The Littlest Hobo: Complete Second Season review (DVD) ★★

Review by Adam Stephen Kelly
Stars London the Dog, Keenan Wynn, Henry Jones, Melody Ryane, John Vernon, Scott Brady, Gale Garnett, Carol Lynley, Martin Milner, Cameron Mitchell, Clifton Davis, Morey Amsterdam, James Stephens | Written by Various
UK Certification PG | UK RRP £24.99 | DVD Region 2 | Runtime 423 minutes | Directed by Various

The second season of the popular Canadian television series for kids marks the first time that I've ever sat down with it. When I was younger, it simply wasn't on TV, but then again, this season from 1980 aired a decade before I was even born.

After watching the season, which consists of 18 episodes that each run just over 20 minutes in length, I can safely say that I'm firmly in agreement with Justin Bateman's review of the first season. It really was a show just for kids. Very young kids. For adults there is no merit whatsoever so I'd be puzzled by anyone purchasing this three-disc set just to reminisce – it'll most likely prove to be a disappointing reliving of their childhood. Incredibly wooden acting and illogical plots make for a few giggles along the way but for all the wrong reasons, as the travelling dog, who is quite literally a little hobo as per the title, goes from town to town helping out certain residents and in some cases saving the day from disaster. If you're up the creek and the hobo's in town, consider yourself lucky – you're about to be given a paddle. Of course, you'd need to suspend your disbelief in the first place to take a show about a super-smart dog that consistently saves people in any way seriously.

I think that kids in this day and age, preferably those too young to really notice the age of the show, would still enjoy The Littlest Hobo. It's overflowing with silliness, but at least the integral themes are both fun and positive. And who could honestly dislike the theme tune? It's the stuff of legend. Having never even seen the show before as I said, I very much had already heard the song. It's outgrown the programme in the fame stakes, and why not?

If you picked up the original season when it hit DVD and just about wore the discs out, I see no reason why you won't love this release just as much. It's the same old kind of story to a degree of equal stupidity, but perhaps you'll take a bizarre fancy to the worst actors and writers Canada had to offer in 1980.

Until the third season, I'll just keep moving on...

EXTRAS ? Just an episode guide, if you can seriously call that a special feature.

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