Bombadil Blather

28 June 2010 | Filed Under Plotholes 


Whaaaaaat?

“This is named after the random musical number sung by a big-lipped alligator towards the end of the film All Dogs Go To Heaven. A scene that comes right the [bleeped] outta nowhere, has little to no bearing whatsoever on the plot, is way over the top in terms of ridiculousness even in the context of the movie, and after it happens, no one ever speaks of it again.”
— Nostalgia Chick, explaining the term after using it to describe the singing iguana scene from Fern Gully

If you’re a TVTropes sleuth, you may have run across the Big Lipped Alligator Moment trope, as defined above.

I believe the phrase you are looking for is “wtf.”

And in case you think these sorts of scenes are limited to animated movies, think again. Any story can have them, including classic literature.

The Fellowship of the Ring has the most random scene with Tom Bombadil. I have never understood why Tolkien put him in. He serves no purpose, not for the plot, not even for humor. He just pops up out of nowhere, does his little song and dance, and disappears, never to be heard from again (thank goodness).

Thankfully, Peter Jackson was wise enough to leave the dude out of the movie.

Please. I’m begging you. Take a page out of Jackson’s book. Do not put any Big Lipped Alligator Moments in your stories. If it doesn’t advance the plot or character development, cut it. I don’t care if you think it’s the most brilliant thing you’ve ever written.

Snip snip.

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