Review: Corner Gas Animated “A Maze-ing Taste”

 

 

Overview:

It is the day of the annual Dog River Corn Festival. Hank has been replaced as the designer of the corn maze. Taking up the reigns is an ambitious Wanda, who is hoping to be included in a guild of maze masters. However, she is going to have to get past a master judge who is more interested in getting a date from Karen.

Meanwhile, it is all hands on deck to help pull off one of the town’s biggest events. Whether selling popcorn for charity or coordinating parking, the whole town pitches in. That is until everyone ends up lost in Wanda’s corn maze. Thankfully, Brent’s crippling fear of corn fields may save the day.

 

Our Take:

Corner Gas Animated dropped a bomb this week with the announcement that A-list actor, Ryan Reynolds, will be appearing on the series finale. Thankfully, that doesn’t happen until later this fall. In the meantime, Canada’s most celebrated adult animated sitcom has some surprises left in store.  

While he may be no Ryan Reynolds, this episode features a well-known Canadian entertainer in Rick Mercer. The Canuck television personality is recognizable across the Great White North for his comedic rants. And this episode does not take the significant guest star for granted.

Although one of the biggest draws for Corner Gas Animated is the celebrity cameos each season, most of the appearances are limited to short scenes. However, this episode was seemingly built around having Rick Mercer come to Dog River for a more significant role. Playing Maze Master Myron, Mercer has a lead part and more lines than some of the star players.

No one is complaining, as Mercer delivers a quirky nerd drunk on his power of being a corn maze judge. 

A far cry from the typical stylings of his political satire. Although the fun that he has playing this character shines through the screen. Although not the biggest name to appear on the animated adaptation, Mercer will remain one of the most memorable.

This series is always at its best when the whole cast gets together for a larger plot. Although, it does seem like Dog River has more made-up annual events than any other small town. Lacey makes mention of this within the episode. Still, there is no reason why they couldn’t have had one more Dog River Days before the franchise goes quiet.

Regardless of everything going on, Corner Gas is a comedy first and this episode delivers. Specifically, when Brent explains his illogical fear of cornfields. The laundry list of bad things that happen in cornfields should have us all questioning our rural farmland. Even then, the best part of the episode is watching Hank get lost in a corn maze and lose his sanity.

This was one of the most fun episodes to come out of Corner Gas Animated this season. There is excitement when the series breaks away from its formula to do something a little different. Having a theme for all the characters helps tie the show together, even if the theme is corn. Obviously Corner Gas is going to be missed, but it will be remembered for always giving gifts like this episode to the fans.