Popeye para Presidente

Popeye and Bluto are running for the same office. Everyone has voted save Olive Oyl, and her vote will decide the election. So they head over to her farm and compete by doing chores.

While I can forgive the folks at Famous Studios their failure to explain the Electoral College in six minutes, I find it harder to ignore the utterly hackneyed way in which they present this cartoon. Popeye and Bluto fight. Bluto cheats. Finally Bluto clouts Popeye and leaves him in a situation from which he cannot escape, but there's some spinach to hand, which he eats, escapes, and clobbers Bluto. Just like all the other times.

For so many reasons, a more actual short animation today than in 1956. Because the political frame becomes , in our society, the most important part. The victory of Spinach Party versus Blutocratic Party remains the axis of contemporary elections and the vote of Olive Oyl remains the best part.

Lots of punches with attacks and counterattacks. The vote for president is tied and who should have the deciding vote but our dear Olive Oyl. So Popeye and Opponent, Bluto, duke it out. They each try to impress the farm woman with their abilities to cut wood, plow a field, and store hay. Olive is using them to do the work she usually does. Fortunately for Popeye, Olive has a spinach field. Some of the bits are clever and work quite well. Perhaps one of the better in the series. Of course, since it's 1956, the picture quality is quite good, and the color, like most of these late features, enhances the events.

Popeye is running for the Spinach Party. Bluto is running for the rival Blutocratic Party. They end up tied with only Olive Oyl yet to vote. They both rush out to the country for her vote, but she has chores to do.

This premise makes no sense. I make a lot of leeway for a cartoon, but this really makes no sense. I'm not sure where to begin. If this is a local election, all the quirks can be excused. This apparently is a big city election or maybe the Presidency. Let's hope that the kids didn't watch this to learn about the democratic process. Schoolhouse Rock wouldn't need spinach to beat this.

With a title like that, you expect a lot more than Popeye and Bluto helping Olive out with farm chores so she can get to the polls. How about Popeye kicking out Congress?? Single-handedly building new roads?? How about Bluto trying to frame him in a scandal?? How about entertaining us??!!