For Better or Worser

For Better or Worser (1935)

*** (out of 4)

Popeye, unable to cook for himself, decides it's time to get married so he goes to a marriage agency and picks out Olive Oyl but Bluto is also there and also has his eyes set on the skinny one. This is a pretty good entry in the series thanks to a very funny opening where we see Popeye trying to cook. The fights between Popeye and Bluto aren't the best we've seen but they have enough charm to make them work. Wimpy plays the Justice of Peace.

On DVD from Warner.

WHATEVER THE PARTICULAR title, one can always rely on two things in a Max Fleischer/Paramount cartoon short: 1) There will be great use of the characters' interaction; which is usually just about over the same situation, the "Eternal Triangle" between Popeye, Olive Oyl and interloper, Bluto. 2) We will have very little to zero in the area of continuity with any previous entries of the film series.

FOR THESE TINY transgressions and departures from the King Features Syndicate comic strip, THIMBLE THEATER/POPEYE by E.C. Segar, we can grant our forgiveness. Any adaptations that were used for sake of expediency of story line in the one reel, self-contained story-lines were both minor and necessary.

IN THIS INSTALLMENT, we find our hero living inn a Men Only Bachelor residence, struggling with the multi-tasking chores of housekeeping. His answer, go to the local Matrimonial Service and find a bride. At the service he runs into, you've guessed it, none other than Bluto, himself. In this and many cartoons in the series, it is if the characters were total strangers; and in this case, that goes for Miss Olive Oyl also.

INTERESTINGLY, IN THIS and many other of the Fleischer series, there are many other of Segar's characters cast in unedited, unbilled supporting roles. Here we find an unmistakably hamburger munching Wimpy cast as the Justice of the Peace. Perhaps not as obvious and far lesser in audience recognition power is Olive's former beau, Harold Hamgravy (Ham Gravy for short), who is cast as the clerk at the matrimonial service.

WITH THIS SHORT'S release, we saw the final appearance of voice actor, William Costello doing Popeye. He was replaced by animator Jack Mercer, who continued to do so right up until his death in 1984.

FOR BETTER OR WORSER is also a great example of the POPEYE Series at its very pinnacle, with 1935 marking the high water level.

Before I get into the story, I have to comment about the artwork in here. It was fantastic; the best I've seen so far in these black-and-white episodes. The detail work alone was astounding and must have taken a lot of effort.

Popeye is getting tired of the life of a bachelor. The last straw was burning the dinner. "It's no use, I have to get me a wife," he says.

Popeye then goes down to the "Matrimonial Agency" where the clerk tells him to pick out someone on the wall (there are pictures of a lot of women.) He sees a photo which also says "Anxious to Meet A Real Man. I am Good Cook." It's Olive Oyl, of course. And, of course, Bluto just happens to be in the store and looks at Olive's picture at the same time. What a coincidence!

The fight over Olive - who has a veil over her face until the very end - produces some funny moments. The action moves from the Agency, down the street and into the Justice Of The Peace and has a very good ending that I won't spoil. Suffice to say, I wish it was the kind of ending seen in Popeye cartoons in later decades.

Dave Fleischer was responsible for many gems. Ones that were amusing and charming, though over-cuteness did come through in some efforts and the stories were always pretty thin, with appealing characters, outstanding music and visuals that were inventive and with innovative animation techniques.

While maybe not quite classic Popeye, 'For Better or Worser' is still very good and very funny. Have always enjoyed many of the Popeye cartoons a good deal and like Popeye very much, Fleischer's efforts were always well animated and scored with lots of entertainment value and great chemistry between Popeye, Olive Oyl and Bluto. 'For Better or Worser' has everything that makes the Popeye series so appealing in its prime era and does nothing to waste the three main characters or make them less interesting.

The story is an interesting and beautifully paced one, never being dull, if formulaic (not uncommon with the Popeye cartoons), though with a lot of variety and creative moments. The humour and gags make it even more entertaining with very amusing to hilarious gags, and the cartoon is hardly devoid of them. The opening is indeed great fun.

All three lead characters are great, though Olive Oyl's material is not as great as Popeye and Bluto's, though she is used very nicely still. Those two are spot on and their chemistry drives 'For Better or Worser' and has so much energy. Popeye is always amusing and likeable but for me Bluto is here the funnier and more interesting character. Wimpy makes an amusing appearance.

Furthermore, the animation is beautifully drawn and with enough visual detail to not make it cluttered or static and lively and smooth movement The music is also outstanding, lots of merry energy and lush orchestration, adding a lot to the action and making the impact even better without being too cartoonish. Fleischer's direction is always accomplished and his style is all over it.

Voice acting is dynamic and of very good quality on the most part, William Costello and especially Gus Wickie give Popeye and Bluto so much life.

Overall, very good. 8/10 Bethany Cox