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.
A relatively early Famous Studios effort, as far as the Popeye cartoons go that is, 'We're on Our Way to Rio' is not quite one of my favourite Popeye cartoons overall, but it is close. It has everything that was so great about the best of the Fleischer output while not being quite as imaginative in the formula and humour. That is not saying at all that 'We're on Our Way to Rio' is unimaginative (the contrary), the setting for Popeye is a unique one and the way it's used is different and clever. By Famous Studios standards, 'We're on Our Way to Rio' is pretty inventive and liked that it focused both on the rivalry over Olive and the less than amicable chemistry between Popeye and Bluto, rather than one or the other, doing it in a way incorporating singing and dancing that stands out among other Popeye cartoons and certainly during this particular period of the series. It is a great cartoon and feel that it is one of the best Popeye cartoons from this period of the series and also one of Famous Studios' better Popeye cartoons overall.
One doesn't care so much that the story is on the thin and somewhat formulaic side, the outcome is never in question. Namely because there is enough creativity and variety to stop 'We're on Our Way to Rio' from being repetitive or predictable and the energy is constant and so infectious. It contains some of the cleverest and most interesting use of Olive of the series.
Many other fine things in 'We're on Our Way to Rio'. The animation cannot be faulted, 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. Even better, and a contender for the thing that makes the cartoon (practically in a way it feels like it is the cartoon), is the highly characterful and toe-tapping music score, that not only fits seamlessly and enhances the action but it is like its own character.
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 'We're on Our Way to Rio' brilliantly.
'We're on Our Way to Rio' boasts lots of gags, namely revolving around Bluto's sabotage attempts, that are timed beautifully and are never less than very funny, Popeye's asides and mumblings are something of a hilarious art-form of its own, and the energy never wavers. The ending made my eyes water from laughing. The action is imaginative visually (dancing has seldom been synchronised and animated so well in a Popeye cartoon), crisply timed and non-stop without being exhausting. Dave Barry provides Bluto's voice beautifully.
In conclusion, great. 9/10
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