How to Hook Up Your Home Theater (2007)

"How to Hook Up Your Home Theater" is a 6.5-minute Annie Award nominated short film from almost 10 years ago. Many decades ago, they made quite a few of these Goofy "How to" short films, so this is a bit of back to the roots. Kevin Deters and Stevie Wermers wrote and directed this short film and if you pay good attention from start to finish, you will also see a little moment of homage to Walt Disney as this one here is a Disney produced film as well. I will not say too much about the story as the title pretty much gives it away. Goofy tries to get the perfect home theater system for watching sports events mostly. In the end, it is almost too real for him. I believe this is not on par with the best Goofy "How to" films, but still a worthy addition all in all and I recommend it. Apart from that, I've always liked Goofy. Thumbs up.

If only all the old Goofy cartoon shorts were this funny! This is a modern version of the old Walt Disney films that featured Goofy illustrating how to do something. Decades ago, Goofy starred in many films like this--including ones on driving or skiing. But this one's crazy sensibilities beat the old ones--like they infused the old cartoons with crack.The film consists of Goofy buying every possible expensive TV accessory--a screen as big as a movie theater's, DVD, Blueray and a zillion other expensive and not exactly necessary things. He buys them from what appears to be a Best Buy-type store and the whole thing is wildly confusing and strange. And, when it's all finished, Goofy is stuck with a zillion remote controls! Overall, fantastic animation quality, great writing and a zaniness that you will love--hopefully this is a sign of yet more to come.

Walt Disney's Heaven-residing spirit must be VERY happy right now! For the most worthy successor to his genius for knowing what makes people happy, John Lasseter from Pixar, has started the ball rolling on bringing back the truly wonderful spirit of the classic Disney 2D animation of the '40s & '50s by releasing Disney's brand new "National Treasure" companion short "How To Hook Up Your Home Theater", starring Goofy! And this truly is Goofy as portrayed 60 years ago, and every little detail of his environment is true to his time.You must know I'm one who's life was made much happier by falling in love with everything Walt created. And I also remember comparisons written a few generations back comparing Disney cartoons with Warner Bros., and how most of them agreed how much better Bugs and all his gang were...and I agreed, mostly, except when it came to Donald and especially Goofy. Well, I'll swear on a Bible in a courtroom, whatEVER your cartoon preferences have been THIS one will have you almost literally rolling in the aisles! It made this 61 year-old tech geek applaud and get tears in his eyes(in public!) I was laughing so hard, and so often, while being entranced by this animated treasure! And best of all, this ode to guys and our love of new gadgets was directed by....a woman! No WONDER it works so well! So, as I like to say about entertainment I love: "If this doesn't get you laughing I'll bury ya myself!"

We saw this short before National Treasure Book of Secrets. To be honest, we enjoyed the short as much or more than that film (and it was a good film!) The short is a throw-back to Disney's old "How to" films of the 50s and 60s starring Goofy and despite modern advances (paperless animation, subject matter), it fits perfectly into the genre. Same style animation, same absurd situations, same old Goofy... and I mean that in the best way.For us, though, the short is wonderful because of it's take on Home Theater and Installation. Both my husband and I work for a professional A/V integrator and we work with this stuff every day. Watching Goofy tackle our world in his own inimitable way, we literally cried from laughing so hard.From knowing which components to buy at "Shiny Stuff," to waiting for delivery between 8 and 5, to dealing with way too many cables and way too many speakers, to the Almighty Holy Universal Remote, Goofy's experiences reflect Everyman's experiences with this new technology (and highlight some of the best and worst of our industry, particularly in the residential market).In short (no pun intended), this new Disney short is priceless. Bravo, Disney!