Movie review: "Gumby Dharma" (2006)

The gist: Yank children's character Gumby has been claymationing across our screens since the '60s, going from mainstream hit to cult icon and back again, enjoying genre-hopping adventures with colourful pals Pokey the pony, Nopey the dog, Prickle the dinosaur and Goo the...whatever she is. "Gumby Dharma" clues you in on all that, but its real purpose is to profile his creator, Art Clokey.

Selling points: If you thought Gumby's life was surreal, here's a brief summary of Art's – abandoned as a boy, adopted by richies, studied to be a priest, quit to become a hubby and father, ditched his marriage to experiment with sex and drugs, turned to eastern mysticism, met the love of his life, learned the hard way to be a decent dad, struck by tragedies. Now a wise, funny old codger, he's interviewed at length.

It's kinda like: Visiting your larrikin grandad in a nursing home where the set in the corner's tuned to kids' TV and people keep dropping by to tell you he's a bloody legend.

Final word: At 54 minutes, it's a short but sweet treat for disciples of the little green dude.

[Australian DVD release date: December 8]