Naughty Neighbors

While most of the Porky Pig cartoons from the late 1930s are pleasant entertainment, "Naughty Neighbors" is a rare departure since it stinks! Why? Petunia Pig! This cartoon character made very few appearances in Looney Tunes cartoons...but was much more popular in comic books back in the day...and here she is most unwelcome.

The story is set in the hills of 'Old Kaintucky' and is inspired by the famous Hatfield-McCoy feud. In this case, the Martins and McCoys are feuding and the feud is called off when Porky and Petunia (from rival families) become sweeties. Here is where the problem begins for the viewer. Petunia and Porky spend much of the cartoon singing a sappy love song to each other....a truly cloying, annoying, awful song. As a result, the humor takes a definite back seat and the cartoon really grates. A rare misfire for Porky.

For as long as I can remember I have loved Looney Tunes. Naughty Neighbors is not one of my favourites but part of me does still like it, though I can see why some may not. It is light on plot, and isn't what we come to expect from Looney Tunes in terms of expectations. Instead of the crisp pacing and razor-sharp wit that we see a lot, it is slower moving and apart from a few deft touches like the two ducks fighting then humming and dancing is not as witty. Much of the dialogue is in song as well. I don't see these as real problems though, I'm just saying that people may see that they are. The animation is wonderful, gorgeously coloured and with luscious pastoral-like backgrounds. The music fits this just as well, this is a more whimsical approach to the energetic one usually heard, but it is very fitting. The title song is very catchy and is something that you can't get out of your head. Decide for yourself whether that is a good thing or not. Porky and Petunia are very likable characters and are adorable together. Mel Blanc does a superb job in one of his earliest endeavours with providing the voices of so many memorable characters. If it is Bernice Hanson voicing Petunia(Youtube had a dispute on whether it was her indeed or not), she is equally effective. In conclusion, very cute if somewhat different to what you'd expect. 8/10 Bethany Cox