Really like to love a vast majority of Popeye's cartoons and the character himself. Fleischer's Popeye cartoons though tended to be funnier, more imaginative and better made, Famous Studios' on the most part entertained though their later Popeye, and overall filmography actually, cartoons had tighter deadlines and lower budgets evident which accounted for the animation not being as good, less surprises and the material not as imaginative.
'She-Sick Sailors' is not Popeye at his best, while not the greatest of representations of him it hardly disgraces him either. It is still enjoyable stuff and there are a lot of great things, just felt that something was missing. As far as the second world war-period Popeye cartoons go, 'She-Sick Sailors' is somewhere towards the top. Thankfully it does not make the mistake of being heavy-handed or have any stereotypes that are not for the easily offended. It is a creative premise and there are some imaginative moments, actually think there could have been more.
It is not much special in the story department, it is very thin (not uncommon with Popeye) and it is not hard to figure out the outcome as it does, despite some creative touches, follow the Popeye formula. That may not be a problem for some, but for others they wouldn't say no to more imagination and a change of pace. Am neutral on this myself.
Olive's material is not as strong as Popeye's or Bluto's and she doesn't have not near as much to do.
Anybody however who loves great animation and music, characters at the top of their game with more than convincing chemistry and comic timing that is at least good will, or at least should, get a kick out of 'She-Sick Sailors', regardless of the state of the story. All of that is here. Luckily there is enough variety to stop too much repetition creeping in and the energy is always there.
Expectedly, the backgrounds have lost none of the meticulous attention to detail, it's fluid, Popeye still looks good and is recognisable in design and the colours are wonderfully vibrant, which really does make the setting come alive. Love the music just as much, it is the highly characterful and lush music score, that fits seamlessly and enhances the action. Popeye is amusing and likeable still and Jack Mercer doesn't disappoint with the voice acting. Bluto is even funnier and the chemistry between the two sparkles and carries the cartoon brilliantly. The gags are plentiful enough, beautifully timed and make good use of the premise. While few are hilarious they are always amusing, the commuter train part is agreed ingenious (one of Bluto's funniest individual gags from personal view).
Popeye's asides and mumblings are something of a hilarious art-form of its own, and the energy never wavers. Mercer is not the only one to excel at the voice acting. Cannot imagine anybody else voicing Olive than Mae Questel, the voice actress to voice her the most (she was also voiced in some cartoons by Bonnie Poe and Margie Hines and it wasn't the same). Jackson Beck is very exuberant as Bluto.
To conclude, very enjoyable. 8/10
'She-Sick Sailors' is not Popeye at his best, while not the greatest of representations of him it hardly disgraces him either. It is still enjoyable stuff and there are a lot of great things, just felt that something was missing. As far as the second world war-period Popeye cartoons go, 'She-Sick Sailors' is somewhere towards the top. Thankfully it does not make the mistake of being heavy-handed or have any stereotypes that are not for the easily offended. It is a creative premise and there are some imaginative moments, actually think there could have been more.
It is not much special in the story department, it is very thin (not uncommon with Popeye) and it is not hard to figure out the outcome as it does, despite some creative touches, follow the Popeye formula. That may not be a problem for some, but for others they wouldn't say no to more imagination and a change of pace. Am neutral on this myself.
Olive's material is not as strong as Popeye's or Bluto's and she doesn't have not near as much to do.
Anybody however who loves great animation and music, characters at the top of their game with more than convincing chemistry and comic timing that is at least good will, or at least should, get a kick out of 'She-Sick Sailors', regardless of the state of the story. All of that is here. Luckily there is enough variety to stop too much repetition creeping in and the energy is always there.
Expectedly, the backgrounds have lost none of the meticulous attention to detail, it's fluid, Popeye still looks good and is recognisable in design and the colours are wonderfully vibrant, which really does make the setting come alive. Love the music just as much, it is the highly characterful and lush music score, that fits seamlessly and enhances the action. Popeye is amusing and likeable still and Jack Mercer doesn't disappoint with the voice acting. Bluto is even funnier and the chemistry between the two sparkles and carries the cartoon brilliantly. The gags are plentiful enough, beautifully timed and make good use of the premise. While few are hilarious they are always amusing, the commuter train part is agreed ingenious (one of Bluto's funniest individual gags from personal view).
Popeye's asides and mumblings are something of a hilarious art-form of its own, and the energy never wavers. Mercer is not the only one to excel at the voice acting. Cannot imagine anybody else voicing Olive than Mae Questel, the voice actress to voice her the most (she was also voiced in some cartoons by Bonnie Poe and Margie Hines and it wasn't the same). Jackson Beck is very exuberant as Bluto.
To conclude, very enjoyable. 8/10