Oddly enough, I found the first minute or so with Buckwheat and Big Shot discussing the dog to be a warm, endearing scene. Buckwheat's decision to call the dog "Smallpox" is rather contrived, but the scene still feels more natural than you might expect. Later, there are a couple of funny little digs at gossipy housewives (who all attended the Margaret Hamilton finishing school, it seems) and the phone booth bit IS kind of amusing (but is there no other phone booth in this dang town?) but, alas, it's all capped off by another lecture, which seems to be the only thing MGM honed down to a fine science in these shorts.
Better than the usual MGM short, because there's some attempt at gags and some characterization. Not a terrible way to end the series.
Better than the usual MGM short, because there's some attempt at gags and some characterization. Not a terrible way to end the series.