I Likes Babies and Infinks

When Swee'pea has an attack of the never-get-overs, Olive Oyl calls in neighbors Popeye and Bluto. They engage in increasingly fantastic efforts to stop the child from crying, until the inevitable brawl between the two of them begins.

I enjoy almost all of the Fleischer Popeye cartoons, but there's little doubt in my mind that they peaked between 1936 and 1938. They had their formula, of course, but the amazing variety of gags and the occasional manner in which they avoided their usual tropes -- here, Popeye does not eat his spinach -- as well as the care in setting the venue -- Olive's apartment has all the latest gadgets for the decade -- add greatly to my enjoyment.

I Like Babies and Infinks (1937)

*** (out of 4)

Olive Oyl is watching Swee' Pea but he won't stop crying so both Bluto and Popeye come to the aid to try and impress their woman. They soon realize that fighting each other is more important than the crying kid.

This one here doesn't quite reach the classic level but if you're a fan of the long-running series then you'll find plenty to enjoy here. I'm not going to lie but when the kid was crying I really wanted to pull my ear drums out because it was just so annoying. Once the actual fighting between Popeye and Bluto starts things get a lot better including one stunt where Popeye has Bluto kick himself in the face. The animation itself is as great as you'd expect and there are plenty of nice gags throughout and especially the twist at the end.

Swee'pea is crying and Olive Oyl has trouble stopping it. She calls on her neighbor Popeye to help. Her other neighbor Bluto insists on joining the effort. It becomes a competition between the boys to entertain the baby.

I don't usually like crying babies, but this one generates a lot of good fun. I love the various attempts. I would avoid the face punching in front of the kid. Otherwise, this is loads of fun. I really like the conclusion with the switch. The concept could be expanded and I'm sure that they have done that. It is an easy self-contained little short that lends itself to comedy.

Swee' Pea was an occasional bit player in the Popeye shorts, but when he was in one, he was usually the focal point of the cartoon. He certainly comes off better here than either Popeye or Bluto. That Olive can leave an infant in the tender "care" of those two is proof that she's not a Rhodes scholar. Fascinating visuals, as always, and a good script make this cartoon worth watching. Recommended.

I have to really hand it to the writers of these 1930s Popeye cartoons: they really varied the shows, especially during the this time period (1936-1938). If it was the Fleischer brothers, Dave and Max, they were geniuses. I know Dave directed this and Max produced, but it doesn't say who wrote these. I am going to presume it was Dave but knowing Max's early silent work, it could be him, too. Both had great imaginations.

I never would have guessed I would be seeing big, bad Brutus doing the antics he did in here, all to make a baby - "Swee' pea" - stop crying, but he was hilarious! Popeye wasn't bad, either. The things they did, of course, were humanly impossible but they sure made me laugh.

The ending was very clever, with Popeye downing a can of onions instead of spinach! These cartoons are so good that I cannot recommend highly enough purchasing the "Popeye: The Sailor Man 1933-1938 Volume One" DVD. You get the first 60 Popeye cartoons that were theatrically released and most of them are outstanding and look super with the "restored" artwork.