The Chump Champ

Even a disappointing MGM cartoon from Tex Avery is still a very good one. And, compared to many other Droopy cartoons, this isn't particularly great. But, as I said, it's STILL pretty good and well worth your time.

The cartoon consists of Spike and Droopy participating in a variety of sporting events to determine who will become the King of Sports. Naturally, Spike acts like he usually does in these cartoons--he cheats constantly and ends up hurting himself each and every time. In many ways, it plays a lot like a Wiley Coyote and Roadrunner cartoon. And, begin an Avery cartoon, there are tons of insane sight gags as well as a goof-ball ending that will make you chuckle. Cute and worth your time.

Droopy and Gorgeous Gorrilawitz compete to be the King of Sports and get a kiss from the Queen of Sports. The overhanging issue is what kind of competition is this. It seems to be everything and anything. That's not a deal killer by itself but it could have a long marathon where Droopy has to get over various hurdles. Instead of a lot of randomness, it could have been a lot more cohesive. The ending is totally expected but I think there is something better. This is generally good Droopy vs Spike affair.

This short, as is usually the case with a Droopy directed by Tex Avery, is heavy with sight gags (the ones with another director, particularly by Dick Lundy, were more driven by dialogue than Avery's were), although dialogue is more in evidence here than is normal in a Tex Avery short. Generally speaking, in an Avery short, if there is more verbal humor, it's either narration or one character dominates conversations and/or talks to the audience. This cartoon brings home the old saying, "Be careful what you ask for, you might get it." The ending is great! Good to see it's in print. Recommended.

Love animation, it was a big part of my life as a child, particularly Disney, Looney Tunes and Tom and Jerry, and still love it whether it's film, television or cartoons.

Also have much admiration for Tex Avery, an animation genius whose best cartoons are animated masterpieces and some of the best he ever did. Generally like the Droopy cartoons and the character himself a lot, his best cartoons are classics and among Avery's best. Like as was said with the first pairing of Droopy and Spike 'Wags to Riches' Avery has done better and so has Droopy, but still 'The Chump Champ' is very good and enormously enjoyable with pretty much everything that makes the best Droopy cartoons so good evident.

The central conflict, revolving around a familiar premise in animation, is pretty obvious with the outcome not exactly surprising. There are Droopy cartoons that execute their stories a little more imaginatively and are a little more inventive. 'The Chump Champ' does have invention and the entertainment value is enormous, it's just been done a little better in other Droopy cartoons that have the extra something that this just ever so slightly lacks.

Spike is a violent, without being stomach-churningly so, foil and also a hilarious one and one that is easy to feel sorry for considering what he goes through. He works so well with Droopy, who still continues to be a well-established personality and high in charisma and humour character.

Avery does a wonderful job directing, with his unique, unlike-any-other visual and characteristic and incredibly distinctive wacky humour style all over it as can be expected.

'The Chump Champ' is clever, beautifully timed and never less than very funny. It doesn't feel repetitious, with enough variety to stop it from being so, the violence is not done distastefully and the energy is fantastic.

It is no surprise either that the animation is superb. The character designs are unique, Avery always did have creative character designs, and suitably fluid. The music, courtesy of Scott Bradley, is lushly and cleverly orchestrated, with lively and energetic rhythms and fits very well indeed.

Can never fault the voice acting in the Droopy cartoons, 'The Chump Champ' is no different.

Overall, excellent though not one of my favourite Droopy cartoons. 9/10 Bethany Cox

One of the first Droopy cartoons I've seen, managed to find it on the internet and catch it again. It's a funny one, where Droopy and Spike compete in a host of sports events, but one ends up being a cheater. Easy to figure out who it was.

Plenty of slapstick comedy and laughable moments. Droopy definitely gives Spike a run for his money!

Grade A-