Wim Meuldijk discovered the reincarnation of his most famous creation Pipo de Clown in Joep Dorren and decided to film this 'pilot episode' in the woods of Hilversum (formerly known as Het Pipobos). Alexandra Blaauw joined the cast as the most buxom version of Mammaloe (Pipo's loving wife) to date and Rob van Houten was drafted to play their nemesis Dikke Deur. 65 year old Rudi Falkenhagen was willing to reprise his role of funny villain Snuf (the only original cast member to appear) with the ever reliable Michiel Kerbosch stepping in as partner in crime Snuitje. Furthermore Meuldijk decided to go all the way back to basics by reintroducing Pipo's daughter Petra (here played by a little girl called Stephanie with hair so bright red she makes Pipi Longstockings look subdued by comparison). Last but not least Meuldijk asked his daughter Belinda to get her ex-husband Rob de Nijs to make a guest appearance as the titular 'Bosbas'.
The entire 34 minute production was shot on location, and either they must have gotten extremely lucky with the weather or they had some mighty good sun reflecting boards and big brights lamps to light up the usually dark Dutch forests. The actors enthusiastically spring into action, with the elderly Falkenhagen rolling around on the ground, the not quite as spry as he used to be Kerbosh running and jumping his heart out and even Rob de Nijs balancing on a stepladder without the use of a mattress below. Granted, none of this is exactly death defying, but they still could have had a nasty trip and broke something at their age. The only one who doesn't really do much of anything is Pipo himself, besides showing that Joep Dorren does an immaculate impersonation of the original Pipo, Cor Witschge.
The plot, for what little there is, revolves around Snuf & Snuitje trying to rob the rich looking Dikke Deur only to be persuaded by him to help him lure Pipo back into his circus. He plans to do so by playing on Pipo's only weakness: the clown just cannot stand it when a balloon goes pop. In the middle of all this Pipo meets the Bosbas and introduces him to a special ladder (a play on the Dutch word for octave). the Bosbas sings his song, but strangely enough is not allowed to keep the ladder (Mammaloe needs it for her household), so he leaves again without any closure to his subplot. Dikke Deur's plot is also foiled because Snuf is really not much of a crook (and his wonky eye patch never completely manages to hide his 'bad eye'), so the crooks all leave with Snuitje promising there will be a next time.
And indeed, Pipo did return with a much larger budget and on the big screen in 2003 in "Pipo En De p-p-Parelridder". Joep Dorren and Rudi Falkenhagen were present and correct, but all the other characters were recast yet again, including unfortunately Michiel Kerbosch as Snuitje. To say nothing about that poor old Bosbas who is still waiting for his subplot to be resolved out their in the forest.
6 out of 10
The entire 34 minute production was shot on location, and either they must have gotten extremely lucky with the weather or they had some mighty good sun reflecting boards and big brights lamps to light up the usually dark Dutch forests. The actors enthusiastically spring into action, with the elderly Falkenhagen rolling around on the ground, the not quite as spry as he used to be Kerbosh running and jumping his heart out and even Rob de Nijs balancing on a stepladder without the use of a mattress below. Granted, none of this is exactly death defying, but they still could have had a nasty trip and broke something at their age. The only one who doesn't really do much of anything is Pipo himself, besides showing that Joep Dorren does an immaculate impersonation of the original Pipo, Cor Witschge.
The plot, for what little there is, revolves around Snuf & Snuitje trying to rob the rich looking Dikke Deur only to be persuaded by him to help him lure Pipo back into his circus. He plans to do so by playing on Pipo's only weakness: the clown just cannot stand it when a balloon goes pop. In the middle of all this Pipo meets the Bosbas and introduces him to a special ladder (a play on the Dutch word for octave). the Bosbas sings his song, but strangely enough is not allowed to keep the ladder (Mammaloe needs it for her household), so he leaves again without any closure to his subplot. Dikke Deur's plot is also foiled because Snuf is really not much of a crook (and his wonky eye patch never completely manages to hide his 'bad eye'), so the crooks all leave with Snuitje promising there will be a next time.
And indeed, Pipo did return with a much larger budget and on the big screen in 2003 in "Pipo En De p-p-Parelridder". Joep Dorren and Rudi Falkenhagen were present and correct, but all the other characters were recast yet again, including unfortunately Michiel Kerbosch as Snuitje. To say nothing about that poor old Bosbas who is still waiting for his subplot to be resolved out their in the forest.
6 out of 10
