This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

it is the rare 'crazy' movie that actually has something to say.

It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

I came across this short on my Powerpuff Girls Movie DVD since 'Dexter's Laboratory' was one of my favourite shows on Cartoon Network alongside 'The Powerpuff Girls' and 'Johnny Bravo.' After having watched it, I found it straightforward yet cleverly written and reminiscent of the 'Rugrats' episode 'Chicken Pops' where Chuckie gets chickenpox and passes it on to the other kids.In this short, Dexter gets chickenpox and Dee Dee tells him how children contract it, thus making Dexter believe he would turn into a chicken if he scratches his spots. Dexter enters his lab to see if he can find a way to cure the chickenpox but he gets the urge to scratch. He eventually gives in and true to Dee Dee's word, he turns into a chicken much to her horror. This reminded me of the end of 'Chicken Pops' where an egg rolls beneath Angelica when she is in the car, she picks it up and believes she is turning into a chicken due to getting chicken pox and thinking she laid the egg.All in all, this is a short, smart and amusing cartoon that had a straightforward premise. 8/10.

At the front of the Power Puff Girls movie was a new Dexter's Lab short. Jerry Beck suggested its Oscar worthy, I'm not so sure, but I know that a nomination wouldn't displease me. Its a simple story who's only flaw is that it goes on perhaps a little too long for something so simple.Basically Dexter wakes up with Chicken Pox and his sister tells him what happens if you scratch yourself. Dexter then spends the rest of the time trying not to scratch.You know where its going- and you don't care. I didn't. Personally this deserved to be on the big screen if for no other reason then it seemed to play more like a John K (Ren and Stimpy or Ripping Friends) cartoon then a normal Dexter. The close ups of the inflames pox screamed K's work. I actually found myself smiling at some of its dumbness.Its not high art but I laughed better laughs then at the Powerpuff Girls Movie which followed it.

If I'd known just how lousy Chicken Scratch was going to be ahead of time, I would have hit the concession stand or the bathroom before the main film started. With Dexter creator Genndy Tartakovsky almost completely out of the creative loop (due to his work on Samurai Jack), the writing and animation have become weird and unfunny. This short almost looks like something that could have come from the Spumco, in the vein of Ren and Stimpy, and both Candi Milo and Allison Moore sound awful in their respective character voices.Chicken Scratch will be included on the upcoming Powerpuff Girls Movie DVD. If you've seen it, you know enough to skip over it; if you haven't seen it, spare yourself the discomfort.(A note on the above credits: Christine Cavanaugh did not do the voice of Dexter. She was replaced by Milo at the beginning of the show's third season.)

The Dexter's Lab toon `Chicken Scratch' was originally produced and intended for broadcast on the television series, but was bumped up to a silver screen showing, preempting the feature length debut of Powerpuff Girls, The (2002). The decision was made by studio powers based on the excellent animation quality and the fact that original series creator Genndy Tartakovsky returned to direct the short piece. This may strike Cartoon Network fans with high expectations but I found that `Chicken Scratch' is a decent Dexter 'toon at best. The film was done with the 2001 seasons' digital character redesigning, which is a mixed bag considering series fans have either appreciated or detested the seemingly over-streamlined, undetailed and restricting new designs. Not concerning this however the animation quality in and of itself is very superbly done. The lack of detail, which has become a bit painful on the televison series, plays well for atmosphere on the movie screen. The movements and forms do play well to the eye, which can often be other cartoons downfall. This cartoon's greatest flaw is the lack of story(whatever that may mean in the context of a cartoon) or at the very least the failed lack of exploring the concept which gives a restrained feeling to the film. It just seems like quickly written series filler. Certainly not deserving of a national showing on 2340 screens. The television series' earlier seasons(and I admit even the current season) have produced fantastic stories, with well written action and climaxes that would have greatly represented Dexter's Lab, its creators and Cartoon Network to moviegoers. But `Chicken Scratch' was what we were given.