Wigwam Whoopee

. . . animated short. WIGWAM WHOOPEE traces the melding of cultures which occurred when the intrepid European explorers brought Modernity and Western Civilization to a New World. Anyone who has seen an old arrowhead has noticed that they're made from pieces of rocks. This is because the original Americans had yet to Progress out of the Stone Age. Though they lived in caves whenever they could, such as at Mesa Verde, most languished in the woods, plains or deserts. There they lacked the gumption to build log cabins, cultivate wheat or mine the iron ore necessary to make swords, guns and cannons. Naturally, when men of learning came to the boondocks from their Old World of telescopes, microscopes and gun powder, the indigenous women such as the one depicted here immediately gravitated to the stylish, well-coiffed, freshly-bathed, poised and polished newcomers.

Fleischer's Popeye cartoons tended to be funnier, more imaginative and better made, Famous Studios' on the most part entertained though their later Popeye, and overall filmography actually, cartoons had tighter deadlines and lower budgets evident which accounted for the animation not being as good, less surprises and the material not as imaginative. Speaking as someone who likes the character himself and many of his cartoons.

There are cartoons in the Popeye series, more Famous Studios' than Fleischer Studios' though, that didn't do much for me and underwhelmed. It is regrettable to say that 1948's 'Wigwam Whoopee' is one of them. It's not a terrible cartoon, none of the Popeye cartoons are and it's okay for a one-time watch. It is not a particularly good one either at the same time, others are far funnier, more interesting and more imaginative, not to mention more tasteful.

Will start with the good points and they are there. The animation is still of good quality. Expectedly, the backgrounds have lost none of the meticulous attention to detail, it's fluid, Popeye still looks good and is recognisable in design and the colours are wonderfully vibrant, which really does make the setting come alive. Love the music just as much, it is the highly characterful and lush music score, that fits seamlessly and enhances the action. Popeye is amusing and likeable still and Jack Mercer doesn't disappoint with the voice acting.

Also there are a few amusing moments but they come too far and between. Olive is a nice character too and has lovely chemistry with Popeye.

On the other hand, quite a lot of the problem with 'Wigwam Whoopee' is that it is not particularly funny. The gags are too few and what there are mostly suffer from being derivative and tired. The story never really grabbed me and has no real surprises. The conflict lacks tension or comic timing and the chief is neither interesting a character or entertaining with no menace or comic timing, nothing original about his material.

There will be people that won't take kindly to the stereotypes, even for somebody who tries to judge something as a product of its time if necessary the stereotypes here in 'Wigwam Whoopee' are not flattering, very weakly written and it is easy to see why some will take offense.

In conclusion, worth a one-time watch but not much more. 5/10