Kickin' the Conga Round

Kickin' the Conga Round (1942)

*** (out of 4)

Popeye gets leave while stationed in South America so he goes to visit Olive but soon Bluto is right there trying to steal his woman.

Here's another Popeye short that has a military tie-in, which was obviously inspired by the fact that America was in WWII during this period. For the most part this is an entertaining short as it takes the "war setting" and mixes in your typical three-way battle between Popeye, Olive and Bluto. Olive is made to appear a lot darker than normal due to her supposed to being South American. There are a couple good fight scenes and the dancing gags are good as well.

Kickin'the Conga Round was one of the later Fleischer Popeyes, before Max and Dave were bounced. Here, Popeye and Bluto are on a Navy vessel in South American waters. Both were granted shore leave; Popeye seeks out the girl whom he loves, Senorita Olive Oyla, whose phone number is Conga 1-2-3. Though Bluto gets to her first, Popeye lets Bluto have it, and escorts Olive to la Cafe Conga. She urges Popeye to join in the dancing; he replies "I don't dance no conja", so Bluto asks her to dance. So Popeye orders spinach, which a waiter brings him and he eats, turning the "conja" into a brawl with Bluto. Olive calls for help, so two members of the Shore Patrol come and arrest Popeye and Bluto. They must have been put in the brig. Not only is this cartoon funny, but it illustrates that which is NOT funny! If one wants to be sailor(air person, soldier, etc.), one must not only do assigned duty but be on BEST behavior at ALL TIMES, yes, even on liberty or leave. Such misdeeds as brawling, getting drunk, etc. are just as inimical to military discipline as being AWOL or failing to salute. So, here is word to the wise for one who aspires to military service.

Am somebody who likes to love a vast majority of the Popeye cartoons and likes the character 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.

1942's 'Kickin the Conga Round' is notable for being one of the last Fleischer Studios Popeye cartoons, before Famous Studios took over in 1943 and continued the series to the end of it. What is also noted is Bluto's redesign, being plumper to what was seen before, and Dave Barry voicing them instead of Gus Wickie. While it is standard Popeye vs Bluto in a South American setting, 'Kickin the Conga Round' is still extremely entertaining and among the better 1942 Popeye cartoons and one of the more entertaining wartime efforts of the series.

'Kickin the Conga Round' isn't quite perfect. Olive is underused and for me only Mae Questel of all of Olive's voice actresses fitted the character design.

There is not an awful lot wrong here though. The animation is great , 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 shading has atmosphere. There are some very creative visuals in the dancing. Every bit as good is the lively and lushly orchestrated music score, that has character and adds a lot to the action and enhances it.

Although the story is thin and formulaic (which one has come to expect from the series by now), the sheer infectious energy more than makes up for that that it doesn't matter massively. The gags are many and they are all very funny and have enough variety to stop the cartoon from being repetitive. Will agree about the cartoon being educational and quite revealing in what it says about the military also.

Popeye is amusing and likeable still, he is convincing as a single character taking on a much larger army, and Jack Mercer doesn't disappoint with the voice acting. Bluto is just as funny and interesting and the chemistry between the two sparkles and carries 'Kickin the Conga Round' with boundless energy. It is a tall order replacing Wickie, but Barry gives a good account of himself and at least fits the character design and sounds menacing (unlike Pinto Colvig).

Concluding, very good. 8/10.

Popeye is going on shore leave along with other naval sailors. Bluto catches Latina Olivia Oyla's phone number CONGA 1-2-3 on Popeye's chest. Bluto leaves Popeye behind to pursue Olivia. It's fun to have Latin flavor in a Popeye cartoon. Olive is better as a Latina. At least, she's much more appealing. The only missed opportunity is the spinach label. It should obviously be in Spanish.