Truly Dreadful Film

Too many fans seem to be blown away

It's hard to see any effort in the film. There's no comedy to speak of, no real drama and, worst of all.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

I am only 25, but saw Leave it To Beaver on television about 5 years ago and was already nostalgic and then went on to watch it whenever I could on TV Land. A few months ago when we were back where I grew up in Washington, I showed this to my 16-year old brother and he liked it right away; I started with the final season I bought in Seattle earlier in the trip so he saw him in his older days where his voice had deepened and he had a "funny sounding" voice. These were such episodes as where Wally grew a mustache, and Beaver finds that the paperboy he wants to get back at was really a girl, and Beaver gets ready to tour the USA with his class. He liked the older Beaver better. Ward was rather liberal for the late 1950's and early 1960's. How He is sometimes seen in the kitchen and doing dishes for example and rarely punishes Wally and Theodore. Beaver is his nickname to those who weren't part of the generation. When Beaver drills a hole in the garage with Larry coaxing him into having fun with the drill Ward just gave a stern lecture with no punishment, which still led the 7 or 8 year old Beaver to try and run away. When his father wasn't lenient giving a stern talking to or just passing a wise lesson along, he was maybe just on par with parents who are neither lenient nor strict. The one thing that may have bothered me before is that Hugh Beaumont died before I was even born. Mayfield was one of those towns where the state doesn't seem to be revealed, as the nature of Ward's work was never revealed, he was just seen in his office, often with his bumbling and annoying coworker, Clarence "Lumpy" Rutherford's dad. Wally was perhaps the funniest part of the show. The generation gap and placing friends above family what Wally and later the Beaver had to say to their parents was a funny recurring joke on the show ie. " oh, people just sort of goofed around back then"," gee dad I'd feel like a creep having you introduce yourself in front of the class, mom that'd ruin me." Jerry Mathers and Tony Dow's voice's deepened a little early. One thing I didn't like was how much Beaver treated girls as repulsive and how long it took him to get over it, he only knew that adult women were too grown up to be icky in any way, he had an infatuation with his young teachers in season 1 and season 2. Mathers was a cute boy, all the way through the show and didn't lose his charm after his voice deepened. He was a nice and charming teenager. if only there was a kid like that now. Sometimes i might feel like a dork wanting to watch a series that is outdated by nearly 50 years every night, when most people under their mid or late 30's or so haven't even seen Leave it To Beaver, much less make early TV Land era shows part of their lineup. ButI have even got my contemporary slightly older brother to watch Leave it To Beaver. there's way too much to say about this show for one review.

Leave it to Beaver has been somewhat maligned for representing an idealized, almost utopian view of the 1950's (although half the episodes aired in the next decade) where everyone is in his place... the sons go to the school dances and participate in sports and take the girls out on nice, proper dates (as well as always addressing their father as "sir"), the father goes to work and comes back to read the paper, and the wife is in, you guessed it, the kitchen. Among certain circles "June Cleaver" is seen as a dirty name.If you watch the series, however, the show is much more than its reputation. Ward and June Cleaver are not the perfect parents, they are merely very good parents. It almost should be remembered that the world is seen through the eyes of Beaver Cleaver, the show's star. Keeping that in mind, it shouldn't be a surprise that we rarely see the parents argue (and also why we never learn what Ward's job actually is) and the world in general is seen as a pretty friendly place. The family system is very idealized and it's refreshing to watch. The show has a nostalgic vibe no matter what the age of the viewer (my father was a toddler when it aired and I can still feel nostalgic about it) because it does idealize values that are still cherished by people all over the world- decency, honesty, responsibility, family... the Cleavers are great with all these things just about every episode. It's also a very comfortable show... it isn't aiming for laughs that will put you on the floor laughing, but it will consistently get a chuckle out of people.Because the Cleavers are idealized, some may see the show as "dated" because the 21st century has a more cynical approach to family. This is not to say that television that strives to show a realistic family situation is bad or wrong, only that showing an idealized version of the family isn't wrong either. What is often overlooked, however, is that many issues are addressed throughout the series run. Some things that may have been more acceptable in that era are frowned upon in LitB, and serious issues are dealt with throughout the series. Racism, alcoholism, divorce, and more that would surprise those who know the show only be reputation. Very often other children would talk about their father beating them (something Ward absolutely never did... not even spankings), and although these lines are often played for laughs there is a definite somber tone as well. And as a younger person watching the show, I see the same basic social issues being dealt with by Beaver and his brother Wally as kids and even adults deal with today. The things that Beaver or Wally do wrong every week (the show has one basic formula, but it works well) may seem small and petty in comparison to what many of us have done, but many of the same principles are involved in the reasons behind the wrong actions and the solutions. So in this way, Leave it to Beaver is both tremendously old-fashioned and relevant to any culture in which humans are involved.As far as specifics about the cast, they're all iconic characters with the nasty, conniving Eddie Haskell being one of the greatest TV character ever. Ward's wisdom is always a nice treat, and I believe that June Cleaver has more depth and strength than she's given credit for (there are a few times when you wonder who wears the pants in the family!). One of the biggest drawbacks of the show is the older Beaver in the later seasons. He's still saying the same lines that are supposed to be cute and innocent, the problem is Mathers wasn't cute and innocent anymore, he was a teenager. That's partly why the show finally ended with the cast moving on to different things.So all in all, it's a show that I can't recommend enough.

The pilot did not include Hugh Beaumont or Tony Dow Richard Deacon played another character other than Fred Rutherford in the pilot.Also Viola Rutherford was in the series before Lumpy. The Rutherfords and the Clevers went on a picnic. Viola was sitting on the Beaver's lap in the front seat of Fred's car. There was no mention of Lumpy in this episode.I believe the Clevers lived in Ohio. They mention Mayfield Heights as just Mayfield. This is near Cleveland,Ohio Also they mention nearby State College where Lumpy gets a scholarship. As we all know State College is Penn State University. Also, in one episode when Eddie Haskel quits school to work at the gas station. The track team had to play Cleveland High in a track meet. Also I believe a Bellvue or Bellport High was mention. Wherelse in the USA would there be a Mayfield or Cleveland High Schools? That would play sports against each other. I am not sure on the Bellvue or Bellport but I know there is one in that region of Ohio. Also there are several amusement parks up there also.I just watched another episode and it had Crystal Falls and another town close to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania in it. The boys took a bus trip. I have to remember the name now. Then in another episode Eddie's parents often went to Freeport which is close to the Cleveland area in Ohio. So they are very close to the Cleveland area?Makes you wonder?A great series and I will enjoy it forever.June's maiden name was Bronson and had a sister named Peggy. Wally and the Beaver were about 6 years apart in age? Beaver and his friends were in 2nd grade while Wally, Eddie and their friends were in 8th grade. Yet in another episode when Wally joins the boy scouts. He is 12 and the Beave is going on 8. ConfusingI seen this in an episode when Aunt Martha came to take care of the family. June went to her sister Peggy's house when she had a baby.On June 10th of 2008 I was watching another episode and the Clever's spent the weekend at Shadow Lake. I know there is a Shadow Lake near Dayton, Ohio Makes it more reason to think the Clever's lived in Ohio.

I have never seen a full episode of this show. I was born in 1957 so it was on when I was little. I can't stand this show. Never have and never will I watch it. Most say this is a all American family comedy. Well it may be to them, but not to me. The beaver is down right a fool. Wally isn't any better. It is silly, and should be shelved forever. Compared to Gilligan's Island, Beverly Hillbillies and such it never will be anywhere near these classics. It comes on I turn it. I have seen the best and this ain't one of them. My hell would be having to watch reruns of this. I wish they had an anti-beaver league. I'd join in a heartbeat.