What I Like About "Return to Mayberry"

[Adamantium]

It was a good reunion movie but the main thing I like about it is that it kind of undid all the damage that was done by certain actors leaving the series in the '60s. Gomer Pyle is back in Mayberry, running the G & G Garage with his cousin Goober. Barney Fife was back in Mayberry as a deputy (and running for Sheriff). The biggest thing was obviously Andy Taylor returned to Mayberry after 20 years (or so he said). In the end, Andy became Sheriff again with Barney as his deputy. Plus, Barney married Thelma Lou. There was still some sadness as Aunt Bee was dead and Opie was moving away but still, Andy and Barney are together again, lol!

[tlc38tlc38]

I agree! You can tell that a lot of thought and care went into making this reunion movie. It wasn't just thrown together for the sake of doing a reunion, it was made to actually show progress with the characters.

[McGillicuddy]

Originally Posted by Adamantium

It was a good reunion movie but the main thing I like about it is that it kind of undid all the damage that was done by certain actors leaving the series in the '60s. Gomer Pyle is back in Mayberry, running the G & G Garage with his cousin Goober. Barney Fife was back in Mayberry as a deputy (and running for Sheriff). The biggest thing was obviously Andy Taylor returned to Mayberry after 20 years (or so he said). In the end, Andy became Sheriff again with Barney as his deputy. Plus, Barney married Thelma Lou. There was still some sadness as Aunt Bee was dead and Opie was moving away but still, Andy and Barney are together again, lol!

.....and Otis wasn't a drunk, anymore.

[Mr. Television]

I'm just glad they did it while most of the cast was still alive. Sadly most have gone now.

[ComedyGuy]

They should have made that years earlier and done a few returns to Mayberry made for TV movies. . . . . . .

I hope some idiotic Producer and or Writer doesn't try making a movie from that show because it would be horrible. . . . . . .

[Zoneboy]

Originally Posted by Stuck In The '70's

I'm just glad they did it while most of the cast was still alive. Sadly most have gone now.

True, I counted 10 that have died since then:

Andy Griffith
Don Knotts
George Lindsey
Hal Smith
Jack Dodson
Howard Morris
Aneta Corsaut
Denver Pyle
Doug Dillard
Mitch Jayne

[treky]

I remember when it first aired, reading that they were going to make a sequel for Christmas but they couldn't get everyone back. And also Andy had just started doing MALOCK.
So sadly it never happened.

[treky]

Originally Posted by Adamantium

It was a good reunion movie but the main thing I like about it is that it kind of undid all the damage that was done by certain actors leaving the series in the '60s. Gomer Pyle is back in Mayberry, running the G & G Garage with his cousin Goober. Barney Fife was back in Mayberry as a deputy (and running for Sheriff). The biggest thing was obviously Andy Taylor returned to Mayberry after 20 years (or so he said). In the end, Andy became Sheriff again with Barney as his deputy. Plus, Barney married Thelma Lou. There was still some sadness as Aunt Bee was dead and Opie was moving away but still, Andy and Barney are together again, lol!

I agree. I recently watched it again on YOU TUBE after not having seen it in YEARS, and I had forgotten how good it is.

[Samme]

I love the b&w episodes, like the color episodes very much, but thought the reunion movie was very weak.

[omg65]

Originally Posted by Samme

I love the b&w episodes, like the color episodes very much, but thought the reunion movie was very weak.

I agree Samme. I loved the fact the alot of the old cast was reunited.It was a feel good moment when Barney and Thelma Lou got married and you see Andy and Barney as Sherrif and deputy folding the flag at the end.I just thought the storyline about that sea monster was pretty bad.They could have had a much better plot.I expected more and wonder what the exceptional cast thought of that ridiculous storyline. Very dissappointed considering this was such a well written show back in the day with great actors.

[Zoneboy]

The TAGS reunion movie was far better than the Beverly Hillbillies and Green Acres movies but I agree about the sea monster plot and the Wally character was a total waste. They could've used Ernest T. Bass in better way.

[Retro4Life]

Agree with most of the criticism. I think the writers knew that basically, the audience just wanted to see their old friends back again and interacting with each other, and they did deliver that. The sea monster stuff was distracting, though. Maybe they could have had a couple other residents run for mayor, such as Howard or even Otis. That would have engaged the whole town around the plot more.

That said, it was great to watch again. They did wonderful nods to happenings in the old episodes and the chemistry still seemed to be there between all the actors.

[Will Dockery]

Originally Posted by Adamantium

It was a good reunion movie but the main thing I like about it is that it kind of undid all the damage that was done by certain actors leaving the series in the '60s. Gomer Pyle is back in Mayberry, running the G & G Garage with his cousin Goober. Barney Fife was back in Mayberry as a deputy (and running for Sheriff). The biggest thing was obviously Andy Taylor returned to Mayberry after 20 years (or so he said). In the end, Andy became Sheriff again with Barney as his deputy. Plus, Barney married Thelma Lou. There was still some sadness as Aunt Bee was dead and Opie was moving away but still, Andy and Barney are together again, lol!

Correct, it was just nice to be able to "spend some time" with these friends again! Do wish they could have produced a sequel or two.

[gopyle]

Compared with most reunion shows, it was very good. As has been mentioned, it was nice to see the cast together again. I did not care much for the plot with the scheme with the sea monster either. I would have preferred to see a storyline with only the original cast members.
Observations:
They kind of implied that Andy had not been back in town for 20 years, which if you go by the actual time had only been 18 years. I find it unlikely as attached to Mayberry that Andy was, that he would not have visited frequently during that time.
The tone of the movie seems odd without a laugh track, since the series included a laugh track. I know some people don't like a laugh track, but in this case I think it would've been appropriate to have some type of a subdued laugh track.
The downtown looked odd, as it was filmed in Los Olivos California, instead of the back lot where the original was shot. I understand why they couldn't do that since the back lot was not there anymore. I actually visited Los Olivos a couple of years ago and it was fun to see where they had put up the courthouse facade.
I think it would've been cool to have a scene with Andy and Opie walking down the path in Franklin Canyon where the original opening was filmed, maybe while having their discussion about Opie moving out of town.
All in all, despite some things that a person can nitpick, I really enjoyed Return to Mayberry.

[showfan]

Originally Posted by gopyle

Compared with most reunion shows, it was very good. As has been mentioned, it was nice to see the cast together again. I did not care much for the plot with the scheme with the sea monster either. I would have preferred to see a storyline with only the original cast members.
Observations:
They kind of implied that Andy had not been back in town for 20 years, which if you go by the actual time had only been 18 years. I find it unlikely as attached to Mayberry that Andy was, that he would not have visited frequently during that time.
The tone of the movie seems odd without a laugh track, since the series included a laugh track. I know some people don't like a laugh track, but in this case I think it would've been appropriate to have some type of a subdued laugh track.
The downtown looked odd, as it was filmed in Los Olivos California, instead of the back lot where the original was shot. I understand why they couldn't do that since the back lot was not there anymore. I actually visited Los Olivos a couple of years ago and it was fun to see where they had put up the courthouse facade.
I think it would've been cool to have a scene with Andy and Opie walking down the path in Franklin Canyon where the original opening was filmed, maybe while having their discussion about Opie moving out of town.
All in all, despite some things that a person can nitpick, I really enjoyed Return to Mayberry.

I enjoyed seeing the cast back, but you make good points. It's weird that Andy wouldn't have visited in all that time, just the same as Opie acting like he had never seen Aunt Bee before in episode 1, even though she raised Andy. Did they never visit?

No laugh track did seem unusual, and the setting just didn't have the feel of the old one. I wonder if they had made a return movie within 10 years if it would have been better.