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.
'Porky's Tire Trouble' is enjoyable and well-made, but Bob Clampett has done stronger cartoons than this, which demonstrates what made his visual and humour style as distinctive as it was but not to the truly hilarious and imaginative effect his best work did. He directs very solidly, everything looks good and is engaging but the wild outrageousness has been stronger elsewhere. Porky is as ever likeable, but he is somewhat bland and has little to do.
The story is predictable and also very basic.
However, everything goes at a lively pace with momentum seldom lost. Flat Foot Flookey steals the show here, he is given the funnier, more inventive and meatiest material and not only is his facial expressions the standouts of the animation he is also incredibly funny. It's hard not to forget the portrayal of the caricatures.
Mel Blanc is outstanding as always however. He always was the infinitely more preferable voice for Porky, Joe Dougherty never clicked with me, and he proves it here. Blanc shows an unequalled versatility and ability to bring an individual personality to every one of his multiple characters in a vast majority of his work, there is no wonder why he was in such high demand as a voice actor. Billy Bletcher is great too, hard not to recognise his voice, the distinctive one that it is.
Animation is excellent, it's fluid in movement, crisp in shading and very meticulous in detail. Flat Foot Flookey's expressions are especially well done. Ever the master, Carl Stalling's music is typically superb. It is as always lushly orchestrated, full of lively energy and characterful in rhythm, not only adding to the action but also enhancing it.
In conclusion, good but not great. 7/10 Bethany Cox
