Let's Celebrake

It's New Year's Eve. Popeye and Bluto show up amiably, ready to take Olive Oyl out to celebrate. But Popeye won't leave Miss Oyl's arthritic old grandmother alone on the evening, so they take her along to a night club.

Wimpy and even Gus show up here, so it's a general celebration for Thimble Theater fans. More than that, it's nice to see Bluto and the Popster competing amiably, along with a happier use for spinach than beating up people.

There's some nice, understating use of the Fleischer's rotating layout, the usual plethora of gags that director Dave Fleischer insisted on, and a sincere tone of peace on earth in this cartoon.

Let's Celebrake (1938)

*** (out of 4)

It's a snowy New Year's Eve as Popeye and Bluto show up to Olive Oyl's house to take her out. The three are about to leave when Popeye feels bad leaving her elderly grandmother home alone so he brings her along. Even though she can hardly move or hear Popeye enters them in the dancing contest.

This Popeye short doesn't have any violence and it's actually pretty laid back when you compare it to just about every other short in the series. There's a big dance sequence at the end, which is mildly charming but I'd be lying to say it was anything too special. What makes this short so great is the fact that the animation itself is so wonderful. I've said this throughout watching all of these shorts but the Popeye series had some of the greatest animation from this era. This is especially true in regards to the attention to details. Just take a look at the overall view of the dance floor and see how much detail is there to enjoy.

Popeye is kind enough to invite Olive's grandma to a New Year's Eve party. But when the dance contest starts, she can barely move. Until Popeye uses his favorite drug, Spinach, to solve the problem. This is a very good Popeye cartoon, avoiding a series of fistfights with Bluto.

It is New Year's Eve. Popeye and Bluto ride a sleigh to Olive Oyl's home. They are greeted by her grandma. The boys are taking Olive Oyl out, but Popeye can't stand leaving grandma home alone. He brings grandma along to the club. The place is jumping and Wimpy is the MC.

This Popeye cartoon has no actual violence. It does have some strenuous dancing. I like a lot of this. I love the idea of the grandma. I wonder about the design of grandma. It is a standard weakling old lady. Maybe if she's taller like Olive Oyl or something. I just want a more distinctive design. That would make this more memorable.

This is a rare Popeye cartoon in that he doesn't fight Bluto and they don't compete for needy, damsel in distress, Olive Oyl.

Popeye and Bluto visit Olive Oyl on a horse-drawn sleigh. Olive says they are going for a dance on New Year's Eve. Popeye sees Olive's hard of hearing grandma sat all alone looking miserable and offers to take her dancing. It's bizarre to see Popeye acting charming by helping her with her coat and giving compliments.

The couples go to a dance off. There's a funny scene were Popeye tickles Grandma's chin with a whistle and Bluto looks on with gritted teeth. Grandma can barely move when Popeye tries dancing with her. Luckily a waiter has a can of spinach on a serving tray. Popeye asks her to open wide and drops the spinach into her mouth. You can probably guess what happens next.

It's a very charming, but not one of the best Popeye shorts. It certainly doesn't compare to the colourful glory of "Popeye The Sailor Meets Ali Baba's Forty Thieves" or "Sinbad the Sailor". The dance scenes also take up about half the film and lack the visual flair and Brechtian creativity of Tex Avery cartoons from around this time. It still comes recommended for animation fans.