The CMU files are all over the map, both in terms of quality, but also in terms of suitability for storytelling. There is a lot of nonsense, such as silly walks and shootup-gamer stuff, that I will never be able to use for quality animation.
But then there are motions that provide the raw material for real acting. Take for example, 714-12, translated to VNS at TheTrailersPark. It's called "the thinker."
In the course of an afternoon, I was able to build upon it to create this:

Thanks, jenlonge!
General Picture - animating now to life itself(tm)
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