Os Trapalhões no Rabo do Cometa

Os Trapalhões no Rabo do Cometa is a 1986 Brazilian live-action/animated comedy movie directed by Dedé Santana, starring the comedy group of Os Trapalhões. It is the 30th film that's part of the Os Trapalhões movie franchise.

Plot
Didi, Dedé, Mussum, and Zacarias are doing a stand-up show at Teatro Scala, Rio de Janeiro, soon receiving the spotaneus visit of cartoonist Mauricio de Sousa, who tells to the quartet that there's a wizard on the loose, who is trying to achieve power when the forces join at the presence of the Halley's Comet.

His plan is ruined, however, when Didi has the brillant idea of touching the triangle at the same time as the wizard. Not amused, the wizard decides to time travel to different periods in history where the Halley's Comet was seen, so he can complete his mission.

But in order to not fail again, he must bring Didi with him, so both could touch the triangle. Didi is skeptical, and does not want to hold hands with him, so he and his friends have to run away from him in a series of adventures.

Why It Sucks

 * 1) The idea of an animated movie based on Os Trapalhões is interesting, but it was poorly-executed.
 * 2) The film feels rushed, in that the animated scenes seem'd like shorts and/or unfinished ideas being alongated and cobbled together to make a feature-length animated movie.
 * 3) The movie was made just to cash-in on the moment of Halley's Comet appearance, coincidentally being released at the same year the comet was last seen.
 * 4) Visibily limited animation, with little to no body movements, when compared to the Monica's Gang's animated movies that came out during that time.
 * 5) Most of the time, the dialogue fails to syncrhonize with the characters' mouth movements.
 * 6) Weak gags, such as the wizard having to be constantly reminded about his plan, and him trying to hold Didi's hand.
 * 7) Too much repetitiveness, not only in the dialogues, but in the situations too, where Didi prevents the wizard of completing his ritual.
 * 8) The beginning of the film, has rather forced and tiresome acting from the quartet, unlike their TV show.
 * 9) Besides telling the quartet about the wizard, Mauricio's appearance came out of nowhere, and he contributes nothing to the story.
 * 10) There's basically no incidental music, and when there is, it sounds very dissonant.
 * 11) Blatant product placement for Gelatina Royal.
 * 12) Various lack of connections pop-up from time to time on the script:
 * 13) * At Rome, flags referencing the Diretas Já and Corinthians are seen, despite them happening centuries after.
 * 14) ** At the Middle Age period, the Knights of the Round Table are playing cards with robots and ninjas.
 * 15) Contains several incorrect moments, such as a yellowfaced Asian being part of the Round Table, and a lot of homossexual jokes, mostly about Didi and the wizard having to hold their hands.

Redeeming Qualities

 * 1) The quartet are at least still in-character on their performances.
 * 2) Good voice acting from José Vasconcelos as the wizard and his puppet crow sidekick.
 * 3) Some funny moments now and then.
 * 4) The songs from the various 80s Brazilian bands (such as Ultraje a Rigor, Rumo, Metalurgia, Synopse, Ira! and Premeditando o Breque) are good to hear.
 * 5) The backgrounds are nicely drawn.
 * 6) Just before the animated part starts, there is comical reference to the animated television series [[mh:besttvshows:He-Man and the Masters of the Universe}}.
 * 7) Clever easter eggs of Mauricio de Sousa's Monica's Gang are present throughout the film:
 * 8) * At the prehistory, Horácio (Horatio) makes a cameo during the chasing scene.
 * 9) ** A Jotalhão (Thunder) balloon can be seen at the Coliseum in Rome.
 * 10) *** At modern times, one of the criminals has a shirt with Monica's face on it.

Reception
Leonardo Ribeiro in his review for Papo de Cinema said that "the limitations of animation [of the film] are visible, with few movements and lack of synchrony with dubbing in many parts. (...) Another problem of the feature is the repetition of situations (...) and dialogues in the plot (...) The lack of connection in the script is extrapolated several times, either in the scene of the Middle Ages, with knights of the Round Table playing cards between robots and ninjas, or in the little inspired passage through the Wild West. (...) In the end, between ups and downs, the prevailing feeling is that this was a product made in a hurry, with unfinished ideas being stretched to form a feature film."

Trivia

 * This is the second and final film from Renato Aragão Produções Artísticas to be co-produced by Mauricio de Sousa Produções, the first being a 20-minute animated segment for the movie Os Trapalhões no Reino da Fantasia.