This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

As somebody who had not heard any of this before, it became a curious phenomenon to sit and watch a film and slowly have the realities begin to click into place.

It's a movie as timely as it is provocative and amazingly, for much of its running time, it is weirdly funny.

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

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.

I once described the series Dexter's Laboratory as "A cartoon for all ages". When it comes to the first two seasons and Ego Trip, I stand by that. But ever since Dexter's Laboratory returned for a third season a while back, I found that I couldn't bear to watch it anymore. Every possible thing went wrong. The new season "boasted" terrible animation, awful writing and Christine Cavanaugh was replaced by Candi Milo (who I think gives a terrible voice for Dexter). Worst of all, Genndy Tartakovsky was not as involved as he used to be and it showed.So when I heard Genndy was going to be involved with this short, I had high hopes. The verdict? Not really all that good. I didn't care for the animation, nor for the performances from Candi Milo and Allison Moore (Christine Cavanaugh and Kathryn Cressida were better). I do consider this better than much (if not all) of the recent episodes, but it's no where near the quality of the first two seasons or Ego Trip, so I guess that's faint praise at best.Bottom line: Thumbs down.

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.