My Pop, My Pop

Poopdeck Pappy shows up while Popeye is building a boat. Although he's 99, he challenges his son to a boat-building contest, but falls asleep on the job.

It's always fun when Pappy shows up in the Popeye franchise, and this is no exception, filled with the braggadocio that characterizes the old man throughout. It also shows a side of the Sailor Man we rarely get to see: his sentimentality.

Excellent background art, and a lively pace pace further enrich this episode. Although the Fleischers' shorts were in a downdraft at the time that would eventually cause Paramount to call in their loans and kick them out, this is a very good one.

My Pop, My Pop (1940)

*** (out of 4)

Popeye and his old man are building a boat but the son tells him to take a break because he's old. This here sets off the old man to try and prove that being old doesn't mean a thing.

MY POP, MY POP is a pretty interesting title because of the way it plays out. You'd think that the message would be that the old man can do anything that Popeye can but in fact it's the complete opposite and the old man is made to look exactly like.... an old man! The film still has plenty of fun back and forth between the father and son and there's also some funny action as Popeye is pretty much forced to build a boat on his own.

This was actually a bit touching. Popeye is building a big boat and his father, 99 years old, comes to help him. He can't seem to do much of anything, so Popeye shows his kind side. This is a change from the usual use of spinach, which is generally used to punish people physically. It is instead used in a loving and compassionate way.

Popeye is building a ship. Pappy comes to help, but he is getting too old at 99. Popeye reluctantly offers him one side of the boat. Pappy's side looks bad. He throws another fit and Popeye lets him help raise the mast. Of course, he falls asleep. Popeye eats some spinach and fixes everything. Pappy wakes up and thinks that he's the one who finished the ship.

It would be nice to flip the situation and have Pappy actually fixing everything. As it stands, this is somewhat too straight forward. The story needs a surprise or an odd turn. In the end, this is fine and that's all there is. It is fine.

1940 was a variable year for the Popeye theatrical series, though by Fleischer Studios' standards at that time all of them were at least watchable. In a year that saw a lot of below average cartoons from the studio in what was by far their worst period so close on from their best and most consistent. In 1940, most were between above average and very good. But there was also the great 'Puttin on the Act' and the disappointing 'Wimmin Hadn't Oughta Drive'.

'My Pop, My Pop' is another change of pace for the Popeye series though in a different way to 'Popeye Meets William Tell'. It was not the first or last time the series did something different from the common Popeye vs Bluto formula, and the changes of pace varied in success. Despite having a very different tone, by Popeye standards this is quite gentle, this cartoon is one of the successes on the whole while not being one of the best Popeye outings by any stretch.

When it comes to the humour, 'My Pop, My Pop' is fairly tame. It is humorous and amusing, but it is not quite laugh a minute or hilarious.

Although the gentler tone is lovely, in alternative to the often wild pace seen at this point of the Popeye series, the story is a bit slight and occasionally a little slow.

Having said that, 'My Pop, My Pop' has a lot that works in its favour and is pretty good still. The animation is neatly and expressively drawn (especially with Popeye) and still very much like the work that goes into the backgrounds. The music, appropriately like its own character, is as beautifully orchestrated and characterful as ever. While there is nothing hilarious or original here, the gags and asides do amuse and charm. The father and son chemistry here is sometimes touching.

Furthermore, despite being slight and in need at times of a tighter pace, the story is very charming without getting over-sentimental. Sure it at times is more sentimental than your average Popeye cartoon but it doesn't go overboard on that. Popeye is fun and likeable and his father Pappy is a more than worthy supporting character and doesn't make one miss Olive or Bluto too much. They have a fun chemistry together, with some smile-worthy back and forth, and both are exuberantly voiced by Jack Mercer in what is essentially a one man show.

Overall, not great but pleasant and entertaining change of pace. 7/10.