The End of Kanga and Roo

Playworld was the best way to spend Christmas shopping, driving toy cars, shooting fake guns (even though I don't support them), and making wish lists. And spending time with cousins. Those are my memories of Playworld. I also remember asking Grandpa if he would buy me ice cream and he would always say "Oh Balogni, you don't want that" he was wrong I did want it, but I always liked it when he would say "Oh Balogni."

Playworld was a great place. The EZ Bake oven was invented by Lionel Playworld (2006 Toy Hall of Fame induction). Their Logo was a giant Kangaroo. AndToys R' Us ran them out of town.

So how did I, the Rumbler, fancy upon my days at Playworld? Well, good question, there was actually a series of memories which I will now tell you. But I will warn you, unlike a movie, you may be moved to tears.

It all began when I found out that Disneyland no longer sports a Swiss Family Robinson attraction in Frontierland. Yeah, apparently monkey-footed Tarzan moved them out of town. I was sad. So then I was thinking about Tomorrowland, and with Tomorrowland come my fondest memories of Captain EO (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFThn8SK47M) where Michael Jackson and Angelica Huston battle it off (it is actually where Gene Roddenbery stole ideas for his film FirstContact and the Borg. Great movie though (captain EO), MJ turns borgs into dancing robots and men from the 80's. But like Swiss Family Robinson, Captain EO was stupidly replaced by "Honey We Shrunk Ourselves." 2 for 2 Disney. It is then that I thought back to being a kid and watching Disneyland commercials where they would always have Toys R' Us ads with the Big Giraffe. The advertising worked because I my one desire was to go to California and play with Geoffrey. Little did I know that the Giraffe's mastiffness would overpower that of the Kangaroo.

Two Grandpa memories that came through after thinking about Playworld:

1) We were walking in the grocery store (Grandpa Loves to Shop: yellow keychain circa 1994), and when my head was turned Grandpa would give the cart a heavy push so that when I looked back it appeared as though the cart moved without touching it. I had no idea how it was happening. How did the cart keep moving in the desired direction and all Grandpa had to do was hold his hands in the air. I was mystified. At this time I was not as experienced with illusions, as I am now, so my mind went to wonder, "could grandpa be a rara avis?" I didn't know, he made carts move without touching them. My lesson was learned as i now know the powers of inertia.

2) His tricks didn't stop with shopping carts. We were driving the Isuzu on our way to the store, and every single time he made a turn the Truck would know which way to go. We would turn left, and it knew, we would go right, and it knew, I was baffled. Now, I may be known for my woolgathering, but this was no daydream. After a series of turns, and each time the arrow flickering true, I finally asked Grandpa how the Truck knew where we were going. I still remember him saying "because it has gone there so many times" and it made sense, the truck had driven there a lot. So that is how I learned about cars. (if neither of these stories make sense then re-read them).

Pursuit of Happyness? More Like . . . Pursuit of Boryng

The girls cried while the guys yawned. I could have cried, but I didn't. I've stopped crying in movies once I realized that they weren't real. For example; Where the Red Fern Grows is only a book, White Fang is a book, The Little Mermaid is a cartoon, Rudy is made-up, Pride and Prejudice shouldn't even have been written, and all of these caused needless tears. My last hope is Apocalypto and if Queztaxoacl doesn't show up and I cry, then I am done with movies.

Though I did enjoy Will Smith and son, and the early eighties atmosphere, and the San Fran bay area, I felt too somber and sad. In the end I would rate it up there with every other Hallmark movie.

The kid is cute, Will is likeable and his character is well-played, so in the end I would recommend it, but be sure to buy popcorn (refillable).