Van Beuren cartoons are extremely variable, especially in the number of gags and whether the absurdist humour shines through enough (sometimes it does, other times it doesn't), but are strangely interesting. Although they are often poorly animated with barely existent stories and less than compelling lead characters, they are also often outstandingly scored, there can be some fun support characters and some are well-timed and amusing.
'A Close Call' is one of the higher rated 1929 Aesop's Fables Van Beuren cartoons, even though the rating is still low. It is easy to see why that is the case, because it is one of the better ones from that year and as far as Aesop's Fables cartoons overall go. 'A Close Call' may not be great, but it is one of the few above average 1929 cartoons in the series.
Starting with the drawbacks, the animation isn't what one would call great. It's not really what one would call good either, though there is worse in the series. There are erratically sloppy character designs in particular while the simplistic background detail and lack of fluidity and crispness are just as difficult to ignore.
The story is very thin and, while there is more story than the previous 1929 cartoons and it makes more sense than them, it is also very formulaic. The female mouse is a little bland.
However, the characters do have more personality and are more memorable than those of the previous 1929 cartoons. The cat especially is a lot of fun as a villain and is pretty menacing. The gags are larger in quantity than a good deal of Van Beuren cartoons, and even though predictable the quality doesn't fare too badly.
They at least raise some chuckles, provide more interest than the previous 1929 Van Beuren cartoons and the lively pacing ensures that they are timed well. Some of 'A Close Call' veers on the strange, but compellingly so and Van Beuren's style of humour when done well is absurdist so the strangeness is appropriate. The sound is not as muffled as the sound can be in the early Van Beuren output.
Best of all is the music score, it is typically peppy and great fun to listen to. It is so beautifully and cleverly orchestrated and full of lively energy, doing so well with enhancing the action. The song choices are somewhat odd, the army one not having much to do with the rest of the cartoon, but are quite entertaining still. The synchronisation is nicely done.
Overall, pretty decent. 7/10 Bethany Cox