of racial stereotypes and imagery. This one updates and re-imagines the Goldilocks and Red Riding Hood stories for the (then) modern day. The Three Bears here are three jazz musicians who play their instruments to the point they are too hot to handle, so they leave them to cool off. While they are out, sexy Goldilocks shows up. Little does she know the Big Bad Wolf is after her because Red Riding Hood was late showing up to Grandma's. Anyway it's a light-hearted cartoon with some good jazz music and a few clever gags. In addition to Mel Blanc, this short features voice work from Lillian Randolph, Ernest Whitman, and Dorothy Dandridge's mother Ruby and sister Vivian. As for the animation, the characters are drawn and voiced in an exaggerated stereotypical way that will make some uncomfortable today. I'm far from politically correct but even I cringed at some of it, particularly the Red Riding Hood character. I do think the cartoon has value, historically and artistically, but be aware of what you're watching before you seek it out.
bugssponge
I don't know why UA banned this cartoon from their networks, it promotes black culture. Black people did like to dance. Also, Eddie Selzer's first cartoon as producer. In fact, Freleng was a Jewish man himself, so I bet he faced discrimination too.The cartoon opens up with 3 jazz bears, who like music. They go for a walk, then, goldilocks come in. Goldilocks doesn't like the food or the bed. The Big bad wolf comes in and goldilocks dances with him. then grandma shows up and dances with the wolf, while the 3 bears play their music.It has a good musical timing, which Friz Freleng was known for. This makes him my favorite animator and director. I mean a lot of people would say Jones was better, but I like his style, but no one beats the mentor (Freleng) who taught Jones everything.
Lee Eisenberg
Friz Freleng's "Goldilocks and the Jivin' Bears" is one of several cartoons that usually don't get any circulation these days due to racial stereotypes (I saw it at an exhibit about Mel Blanc). In this case, the stories of Goldilocks and Little Red Riding Hood get combined to create a jazz-filled extravaganza. A really good time.It's easy to enjoy these cartoons, just as long as we understand the content. Cartoons like this one and "Coal Black and de Sebben Dwarfs" were intended as homages to African-American culture. And anyway, it's not as if racism has totally vanished from our culture (just look at some of the depictions of Barack Obama).Overall, a really fun cartoon.