Like to love a vast majority of the Popeye cartoons. Also like Popeye himself. A likeable character whose chemistry and animosity with Bluto one that drives the cartoons with such fun and energy, always a highlight. Do have a preference for the Fleischer era cartoons, that are generally funnier, more imaginative and of higher quality, though many of the later Famous Studio offerings entertain, just inferior in quality.
When hearing that 'Spinach Packin Popeye' was a "cheater", my heart did admittedly sink as "cheaters" do not have the best of track records in animation, too many of them being cheap and pointless. The good thing is though that 'Spinach Packin Popeye' was not too bad at all for a type of cartoon that tends to not do much for me. Actually found it on the most part surprisingly good and found it a long way from cheap, even if the point of it was slightly in question. It is nowhere near close to Popeye being at his best, but doesn't disgrace him in any way either.
Part of the problem sometimes with "cheaters" is as to whether the clips inserted are actually good clips and how they fit within the rest of the cartoon. One can have clips that don't really do the character in question justice or have ones that are not even the best moments of the respective cartoons included. And one can also have a story linking it that is not that strong and the clips don't fit. Luckily neither are a problem with 'Spinach Packin Popeye', which includes clips from two of the best Popeye cartoons and the clips are good ones inserted without being disjointed. Sometimes in "cheaters" the quality of the clips compared to the story linking them can be too different, like one being cheaper than the others, not so here with the cartoon being made in one of Famous Studios' better periods. The story is one that is stronger than most stories for "cheaters" and is both amusing and sweet.
'Spinach Packin Popeye' has animation that is very good as always from this period. It's beautifully drawn and with immaculate visual detail, that doesn't ever feel cluttered or static, and lively and smooth movement. The music likewise, lots of merry energy and lush orchestration, adding a lot to the action and making the impact even better without being too cartoonish.
Olive Oyl is used well, even if Popeye and Bluto's material is quite a bit stronger. Both are great fun here, loved Popeye's cause here too, and their chemistry gels so well, shining especially in the clips, from cartoons that were Popeye at his best. 'Spinach Packin Popeye' is amusing to hilarious much of the time and has great energy. The voice acting is typically adept, with Jack Mercer's mumblings and asides coming over most memorably and cannot imagine a better voice actress for Olive Oyl than Mae Questel.
Unfortunately the ending is a let down. It is the one part of the cartoon that feels like a cheat, a cliched one that has been done to death in animation and ends an energetic and fun cartoon on such a bland fizzler.
That is my one big complaint of an otherwise surprisingly good cartoon that is definitely worth a watch, if mainly to see every Popeye as possible. 8/10
When hearing that 'Spinach Packin Popeye' was a "cheater", my heart did admittedly sink as "cheaters" do not have the best of track records in animation, too many of them being cheap and pointless. The good thing is though that 'Spinach Packin Popeye' was not too bad at all for a type of cartoon that tends to not do much for me. Actually found it on the most part surprisingly good and found it a long way from cheap, even if the point of it was slightly in question. It is nowhere near close to Popeye being at his best, but doesn't disgrace him in any way either.
Part of the problem sometimes with "cheaters" is as to whether the clips inserted are actually good clips and how they fit within the rest of the cartoon. One can have clips that don't really do the character in question justice or have ones that are not even the best moments of the respective cartoons included. And one can also have a story linking it that is not that strong and the clips don't fit. Luckily neither are a problem with 'Spinach Packin Popeye', which includes clips from two of the best Popeye cartoons and the clips are good ones inserted without being disjointed. Sometimes in "cheaters" the quality of the clips compared to the story linking them can be too different, like one being cheaper than the others, not so here with the cartoon being made in one of Famous Studios' better periods. The story is one that is stronger than most stories for "cheaters" and is both amusing and sweet.
'Spinach Packin Popeye' has animation that is very good as always from this period. It's beautifully drawn and with immaculate visual detail, that doesn't ever feel cluttered or static, and lively and smooth movement. The music likewise, lots of merry energy and lush orchestration, adding a lot to the action and making the impact even better without being too cartoonish.
Olive Oyl is used well, even if Popeye and Bluto's material is quite a bit stronger. Both are great fun here, loved Popeye's cause here too, and their chemistry gels so well, shining especially in the clips, from cartoons that were Popeye at his best. 'Spinach Packin Popeye' is amusing to hilarious much of the time and has great energy. The voice acting is typically adept, with Jack Mercer's mumblings and asides coming over most memorably and cannot imagine a better voice actress for Olive Oyl than Mae Questel.
Unfortunately the ending is a let down. It is the one part of the cartoon that feels like a cheat, a cliched one that has been done to death in animation and ends an energetic and fun cartoon on such a bland fizzler.
That is my one big complaint of an otherwise surprisingly good cartoon that is definitely worth a watch, if mainly to see every Popeye as possible. 8/10