I happen to love Disney and Mickey Mouse, and I did want to like The Jazz Fool more than I did. The Jazz Fool is not terrible, far from it. But at the same time it didn't feel all that special. The animation is mostly fine, there is some ugly character animation of Mickey at angles, but the backgrounds are at least crisp and the barns are less run-down than they have been in other Disney cartoons of this time. It was Mickey's facial expressions that were the most impressive thing in this regard, the anger, frustration and happiness are done so simply with raised eyebrows, turns of the mouth and the direction of his nose and shoulders but at the same time with so much expression. The music is lovely, with some lively tunes and Gershwin-like riffs interestingly arranged. It is at its catchiest when Mickey and Horace arrive at their destination at first. There are some fun bits like Horace playing even his teeth and shoes in perfect synch to the music, Mickey spanking the bum of the piano and the piano even retaliates by biting Mickey on the bottom. Mickey is very likable, as is Horace. Sadly, the story is very thin, two-thirds of it is literally Mickey just playing the piano and giving it a hard time. The gags are not very imaginative either, and not all of them hit the mark. Mickey's piano solo is almost exactly like a repeat of The Opry House. All in all, nothing amazing but worth a look. 6.5/10 Bethany Cox