My Pop, My Pop

This was actually a bit touching. Popeye is building a big boat and his father, 99 years old, comes to help him. He can't seem to do much of anything, so Popeye shows his kind side. This is a change from the usual use of spinach, which is generally used to punish people physically. It is instead used in a loving and compassionate way.

My Pop, My Pop (1940)

*** (out of 4)

Popeye and his old man are building a boat but the son tells him to take a break because he's old. This here sets off the old man to try and prove that being old doesn't mean a thing.

MY POP, MY POP is a pretty interesting title because of the way it plays out. You'd think that the message would be that the old man can do anything that Popeye can but in fact it's the complete opposite and the old man is made to look exactly like.... an old man! The film still has plenty of fun back and forth between the father and son and there's also some funny action as Popeye is pretty much forced to build a boat on his own.

This Popeye cartoon mainly shows Popeye's patient and kind side toward his somewhat-senile father. "Pappy" is 99 years old but still thinks he can build ships, and better than his son. That, as we, is ludicrous, as Popeye is not only inventive but terrific in building ships.

Popeye can spit out tacks and then hammer them in perfectly in seconds, as well as other talents all in the form of sight-gags. His father comes along and tries to show him what he can do, but it's almost nothing and his gags aren't really funny, either. Finally, Popeye tells his dad to build one side of the boat and he'll build the other. The results are just what you'd expect.

Later, while trying to put up the mast, the old man falls asleep and Popeye, with the aid of his spinach, finishes the job in a few seconds, making the entire boat look super. Pappy wakes up and thinks he did it and walks always singing about how great he is while Popeye laughs it off.

As you see, this one is a lot more sentimental than it is funny. It's a nice, feel-good cartoon but don't expect a lot of laughs. It is a bit unusual in that it's a one-man show, regarding the "cast" as Jack Mercer is the only voice needed here, doing both men.

1940 was a variable year for the Popeye theatrical series, though by Fleischer Studios' standards at that time all of them were at least watchable. In a year that saw a lot of below average cartoons from the studio in what was by far their worst period so close on from their best and most consistent. In 1940, most were between above average and very good. But there was also the great 'Puttin on the Act' and the disappointing 'Wimmin Hadn't Oughta Drive'.

'My Pop, My Pop' is another change of pace for the Popeye series though in a different way to 'Popeye Meets William Tell'. It was not the first or last time the series did something different from the common Popeye vs Bluto formula, and the changes of pace varied in success. Despite having a very different tone, by Popeye standards this is quite gentle, this cartoon is one of the successes on the whole while not being one of the best Popeye outings by any stretch.

When it comes to the humour, 'My Pop, My Pop' is fairly tame. It is humorous and amusing, but it is not quite laugh a minute or hilarious.

Although the gentler tone is lovely, in alternative to the often wild pace seen at this point of the Popeye series, the story is a bit slight and occasionally a little slow.

Having said that, 'My Pop, My Pop' has a lot that works in its favour and is pretty good still. The animation is neatly and expressively drawn (especially with Popeye) and still very much like the work that goes into the backgrounds. The music, appropriately like its own character, is as beautifully orchestrated and characterful as ever. While there is nothing hilarious or original here, the gags and asides do amuse and charm. The father and son chemistry here is sometimes touching.

Furthermore, despite being slight and in need at times of a tighter pace, the story is very charming without getting over-sentimental. Sure it at times is more sentimental than your average Popeye cartoon but it doesn't go overboard on that. Popeye is fun and likeable and his father Pappy is a more than worthy supporting character and doesn't make one miss Olive or Bluto too much. They have a fun chemistry together, with some smile-worthy back and forth, and both are exuberantly voiced by Jack Mercer in what is essentially a one man show.

Overall, not great but pleasant and entertaining change of pace. 7/10.