To Duck.... Or Not to Duck (1943)

Crappy film

It's hard to see any effort in the film. There's no comedy to speak of, no real drama and, worst of all.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

To Duck or Not To Duck (1943) *** (out of 4)Elmer Fudd and his beloved dog Rover are out duck hunting when they com across Daffy Duck. Soon Daffy and Elmer are in a boxing ring where you know the duck isn't going to play by the rules.If you're a fan of Daffy and Elmer then you're obviously going to want to check this early teaming out. I don't think this here is one of the best shorts together as the series would eventually get much better but there are still plenty of nice laughs here that make it worth viewing. There's no question that the highlight happens early on when there's some "duck shot" being fired at Daffy as he flies through some clouds. As you'd expect the animation is of the highest quality.

. . . Daffy Duck demands of hunter Elmer Fudd at the outset of TO DUCK . . . OR NOT TO DUCK. For years Disney families had wanted Bambi's clan to be able to exercise their Second Amendment Rights. (If the Bambis had turned out to be dyed-in-the-wool pacifists, Thumper-with-a-Thompson-Sub-Machinegun would be the next best thing.) Unfortunately, things have not turned out as Hunky Dory for humans in Real Life as they seem to be at the end of DUCK. America's Critters increasingly are resorting to Biological Warfare in a coordinated campaign that may have Humanity closer to the Brink of Extinction than we think. In clear violation of the Geneva Conventions, Elsie and her cohorts are threatening people with the incurable, inevitably fatal Mad Cow Disease every time we gulp down a burger. Squirrels in Kentucky have jumped on this Prion sneak attack bandwagon for anyone eating their state stew. Bambi's descendants are helping to spread Lyme Disease all over America. Pigs are vying with our feathered "friends" to see which can mutate a flu virus into an airborne Super Bug lethal to humans. With food sources such as these, who needs enemies?

Unlike many other reviewers on this website, I did not enjoy this short that much. Personally I found it too short, a little boring, plot-less and mediocre. I felt the animation was not worked on nearly as much as it could have been (unlike other Daffy episodes at the time) and I also found the slapstick a little overdone, especially as I expected something with hardly any slapstick in it all (like a lot of Daffy episodes at the time).There were things I did like about it as well. The STYLE of animation for Daffy is one of my favoured ones and there also happen to be quite a few good gags on here. Also I quite like the referee, quite a nice jolly duck.This short is mainly for those who prefer episodes with much Looney Tunes slapstick and the same sort of theme as episodes of the 50's and 60's and for people who like ALL Daffy Duck stuff. I may have submitted quite a negative review, but don't forget some of you out there will enjoy this! ;-)5 and a half out of ten.Available on YouTube

Few of the Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies shorts dealt with physical activities more hilariously than "To Duck... or Not to Duck", as over-energetic Daffy challenges gullible Elmer to a boxing match weighed heavily in his own favor. If you thought that the White Sox scandal of 1919 was screwed up, then you ain't seen nothing yet! Quite simply, it's the sort of thing that only Daffy could do. I noticed in one scene that Elmer's pants fell down and it looked like you could see his butt! They actually got that on screen in 1943! Of course, these cartoons were always looking for ways to push the limits. I'd better be certain of that or my name isn't Lee Eisenberg...and it isn't! (just kidding: it is)