Really like to love a good deal of Popeye cartoons and like the character of Popeye. Will admit though to preferring the Popeye cartoons from the Dave Fleischer era, the cartoons tend to be funnier and there is more originality and more risk taking in some of them. It was truly great to see Pappy again in his first appearance since 'Pest Pilot' and his first of three appearances in the Famous Studios Popeye cartoons, speaking as somebody who likes him as a character.
The early 1950s had a number of good to great Popeye cartoons. 'Popeye's Pappy' isn't one of them. Actually consider it one of the weakest cartoons of the series from this period and from Famous Studios in general. As well as the only Popeye and Pappy cartoon to do very little for me. It isn't a terrible cartoon in my view, but compared to the best of the late 30s Popeye cartoons it is a major disappointment and could have been so much better.
'Popeye's Pappy' has good things. The animation still looks like effort and care was being made, there may have been more budget and time limitations at this point but unlike the late-50s that is not as obvious here. There are rough moments in the drawing but the backgrounds have a lot of vibrant colour and meticulous detail. The music is one of the consistent high points of the 50s Famous Studios output (Popeye and overall), and it is one of the best things here. The lively character of it is just infectious and it has an energy that the rest of the cartoon lacks, while the orchestration is as beautiful as ever.
Moments are amusing, namely the verbal sparring and the asides, and the chemistry between Popeye and Pappy is a lot of fun. Popeye is amusing and likeable and Pappy has lost very little of what made him a great character in the first place. The voice acting is very good.
However, there are some significant drawbacks. The story is paper thin and lacks energy and variety, which makes the cartoon feel tired and repetitive. The gags are also too few and there are are tried and tested retreads-like. The drawing can be rough and rushed looking.
What jars badly too is the stereotyping, stereotyping that is neither funny or tasteful and the characters in question actually come over as annoying and unnecessary. The conflict badly lacks tension, partly because of it being same old same old but also because the opposition leave such a negative impression.
In conclusion, watch it for curiosity but this is really not Popeye at his best. 5/10.
The early 1950s had a number of good to great Popeye cartoons. 'Popeye's Pappy' isn't one of them. Actually consider it one of the weakest cartoons of the series from this period and from Famous Studios in general. As well as the only Popeye and Pappy cartoon to do very little for me. It isn't a terrible cartoon in my view, but compared to the best of the late 30s Popeye cartoons it is a major disappointment and could have been so much better.
'Popeye's Pappy' has good things. The animation still looks like effort and care was being made, there may have been more budget and time limitations at this point but unlike the late-50s that is not as obvious here. There are rough moments in the drawing but the backgrounds have a lot of vibrant colour and meticulous detail. The music is one of the consistent high points of the 50s Famous Studios output (Popeye and overall), and it is one of the best things here. The lively character of it is just infectious and it has an energy that the rest of the cartoon lacks, while the orchestration is as beautiful as ever.
Moments are amusing, namely the verbal sparring and the asides, and the chemistry between Popeye and Pappy is a lot of fun. Popeye is amusing and likeable and Pappy has lost very little of what made him a great character in the first place. The voice acting is very good.
However, there are some significant drawbacks. The story is paper thin and lacks energy and variety, which makes the cartoon feel tired and repetitive. The gags are also too few and there are are tried and tested retreads-like. The drawing can be rough and rushed looking.
What jars badly too is the stereotyping, stereotyping that is neither funny or tasteful and the characters in question actually come over as annoying and unnecessary. The conflict badly lacks tension, partly because of it being same old same old but also because the opposition leave such a negative impression.
In conclusion, watch it for curiosity but this is really not Popeye at his best. 5/10.
